Instrument for fine-mechanical or surgical applications
Inventors
Breedveld, Paul • Scheltes, Jules Serge
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9138133-B2
Publication Date
2015-09-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to an instrument for high-precision or surgical applications of a minimally invasive nature, comprising a distally positioned directable head, a shaft upon which the head is positioned, and a proximally positioned handgrip for operating the head, wherein a ring of cables comprising longitudinally extending cables connects to the head, wherein each cable of the ring of cables is disposed such that at least a part of both sides is in direct contact with another cable of the ring of cables, and wherein the cables are fixedly secured in the radial direction.
Core Innovation
The instrument is for high-precision or surgical applications of a minimally invasive nature. It includes a shaft that defines a longitudinal axis and a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a deflectable head positioned on a distal end of the shaft. The shaft includes a proximal end equipped for directing the deflectable head, and the deflectable head is manipulatable from an aligned position to a deflectable position deflected from the longitudinal axis.
A ring of cables extends longitudinally within the shaft, with cables connected to the deflectable head and to the proximal end. Each cable is disposed so that at least a part of both sides of the cable is in direct contact with another cable of the ring of cables, with the cables extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shaft. First and second construction elements are arranged internal and external to the ring of cables, fixing the cables in the shaft's radial direction while allowing longitudinal movement, so the ring of cables transmits a force from the proximal end to the deflectable head that causes the head deflection.
The document further describes cable fastening and retention concepts using interior and exterior rings that form a slot clamping and receiving the cables, as well as internal elements such as external and interior springs, trajectory/traction rope, power cable, glass-fiber bundles, bellows, stent, and torsion-stiff tubes. Head-load tooling is described as including grab jaw, scissors, or clipping tongs, and embodiments include a camera mounted on the head, with power and optionally image data delivered via power cables and optionally light conduction via glass fibres.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim provides an instrument architecture with a shaft, a distal deflectable head, and a ring of longitudinal cables coupled by internal and external construction elements, in which adjacent cables are in direct contact and the cable ring transmits force to deflect the head. Dependent claims further specify particular internal/external construction element options, head tooling, optional camera-related power/image-data transmission, and specific cable fastening structures using interior and exterior rings forming a slot.
Minimally invasive instrument with shaft and deflectable distal head
An instrument for high-precision or surgical applications of a minimally invasive nature comprising a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a radial direction, and a deflectable head positioned on a distal end of the shaft, wherein the shaft includes a proximal end equipped for directing the deflectable head.
Force transmission via a ring of longitudinal cables with radial fixed securing and longitudinal movability
A first construction element arranged internal to a ring of cables and a second construction element arranged external to said ring of cables, the cables connected to the deflectable head and to the proximal end; wherein the cables are fixedly secured by said first and second construction elements in the shaft's radial direction and are movable in the shaft's longitudinal direction.
Adjacent cable direct contact enabling longitudinal force transmission to deflect the head
Each cable of the ring of cables is disposed such that at least a part of both sides of the cable is in direct contact with another cable of the ring of cables and extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shaft; and such that the ring of cables transmits a force from the proximal end to the deflectable head, which force causes the deflectable head to be manipulated from a position aligned with the longitudinal axis to a position in which the deflectable head is deflectable from the longitudinal axis.
Cable fastening using interior and exterior rings forming a clamping slot
A fastening formed by an interior ring and an exterior ring that together define a slot for clampingly receiving the cables.
Internal construction element selection for the first construction element
The first construction element located inside the ring of cables, selected from a specified group of construction elements including a bundle of glass fibres, a cable, power cables, a power cable, ring of glass fibres, a tube or tubes, bellow, a stent, or a spring.
Interior spring contacting the ring of cables
A first interior spring located inside the ring of cables, with the spring positioned against the cables.
Camera on the deflectable head with power and/or image-data transmission via power cables
A deflectable head with a mounted camera, wherein the first construction element has at least one power cable that supplies power to the camera and/or transmits image data captured by the camera.
Across the independent claim, the inventive structure centers on a minimally invasive instrument using internal and external construction elements to radially fix a longitudinal ring of cables while allowing longitudinal movement, with adjacent cables directly contacting each other so that proximal force transmission deflects the distal head away from the shaft axis. Dependent claims refine implementation by specifying interior/exterior ring cable fastening, selection of internal construction elements, interior spring arrangement, and optional camera mounting with power/image-data delivery via power cables.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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