Blended shaft drive

摘要

A solid, monolithic shaft member has an engagement end. The engagement end has a proximal end a distal end. The proximal end has a first cross-sectional geometry, and the distal end has a second cross-sectional geometry. The first cross-sectional geometry of the proximal end is different from the second cross-sectional geometry of the distal end. The cross-sectional geometry of the distal end transitions to the a cross-sectional geometry of the proximal end along a longitudinal axis of the engagement end of the solid, monolithic shaft member. This transition provides a gradual, blending, continuously transitioning cross-sectional geometry along the entire length of the longitudinal axis of the engagement end of the solid, monolithic shaft member.

主权项

1. A delivery device, comprising:
a solid, monolithic shaft member having an engagement portion at an end of the monolithic shaft member, the engagement portion having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal terminus to a distal terminus, wherein:
a) the proximal terminus has a first cross-sectional geometry and the distal terminus has a second cross-sectional geometry, the first cross-sectional geometry of the proximal terminus being different from the second cross-sectional geometry of the distal terminus; andb) a periphery of the engagement member continuously changing from a second cross-sectional geometry of the distal terminus to the first cross-sectional geometry of the proximal terminus along the longitudinal axis of the engagement portion, in which substantially every portion of the peripheral cross-sectional geometry of the engagement member is continuously changing along an entire length of the longitudinal axis of the engagement member.