Patent · US Active

Flexible shaft for holding a tool of rotary driven motion

US9808867B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by

16References

43Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Flex Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

William R. Krause · Charlottesville, US
Garland U. Edwards · Midlothian, US

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 10, 2036

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB23B2260/068
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tool having a flexible shaft, a first end and, a second end and capable of being bent about its axis. The tool transfers rotary motion from a device to tool. The shaft, manufactured from a rigid material, has at least one flexible segment, each flexible segment have at least one sinuous slot ascending in a helical path. With multiple segments, the helical path of the slots can be opposite or the same. With one or more segments having multiple slots, the slots can be parallel or have opposite ascensions, thereby crossing one another. The helical paths can vary within each segment or from segment to segment.

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