Articulation joint
First Claim
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1. An articulation joint comprising:
- a tubular body comprising a cylinder with an outer wall and a central lumen, wherein the outer wall includes a plurality of hinge elements therein and a series of slots therethrough, the plurality of hinge elements comprising a series of opposing pairs of V-shaped slits oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body;
a plurality of annular rings around a circumference of the outer wall of the tubular body at spaced intervals, each annular ring comprising at least one pair of inwardly extending guide passages inserted into the slots in the tubular body; and
at least two control members, wherein each control member is threaded through one guide passage of the pair of guide passages of each annular ring.
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Abstract
In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device.
397 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An articulation joint comprising:
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a tubular body comprising a cylinder with an outer wall and a central lumen, wherein the outer wall includes a plurality of hinge elements therein and a series of slots therethrough, the plurality of hinge elements comprising a series of opposing pairs of V-shaped slits oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body; a plurality of annular rings around a circumference of the outer wall of the tubular body at spaced intervals, each annular ring comprising at least one pair of inwardly extending guide passages inserted into the slots in the tubular body; and at least two control members, wherein each control member is threaded through one guide passage of the pair of guide passages of each annular ring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An articulation joint comprising:
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a tubular body comprising a cylinder with an outer wall and a central lumen, wherein the outer wall includes a plurality of hinge elements and a plurality of slots, wherein each hinge element is integral with an adjacent hinge element; a plurality of annular rings coupled to the tubular body around a circumference of and radially outside the outer wall at spaced intervals along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body, each annular ring comprising at least two inwardly extending guide passages, each guide passage being inserted into one of the slots of the plurality of slots; and at least two control members, each control member extending through one of the guide passages of each annular ring. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An articulation joint comprising:
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a tubular body comprising a cylinder with an outer wall and a central lumen, wherein the outer wall includes a plurality of hinge elements therein and a series of slots therethrough; a plurality of annular rings around a circumference of the outer wall of the tubular body at spaced intervals, each annular ring comprising at least one pair of inwardly extending guide passages; and at least two control members, wherein each control member extends through one guide passage of the pair of guide passages of each annular ring; wherein an outermost surface of outer wall defines a plurality of circumferential grooves, each groove includes at least two slots of the plurality of slots, and each annular ring is disposed in one of the grooves such that the pair of guide passages are inserted into the slots in the tubular body. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification