Carriage assembly for controlling a steering wire steering mechanism within a flexible shaft
First Claim
1. An electromechanical assembly, comprisinga) at least one selectively engageable steering motor for engaging a steering wire, b) at least one spring means for biasing said steering wire toward a taut state, and c) at least one selectively engageable carriage motor for overcoming the bias created by said spring means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A carriage assembly for controlling a steering wire steering mechanism within a flexible shaft, for use in gastrointestinal tract surgery, comprises a plurality of selectably engageable motors, including two drive motors for selectably rotating drive shafts of a surgical attachment, two steering motors mechanically communicating with corresponding pulleys around which are coiled directional steering wires communicating with a flexible shaft to enable the selective direction of the flexible shaft within a spatial plane, wherein within the assembly housing the steering motors travel on a steering motor carriage and the pulleys travel on a pulley carriage which is biased by a spring means away from the interior wall of the housing, which biases the steering wires toward a taut state. The bias can be overcome by a carriage motor mechanically communicating with the pulley carriage to cause the flexible shaft to go limp. Also disclosed are a series of surgical attachments which may be coupled to and utilized in conjunction with the carriage assembly.
2184 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electromechanical assembly, comprising
a) at least one selectively engageable steering motor for engaging a steering wire, b) at least one spring means for biasing said steering wire toward a taut state, and c) at least one selectively engageable carriage motor for overcoming the bias created by said spring means.
Specification