Transmitting an actuating force along a curved instrument
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical instrument comprising:
- an inner member having a rigid, curved portion at a distal region of the inner member and having a cutting surface, the rigid, curved portion being formed with at least a fixed concave side along a longitudinal axis of the inner member; and
an outer member concentrically and movably coupled to the inner member, the outer member including a cutting surface and the outer member being more flexible than the rigid, curved portion of the inner member such that when the outer member slides over the rigid, curved portion, the outer member is caused to bend along the longitudinal axis to conform to the rigid, curved portion,wherein the inner member and outer member are configured such that a longitudinal sliding movement of the outer member over the inner member acts to cut a target through contact with the cutting surface of the inner member and the cutting surface of the outer member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect there is a curved medical instrument comprising an outer member and an inner member. The inner member has a curved portion at a distal region of the inner member. The outer member is concentrically and movably coupled to the inner member and has a flexible transmission mechanism at a distal region of the outer member. The flexible transmission mechanism transmits a linear and/or rotational actuating force along the curved portion of the instrument. The inner member can include an opening configured to receive a target for cutting, such as a flexible fixating member and/or biological tissue.
171 Citations
58 Claims
-
1. A medical instrument comprising:
-
an inner member having a rigid, curved portion at a distal region of the inner member and having a cutting surface, the rigid, curved portion being formed with at least a fixed concave side along a longitudinal axis of the inner member; and an outer member concentrically and movably coupled to the inner member, the outer member including a cutting surface and the outer member being more flexible than the rigid, curved portion of the inner member such that when the outer member slides over the rigid, curved portion, the outer member is caused to bend along the longitudinal axis to conform to the rigid, curved portion, wherein the inner member and outer member are configured such that a longitudinal sliding movement of the outer member over the inner member acts to cut a target through contact with the cutting surface of the inner member and the cutting surface of the outer member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
-
-
57. A medical instrument comprising:
-
an inner member having a curved portion at a distal region of the inner member and having a cutting surface; and an outer member concentrically and movably coupled to the inner member, the outer member having a distal end surface including a cutting surface and the outer member including a flexible transmission mechanism at a distal region of the outer member, wherein at least one of the inner member and the outer member is configured to longitudinally slide relative to the other of the inner member and the outer member such that the cutting surface of the inner member and the cutting surface of the outer member together act to cut a target, wherein the outer member further comprises a wall defining a passage through which the inner member passes, wherein the wall does not fully enclose the passage within the flexible transmission mechanism of the outer member, and wherein the wall within the flexible transmission mechanism of the outer member encloses approximately a range of 30% to 40% of the circumference of the passage.
-
-
58. A medical instrument comprising:
-
an outer member having a passage extending therethrough; and an inner member slidably positioned within the passage, the inner member including a curved portion at a distal region of the inner member, the curved portion being rigid such that when the outer member slides over the curved portion, the outer member is caused to bend along the curved portion, and an opening within the distal region, wherein the inner member and outer member are configured such that a longitudinal sliding movement of the inner member within the passage acts to cut a target positioned within the opening through contact with an edge of the outer member and an edge of the opening, wherein the passage further comprises a wall defining the passage, wherein the wall does not fully enclose the passage within the flexible portion of the outer member, and wherein the wall within the flexible portion of the outer member encloses approximately a range of 30% to 40% of the circumference of the passage.
-
Specification