ACTIVE CONTROLLED BENDING IN MEDICAL DEVICES

摘要

A flexible endoscope includes a handle and a flexible shaft extending fro m the handle. The shaft includes a distal portion having a tubular wall defi ning a central lumen and a least two smaller lumens extending longitudinally through at least a portion of the tubular wall and a pull wire is disposed within one or more of the smaller lumens. The distal portion further include s an articulation layer disposed over the tubular wall and includes a first series of slots, which allow controlled bending of the distal portion by mov ement of one or more of the pull wires.