Highly articulated probes with anti-twist link arrangement, methods of formation thereof, and methods of performing medical procedures
First Claim
1. An articulating probe, comprising:
- a first link comprising a first longitudinal axis, a first articulation surface and a first motion-limiting element, the first link having a shoulder about a lower portion of the first articulation surface, the shoulder of the first link extending in an outward direction away from the first articulating surface relative to the first longitudinal axis;
a second link comprising a second longitudinal axis, a second articulation surface and a second motion-limiting element, the second link having an abutting surface about the second articulation surface, the abutting surface of the second link extending in an outward direction away from the second articulating surface relative to the second longitudinal axis;
an articulation joint comprising the first articulation surface and the second articulation surface and constructed and arranged to allow two degree-of-freedom articulation of the second link relative to the first link; and
a motion resisting assembly comprising the first motion limiting element and the second motion limiting element,wherein the motion resisting assembly is constructed and arranged to resist rotation of the second link about the second longitudinal axis relative to the first longitudinal axis of the first link and to further allow the two degree-of-freedom articulation of the second link about two articulation axes different than the second longitudinal axis, andwherein the shoulder of the first link communicates with the abutting surface of the second link external to the articulation joint to limit the articulation of the second link relative to the first link.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An articulating probe, comprises a first mechanism including a first link comprising a first longitudinal axis, a first articulation surface and a first motion-limiting element; and a second link comprising a second longitudinal axis, a second articulation surface and a second motion-limiting element. An articulation joint comprises the first articulation surface and the second articulation surface and constructed and arranged to allow two degree-of-freedom articulation of the second link relative to the first link. A motion resisting assembly comprises the first motion limiting element and the second motion limiting element, wherein the motion resisting assembly is constructed and arranged to resist rotation of the second link about the second longitudinal axis relative to the first longitudinal axis of the first link.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An articulating probe, comprising:
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a first link comprising a first longitudinal axis, a first articulation surface and a first motion-limiting element, the first link having a shoulder about a lower portion of the first articulation surface, the shoulder of the first link extending in an outward direction away from the first articulating surface relative to the first longitudinal axis; a second link comprising a second longitudinal axis, a second articulation surface and a second motion-limiting element, the second link having an abutting surface about the second articulation surface, the abutting surface of the second link extending in an outward direction away from the second articulating surface relative to the second longitudinal axis; an articulation joint comprising the first articulation surface and the second articulation surface and constructed and arranged to allow two degree-of-freedom articulation of the second link relative to the first link; and a motion resisting assembly comprising the first motion limiting element and the second motion limiting element, wherein the motion resisting assembly is constructed and arranged to resist rotation of the second link about the second longitudinal axis relative to the first longitudinal axis of the first link and to further allow the two degree-of-freedom articulation of the second link about two articulation axes different than the second longitudinal axis, and wherein the shoulder of the first link communicates with the abutting surface of the second link external to the articulation joint to limit the articulation of the second link relative to the first link. - 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, 48, 49, 50)
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43. An articulating probe, comprising:
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a first link comprising a first longitudinal axis, a first articulation surface and a first motion-limiting element, the first link having a shoulder about a lower portion of the first articulation surface, the shoulder of the first link extending in an outward direction away from the first articulating surface relative to the first longitudinal axis the first link further comprising a recess in the shoulder; a second link comprising a second longitudinal axis, a second articulation surface, and a second motion-limiting element, the second link having an abutting surface about the second articulation surface, the abutting surface of the second link extending in an outward direction away from the second articulating surface relative to the second longitudinal axis, the second link further comprising a tab extending from a surface of the second link proximal the abutting surface, the tab constructed and arranged to communicate with the recess in the shoulder of the first link; an articulation joint comprising the first articulation surface and the second articulation surface and constructed and arranged to allow two degree-of-freedom articulation of the second link relative to the first link; and a motion resisting assembly comprising the first motion limiting element and the second motion limiting element, wherein the motion resisting assembly is constructed and arranged to resist rotation of the second link about the second longitudinal axis relative to the first longitudinal axis of the first link, and wherein the shoulder of the first link communicates with the abutting surface of the second link external to the articulation joint to limit the articulation of the second link relative to the first link. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification