Clamp having bendable shaft
US6544274B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20456
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A clamp has a handle assembly, a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is coupled to the gripping assembly. The flexible shaft also defines a bore that retains a cable which is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and to the gripping assembly. The shaft assembly also includes a retractable generally rigid covering which can be oriented in a first position where the covering exposes a portion of the flexible shaft, and in a second position where the covering completely covers the flexible shaft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.