Flexible conduit with locking element
US8439084B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 14, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/008
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A flexible conduit for insertion into a body lumen comprises a plurality of elements coupled end to end to define a conduit lumen. A first one of the elements includes a male portion and a female portion. A second element includes a female portion having an inner surface configured to engage a male portion of an outer surface of the first element to form a first ball joint. A third element includes a male portion, an outer surface of the male portion of the third element configured to engage an inner surface of the female portion of the first element to form a second ball joint. The male and female portions of the first element are adapted to frictionally engage the female portion of the second element and the male portion of the third element to establish a rigid connection therebetween.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.