The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 2020
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2014
Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Anoop B. Kowshik, San Jose, CA (US);
Carolyn M. Fenech, San Jose, CA (US);
Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Redwood City, CA (US);
INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
An instrument comprises a flexible body comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an inner sheath within the proximal portion. The inner sheath comprises a wall and a plurality of conduits extending through the wall within the proximal portion. A distal end of each conduit terminates proximal to the distal portion. The inner sheath further comprises a plurality of protrusions within the proximal portion. Each protrusion surrounds a portion of a corresponding conduit. The flexible body further comprises a steerable tube extending within the distal portion. The steerable tube comprises a wall and a plurality of grooves in the wall. The instrument further comprises a plurality of tendons extending from the proximal portion, beyond the distal ends of the plurality of conduits, and into the distal portion. In the proximal portion, each tendon extends through a corresponding conduit. In the distal portion, each tendon extends within a corresponding groove.