Patent · US Expired

Articulating mechanism for remote manipulation of a surgical or diagnostic tool

US7090637B2 · kind B2 · utility

1,907Cited by
24References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 2003
Grant dateAug 15, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/0161
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. The proximal and distal segments are connected by a set of cables in such a fashion that each proximal segment forms a discrete pair with a distal segment. This configuration allows each segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.