Articulation section
First Claim
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1. An articulation section for an endoscope comprised of a plurality of vertebrae linked together in a chain-like fashion, wherein said articulation section is characterized in that:
- a. each of said vertebrae is comprised of a central core, an upper shell, and a lower shell, wherein said upper shell and said lower shell are adapted to be attached to said central core, thereby completely surrounding it, and also to be detached from said core; and
b. said central core and said upper and lower shells are shaped such that, when said vertebrae is assembled, spaces exist between said shells and said core that define separate channels adapted to allow wires, cables, fibers, and tubes to pass through said articulation section;
wherein a separate channel exists through said vertebrae for each wire, cable, fiber and tube that passes from a proximal to a distal end of said articulation section of said endoscope.
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Abstract
The invention is an articulation section for an endoscope (10). The articulation section (50) is characterized in that each one of its vertebrae (52) is comprised of several pieces that can be easily assembled or disassembled. This arrangement allows the replacement of individual ones of the vertebrae and/or the replacement of individual ones of the wires, cables, fibers, and tubes that pass through the vertebrae section without having to disassemble and reassemble the entire articulation section.
113 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An articulation section for an endoscope comprised of a plurality of vertebrae linked together in a chain-like fashion, wherein said articulation section is characterized in that:
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a. each of said vertebrae is comprised of a central core, an upper shell, and a lower shell, wherein said upper shell and said lower shell are adapted to be attached to said central core, thereby completely surrounding it, and also to be detached from said core; and b. said central core and said upper and lower shells are shaped such that, when said vertebrae is assembled, spaces exist between said shells and said core that define separate channels adapted to allow wires, cables, fibers, and tubes to pass through said articulation section; wherein a separate channel exists through said vertebrae for each wire, cable, fiber and tube that passes from a proximal to a distal end of said articulation section of said endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification