Methods of smoothly articulating medical devices having multi-cluster joints

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America

PATENT NO 12167903
APP PUB NO 20210212785A1
SERIAL NO

17216662

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Importance

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Abstract

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An articulating joint comprising a multi-cluster joint where every consecutive pair of links is interfaced by a gimbal, which offers rotation about two orthogonal axes within the same plane. Thus, the articulating joint comprises an alternating sequence of links and gimbals. Furthermore, there may be multiple cables attached to one or more of the links. As these cables are selectively pulled and released, one can achieve any desired articulation of the articulating joint. There may be a transmission member extending through the links and gimbals, parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the joint in its nominal non-articulated condition. This transmission member may be either a tension member that is pulled on (e.g. a cable or flexible pull rod) and that loads the articulating joint in compression, or the transmission member may be a flexible push rod that loads the articulating joint in tension.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
FLEXDEX INC10421 CITATION DRIVE SUITE 900 BRIGHTON MI 48116

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Awtar, Shorya Ann Arbor, US 44 1533
Costa, Peter F Winthrop, US 45 11458
Holmes, Christopher K Harvard, US 8 796
Johnson, Bruce Elkins, US 158 3604
Larose, Brian Douglas Cornish, US 2 634
Licht, James Michael Howell, US 8 703
Rank, Ryan Brook Ann Arbor, US 6 359
Sharma, Deepak Ann Arbor, US 125 1281
Sullivan, Randall Howell, US 4 644
Zimmerman, Zachary Waterford, US 13 795

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