| 摘要 |
The present invention concerns a device for introduction into a body along a substantially straight elongated-element-restricting structure (20), the device assuming within the body a predefined curved configuration, the device comprising: an elongated element (10) formed primarily from a plurality of segments (12) sequentially interconnected so as to form an effective hinge (14) between adjacent of the segments (14), the segments (14) and the effective hinges (14) being configured such that: (a) when the elongated element (10) is confined to a substantially straight state, the effective hinges (14) transfer compressive forces from each segment (14) to the next so that the elongated element (10) can be pushed so as to advance through the substantially straight elongated-element-restricting structure (20); and when the elongated element (10) is not confined to a substantially straight state, the effective hinges (14) allow deflection of each segment (14) relative to adjacent segments (14) until at least one abutment surface (16) of each of the segments (14) comes into abutment with at least one corresponding abutment surface (18) of each adjacent segment (14), thereby defining a fully flexed state of the elongated element (10), the fully flexed state corresponding to a predefined curved configuration of the elongated element (10).
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