Surgical instrument with steerable distal end
US5766196A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/2929
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, having a handle for actuating the instrument, a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure, a middle section connecting the handle with the operating section, at least a portion of the middle section being bendable, and steerable means within the bendable portion for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle with respect to the axis of the middle section. There are means for rotating the distal operating section into any desired angular position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the middle section. A control member control the direction of movement of the bendable section in three dimensions whereby the distal end may be positioned in any place on or off of the longitudinal axis of the middle section. A protective sheath may be disposed over the bendable section.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.