Surgical instrument
US5540706A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/2929
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a tubular stem section which extends from a handle. A tubular articulated section connects a surgical instrument with the stem section. An actuator assembly is connected with the handle and is operable to bend the articulated section to change the orientation of an instrument on an outer end portion of the articulated section relative to body tissue. The instrument on the outer end of the articulated section may be a rotatable cutting tool which is driven by a tubular drive element having a flexible section which extends through the articulated section. The articulated section is bent or flexed by a plurality of flexible elongated elements (wires). In one embodiment of the invention, a pair of elongated elements are provided to flex the articulated section in opposite directions. In another embodiment of the invention, four flexible elongated elements are provided to flex the articulated section in any one of four directions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.