Bendable tube with improved elastic hinge

Abstract

A tube like member having a first flexible portion comprising a first and a second circumferential slits, the first circumferential slit is arranged opposite to the second circumferential slit and comprises a first end and a second end, the second circumferential slit comprises a third end and a fourth end, wherein the first end and the third end are arranged such that a first bridge is provided between said first and second circumferential slits characterized in that the first flexible portion comprises a first longitudinal slit arranged longitudinally along the tube like member and a second longitudinal slit arranged longitudinally along the tube like member, wherein the first circumferential slit is communicatively connected to the first longitudinal slit, wherein the second circumferential slit is communicatively connected to the second longitudinal slit, the first longitudinal slit and second longitudinal slit being arranged to define longitudinal sides of the first bridge.

1 . A tube like member having a first flexible portion wherein the first flexible portion comprises:
 a first circumferential slit and a second circumferential slit, wherein the first circumferential slit is arranged opposite to the second circumferential slit, wherein the first circumferential slit comprises a first end and a second end, the first circumferential slit is arranged partly surrounding the tube like member extending from the first end to the second end in a first circumferential direction (A; C; E), wherein the second circumferential slit comprises a third end and a fourth end, the second circumferential slit is arranged partly surrounding the tube like member extending from the third end to the fourth end in a second circumferential direction (B; D; F), wherein the first circumferential direction and the second circumferential direction are opposite directions, wherein the first end and the third end are located on a first radial circumference, wherein the first and the second circumferential slits are arranged to provide flexibility to the tube member along a first axis, and wherein the first end and the third end are arranged such that a first bridge is provided between said first and second circumferential slits;   characterized in that the first flexible portion comprises a first longitudinal slit arranged longitudinally along the tube like member or arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction and a second longitudinal slit arranged longitudinally along the tube like member or arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction, wherein the first circumferential slit is communicatively connected to the first longitudinal slit, wherein the second circumferential slit is communicatively connected to the second longitudinal slit, the first longitudinal slit and second longitudinal slit being arranged to define longitudinal sides of the first bridge.   
     
     
         2 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal slit is parallel to the second longitudinal slit; or wherein the first longitudinal slit is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction between 0 and 45 degrees; and/or wherein the second longitudinal slit is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction between 0 and 45 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , wherein the first circumferential slit comprises a first side extending from the first end to the second end and a second side extending from the first end to the second end wherein the first side is opposite to the second side and wherein the first side comprises an pin and the second side comprises a channel shape wherein the pin corresponds to the shape of the channel such that, when the pin is inside the channel, the pin is able to move inside of the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The tube like member according to  claim 3 , wherein the pin has an inclined curved U-shape. 
     
     
         5 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , wherein the second end and the fourth end are located on the first radial circumference, wherein the second end and the fourth end are arranged such that a second bridge is provided between said first and second circumferential slits, the tube like member comprising a third longitudinal slit arranged longitudinally along the tube like member or arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction, and a fourth longitudinal slit arranged longitudinally along the tube like member or arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction, wherein the first circumferential slit is communicatively connected to the third longitudinal slit, wherein the second circumferential slit is communicatively connected to the fourth longitudinal slit, and the third longitudinal slit and fourth longitudinal slit being arranged to define longitudinal sides of the second bridge. 
     
     
         6 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , wherein the first circumferential slit is oriented forming a first angle with the first radial circumference and/or the second circumferential slit is oriented forming a second angle with the first radial circumference. 
     
     
         7 . The tube like member according to  claim 6 , wherein the first angle is between −10° and +10° degrees, more preferably between −8° and +8° degrees and/or wherein the second angle is between −10° and +10° degrees, more preferably between −8° and +8° degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible portion comprises:
 a third circumferential slit and a fourth circumferential slit, wherein the third circumferential slit is arranged opposite to the fourth circumferential slit, wherein the third circumferential slit comprises a fifth end and a sixth end, the third circumferential slit is arranged partly surrounding the tube like member extending from the fifth end to the sixth end in a third circumferential direction (H), wherein the fourth circumferential slit comprises a seventh end and an eighth end, the fourth circumferential slit is arranged partly surrounding the tube like member extending from the seventh end to the eighth end in a fourth circumferential direction (G), wherein the third circumferential direction (H) and the fourth circumferential direction (G) are opposite directions, wherein the fifth end and the seventh end are, preferably, located on the first radial circumference, wherein the fifth end and the seventh end are arranged such that a second bridge is provided between said third and fourth circumferential slits;   the first flexible portion comprising a third longitudinal slit arranged longitudinally along the tube like member or arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction and a fourth longitudinal slit arranged longitudinally along the tube like member or arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction, wherein the third circumferential slit is communicatively connected to the third longitudinal slit, wherein the fourth circumferential slit is communicatively connected to the fourth longitudinal slit, and wherein the third longitudinal slit and fourth longitudinal slit being arranged to define longitudinal sides of the second bridge.   
     
     
         9 . The tube like member according to  claim 8 , wherein the first circumferential slit, at the first end, is connected to an end of the first longitudinal slit via a first intermediate slit, and at the second end, connected to an end of the third longitudinal slit via a second intermediate slit, and the second circumferential slit, at the third end, is connected to an end of the second longitudinal slit via a third intermediate slit, and at the fourth end, connected to an end of the fourth longitudinal slit via a fourth intermediate slit. 
     
     
         10 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube like member comprises two or more flexible portions; and/or wherein the tube like member has one of a circular, oval, elliptical and rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . The tube like member according to  claim 10 , wherein the two or more flexible portions are arranged in an alternating 90 degrees rotated pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , made of at least one of the following set of materials:
 a biocompatible polymeric material, including polyurethane, polyethylene or polypropylene,   stainless steel,   cobalt-chromium,   shape memory alloy such as Nitinol®,   plastic,   polymer,   composites, or   other curable material.   
     
     
         13 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential and longitudinal slits result from a material removal technique including at least one of photochemical etching, deep pressing, chipping techniques, and laser cutting and/or the circumferential slits have a same length; and/or wherein the circumferential slits are narrower next to their ends than in a central part between said ends. 
     
     
         14 . The tube like member according to  claim 1 , wherein each bridge has one of an S-shape, mirrored S-shape, Z-shape, mirrored Z-shape, and the form of a first and second U-shaped sub-bridge, each sub-bridge having side legs arranged in the longitudinal direction or arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction and a lower base leg arranged in the circumferential direction or arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction, and the first and second U-shaped sub-bridges having oppositely oriented openings and one side leg of the first sub-bridge being connected to one side leg of the second sub-bridge. 
     
     
         15 . An instrument for endoscopic applications or the like comprising a tube like member according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A cylindrical member comprising a first rigid end part, a second end rigid part and a plurality of longitudinal elements wherein each of the plurality of longitudinal elements extends from the first rigid end part to the second rigid end part, wherein at least one of the longitudinal elements comprises a first portion, a second portion and a connection section, wherein the connection section connects the first portion and the second portion, wherein the first portion is thinner than the second portion, wherein the longitudinal element in the first portion comprises a longitudinal strip, wherein the longitudinal strip comprises a longitudinal slit extending from the second rigid part to the connection section and dividing the longitudinal strip into two parallel sub-strips, wherein the connection section comprises a rope equalizer structure comprising a bridge, a first wire and a second wire, wherein the first wire is connected to the one of the two parallel sub-strips and the second wire is connected to the other of the two parallel sub-strips, wherein the bridge connects the second portion to the first wire and the second wire, wherein the rope equalizer structure comprises a first rotation point, a second rotation point and a third rotation point, wherein the first rotation point is located on the bridge, the second rotation point is located on the first wire and the third rotation point is located on the second wire such that when there is a longitudinal displacement difference between the first wire and the second wire, the rope equalizer structure rotates about the first rotation point for compensating the longitudinal displacement difference between the first wire and the second wire. 
     
     
         17 . The cylindrical member according to  claim 16 , wherein the connection section further comprises two curved-shape strips and a bridge wherein the two curved-shape strips surround an opening wherein the opening is communicatively connected to the longitudinal slit, wherein the bridge is connected to the second portion and to the two curved-shape strips, wherein the two curved-shape strips are connected respectively to the two parallel sub-strips, and wherein the concave sides of the two curved-shape strips are arranged facing each other and surrounding the opening such that the two curved-shape strips define the sides of the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The cylindrical member according to  claim 17 , wherein the opening comprises a half moon shape, wherein the convex side of the half moon shape of the opening is facing the first portion such that the longitudinal slit is communicatively connected to the opening at its convex side, and the opening is further delimited by a straight side perpendicular to the longitudinal direction wherein the straight side is facing the concave side of the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The cylindrical member according to  claim 18 , wherein the connection section further comprises a first slit and a second slit wherein the first slit and the second slit extend longitudinally respectively from each end of the straight side of the opening towards the second portion. 
     
     
         20 . The cylindrical member according to  claim 19 , further comprising two longitudinal slits wherein the two longitudinal slits extend longitudinally in at least one of the second portion and the connection section such that the sides of the two longitudinal slits define the borders of the bridge.