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:
Aug. 02, 2022
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2020
Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Katherine D. Stoy, Mountain View, CA (US);
Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Mountain View, CA (US);
Carolyn M. Fenech, San Jose, CA (US);
Giuseppe Maria Prisco, Calci Pisa, IT;
INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A medical device includes a tube, a plurality of tensions elements, a plurality of routing members, and an actuation mechanism. The tube includes a wall with a plurality of slits oriented generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tube. The tube includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The plurality of tension elements are coupled to the tube and actuatable to alter the tube between a bendable state and a rigid state. The plurality of routing members are configured to receive and route the plurality of tension elements along the tube while permitting the tube to flex and compress. The actuation mechanism is configured to simultaneously apply a first tension force to a first tension element and a second tension force equal to the first tension force to a second tension element to compress the tube, shortening a length of the tube and creating the rigid state.