초록 ▼

The device includes a shaft having a plurality of interengaging shaft members. A tension member extends through the shaft and is positional between two positions. When the tension member is in the first position thereof, the shaft members are capable of movement relative to one another allowing the

The device includes a shaft having a plurality of interengaging shaft members. A tension member extends through the shaft and is positional between two positions. When the tension member is in the first position thereof, the shaft members are capable of movement relative to one another allowing the shaft to be manipulable between a continuous range of positions. When the tension member is biased to the second position thereof, the shaft members are non-movably held together forming a rigid shaft of desired shape. An articulation member extends through the shaft and is connected to a live attachment which is retained on a distal end of the shaft. By manipulation of the articulation member at a proximal end of the shaft the live attachment is manipulated.

대표청구항 ▼

A locking flexible shaft device having a live attachment including: (a) an elongate flexible shaft having a plurality of points of articulation, a proximal end, a distal end, passageway means, and comprising a plurality of interengaging members; (i) said interengaging members being alternating spher

A locking flexible shaft device having a live attachment including: (a) an elongate flexible shaft having a plurality of points of articulation, a proximal end, a distal end, passageway means, and comprising a plurality of interengaging members; (i) said interengaging members being alternating spheroidal and cylindrical members; (ii) said points of articulation being locations whereat said members interengage; and said points of articulation being universal joints permitting articulation of limited angle in any direction; (b) tensioning means associated with said flexible shaft and extending through said passageway means and generally within said interengaging members; (i) said tensioning means having locked and unlocked orientations associated therewith; said locked orientation producing frictional engagement between said interengaging members at said universal joints locking each universal joint in a preselected orientation thereby selectively locking said flexible shaft in an orientation selected from a plurality of orientations made possible by said plurality of universal joints; said unlocked orientation permitting free articulation about said universal joints; (c) a tensioning means actuator associated with said tensioning means and being selectively manipulative to place said tensioning means in said locked and unlocked orientations thereof; (i) said tensioning means actuator being located near said proximal end of said flexible shaft; (ii) said tensioning means being a tensioning wire extending between near said distal end of said flexible shaft and near said tensioning means actuator; (d) said live attachment being mounted near said distal end of said flexible shaft; and (e) an attachment actuator located near said proximal end of said flexible shaft and remote from said live attachment and communicating with said live attachment; (f) actuator means extending through said passageway means and, in combination with said attachment actuator, providing selective actuation of said attachment whereby an operator may selectively operate said live attachment by manipulation of said attachment actuator.