Articulating instrument

摘要

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. The articulating mechanisms may also be combined in such a way to remotely mimic finger movements for manipulation of an object or body tissue.

主权项

1. An articulating instrument comprising:
a proximal user interface including a plurality of serially connected proximal links movable relative to each other, each proximal link including a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels that are centered equidistantly at a first distance from a central axis of the proximal link and are spaced uniformly around the central axis of the proximal link; a distal articulating mechanism including a plurality of serially connected distal links movable relative to each other, each distal link including a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels that are centered equidistantly at a second distance from a central axis of the distal link and are spaced uniformly around the central axis of the distal link; multiple pairs of links, each pair of links including a proximal link of the plurality of proximal links and a distal link of the plurality of distal links, each proximal link being maintained in a spaced apart relationship by a spacer element relative to the distal link of the pair; multiple sets of cables, each set including three cables connecting a discrete pair of links, with each cable in each set continuously extending through corresponding channels of the plurality of circumferentially spaced channels of each intervening distal link and proximal link between the proximal link and the distal link of the discrete pair and terminating at corresponding channels of the proximal link and the distal link of the discrete pair whereby movement of the proximal link of the discrete pair located in the proximal user interface causes corresponding relative movement of the distal link of the discrete pair located in the distal articulating mechanism, wherein each of the distal and proximal links in at least one of the pairs of links includes a first set of the circumferentially spaced channels occupied by cables of the multiple sets of cables and a second set of the circumferentially spaced channels being unoccupied by cables of the multiple sets of cables, wherein the channels of the first and second sets of circumferentially spaced channels are identical in size; and a handle located between the proximal user interface and the distal articulating mechanism, the proximal user interface extending from the handle.