Selective stiffening devices and methods

摘要

Methods and devices are provided for selectively stiffening a surgical device. In one exemplary embodiment a surgical device is provided that includes a flexible elongate insertion element and a stiffening element that extends along at least a portion of the insertion element. The insertion element can be, for example, an endoscope or a sheath configured to be disposed over an endoscope. The stiffening element can be configured to selectively stiffen when an outside force, such as a vacuum force, is applied thereto. In one embodiment the stiffening element includes a plurality of elongate members disposed in a flexible sheath. When the vacuum force is applied, the sheath can be configured to engage the elongate members to maintain the elongate members in a fixed, stiffened position, thereby stiffening at least a portion of the flexible elongate insertion element coupled thereto. Various methods for stiffening an insertion instrument, such as an endoscope, are also provided herein.

主权项

1. A surgical device configured for selective stiffening, comprising:
a flexible elongate insertion element having one of a rail and a complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof; a stiffening element extending along at least a portion of the flexible elongate insertion element and configured to selectively stiffen when a vacuum force is applied thereto, the stiffening element including the other of the rail and the complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof such that the rail and the track are coupled to permit sliding movement therebetween, a flexible sheath that forms a length of the stiffening element, and a plurality of elongate cylindrical members independently disposed in and separate from the sheath, each elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members extending along a majority of the length of the stiffening element, and the flexible sheath being configured to radially compress around and engage an outer circumference of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members to prevent movement of the elongate cylindrical members when a vacuum force is applied to the stiffening element, and wherein one elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members is capable of contacting another elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members.