A flexible conduit for insertion into a body lumen comprises a plurality of elements coupled end to end to define a conduit lumen. A first one of the elements includes a male portion and a female portion. A second element includes a female portion having an inner surface configured to engage a male
A flexible conduit for insertion into a body lumen comprises a plurality of elements coupled end to end to define a conduit lumen. A first one of the elements includes a male portion and a female portion. A second element includes a female portion having an inner surface configured to engage a male portion of an outer surface of the first element to form a first ball joint. A third element includes a male portion, an outer surface of the male portion of the third element configured to engage an inner surface of the female portion of the first element to form a second ball joint. The male and female portions of the first element are adapted to fictionally engage the female portion of the second element and the male portion of the third element to establish a rigid connection therebetween.
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1. A flexible conduit for insertion into a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of elements, each of the elements including a lumen, wherein the plurality of elements are configured to be coupled, and the lumens of the plurality of elements are aligned to define a conduit lumen when the plurality of
1. A flexible conduit for insertion into a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of elements, each of the elements including a lumen, wherein the plurality of elements are configured to be coupled, and the lumens of the plurality of elements are aligned to define a conduit lumen when the plurality of elements are coupled, the plurality of elements including: a first element including a male portion having a first plurality of bendable tabs,a second element including a female portion, wherein the female portion is configured to receive the first plurality of bendable tabs to form a joint,a first projection extending from one of the first element and the second element, and a first receptacle formed on the other of the first element and the second element, wherein the first receptacle is configured to receive the first projection, anda second projection extending from one of the first element and the second element, and a second receptacle formed on the other of the first element and the second element, wherein the second receptacle is configured to receive the second projection, and the second receptacle receives the second projection as the first receptacle receives the first projection, to restrict relative rotation between the first element and the second element. 2. The flexible conduit of claim 1, wherein the first projection and the second projection extend from opposite sides of one of the first element and the second element. 3. The flexible conduit of claim 1, wherein the first receptacle includes a slot configured to restrict movement of the first projection in a first direction, while permitting movement of the first projection in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 4. The flexible conduit of claim 1, wherein the joint is a ball and socket joint. 5. The flexible conduit of claim 1, wherein the first projection extends from one of the first plurality of bendable tabs, and the first receptacle is formed on the female portion of the second element. 6. The flexible conduit of claim 1, wherein the first receptacle is formed on the first plurality of bendable tabs, and the first projection extends from the female portion of the second element. 7. A flexible conduit for insertion into a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of elements, each of the elements including a lumen, wherein the plurality of elements are configured to be coupled, and the lumens of the plurality of elements are aligned to define a conduit lumen when the plurality of elements are coupled, wherein: a first element includes a male portion having a first plurality of bendable tabs and one of a first projection and a first receptacle, and a female portion having the other of the first projection and the first receptacle,a second element includes a male portion having a second plurality of bendable tabs and one of a second projection and a second receptacle, and a female portion having the other of the second projection and the second receptacle, the female portion of the second element being configured to receive the male portion of the first element to form a ball and socket joint, and one of the first projection and the first receptacle being configured to engage one of the second projection and the second receptacle, to limit relative rotation between the first element and the second element. 8. The flexible conduit of claim 7, wherein the first projection and the first receptacle are offset by 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the lumen of the first element. 9. The flexible conduit of claim 8, wherein the second projection and the second receptacle are offset by 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the lumen of the second element. 10. The flexible conduit of claim 7, wherein one of the first plurality of bendable tabs has one of a third projection and a third receptacle, and the female portion of the first element has the other of the third projection and the third receptacle. 11. The flexible conduit of claim 10, wherein the first projection and the third projection extend from opposite sides of the first element. 12. The flexible conduit of claim 11, wherein the first receptacle and the third receptacle are formed on opposite sides of the first element. 13. The flexible conduit of claim 10, wherein one of the second plurality of bendable tabs has one of a fourth projection and a fourth receptacle, and the female portion of the second element has the other of the fourth projection and the fourth receptacle. 14. The flexible conduit of claim 13, wherein the first projection and the third projection extend from the first plurality of bendable tabs, and the second receptacle and the fourth receptacle are formed on the female portion of the second element. 15. The flexible conduit of claim 14, wherein the first receptacle and the third receptacle are formed on the female portion of the first element, and the second projection and the fourth projection extend from the female portion of the second element. 16. A flexible conduit for insertion into a body lumen, comprising: a plurality of elements, each of the elements including a lumen, wherein the plurality of elements are configured to be coupled, and the lumens of the plurality of elements are aligned to define a conduit lumen when the plurality of elements are coupled, wherein:a first pair of the elements includes: a first element having a male portion including a first plurality of bendable tabs, anda second element having a female portion, the female portion of the second element being configured to receive the male portion of the first element to form a first ball and socket joint with a first frictional resistance, anda second pair of the elements includes: a third element having a male portion including a second plurality of bendable tabs, anda fourth element having a female portion, the female portion of the fourth element being configured to receive the male portion of the third element to form a second ball and socket joint with a second frictional resistance different from the first frictional resistance. 17. The flexible conduit of claim 16, wherein a first radially outward force exerted on the female portion of the second element by the male portion of the first element is less than a second radially outward force exerted on the female portion of the fourth element by the male portion of the third element. 18. The flexible conduit of claim 16, wherein a size of the male portion of the first element relative to the female portion of the second element is different from a size of the male portion of the third element relative to the female portion of the fourth element. 19. The flexible conduit of claim 16, wherein a size of at least one tab of the first plurality of bendable tabs differs from a size of at least one tab of the second plurality of bendable tabs. 20. The flexible conduit of claim 1, wherein the second element includes a male portion having a second plurality of bendable tabs.
Zehel Wendell E. (553 Harrogate Rd. Pittsburgh PA 15241) Baumann Dwight M. (1235 Squirrel Hill Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15217) Brenner William B. (81 Chapel Ridge Pl. Pittsburgh PA 15238), Method and apparatus for conducting exploratory procedures.
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