US2019159657A1PendingUtilityA1

Shape-transferring cannula system and method of use

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Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONSPriority: Sep 12, 2002Filed: Nov 20, 2018Published: May 30, 2019
Est. expirySep 12, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jaime Vargas
A61B 2034/301A61M 25/0138A61B 1/0058A61M 25/0141A61M 25/0105A61B 17/00234A61B 1/018A61B 5/1076A61B 34/30A61M 25/0144A61B 17/3423A61B 2017/3433A61M 2025/0161A61M 2025/0058A61M 25/0158A61M 25/00A61B 2017/0034A61B 2017/00305A61M 25/0136A61B 2017/00318A61M 25/0147
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Claims

Abstract

A rigidizable medical device comprising a rigidizable element actuatable between a first state and a second state, wherein the rigidizable element is flexible in the first state and rigid in the second state. The rigidizable medical device further comprises a passive element coupled to the rigidizable element and extending parallel to the rigidizable element, wherein the passive element is more rigid than the rigidizable element in the first state of the rigidizable element and is more flexible than the rigidizable element in the second state of the rigidizable element. The rigidizable and passive elements are configured to slide longitudinally relative to one another.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rigidizable medical device comprising:
 a rigidizable element actuatable between a first state and a second state, wherein the rigidizable element is flexible in the first state and rigid in the second state; and   a passive element coupled to the rigidizable element and extending parallel to the rigidizable element, wherein the passive element is more rigid than the rigidizable element in the first state of the rigidizable element and is more flexible than the rigidizable element in the second state of the rigidizable element, and   wherein the rigidizable and passive elements are configured to slide longitudinally relative to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the rigidizable element is positioned concentrically within the passive element. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the passive element is positioned concentrically within the rigidizable element. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibrating device coupled to the passive element, wherein in the second state of the rigidizable element, the vibrating device is energized to vibrate the passive element as the passive element is moved relative to the rigidizable element. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is part of a cannula system.

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