Patent ID: 11938281
Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 19:
20. An apparatus, for guiding an elongated flexible instrument, the apparatus comprising:
a variable-length support assembly including:
a first end;
a second end;
a plurality of support member pairs, each support member pair comprising a first support member linked to a second support member; and
a plurality of eyelets configured to receive the elongated flexible instrument, each of the plurality of eyelets movably coupled to at least one of the support member pairs along a longitudinal central axis between the first end and the second end;

a proximal coupler at the first end of the variable-length support assembly, the proximal coupler configured to couple the variable-length support assembly to an instrument interface portion; and
a proximal arm synchronizing assembly for stabilizing a connection between the proximal coupler and the variable-length support assembly, wherein the proximal arm synchronizing assembly includes a set of cables to equally actuate the first and second support members relative to the longitudinal central axis and relative to each other,
wherein the variable-length support assembly is configured to selectively transition from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration along the longitudinal central axis, and wherein the plurality of eyelets are adapted to support the elongated flexible instrument as the elongated flexible instrument is advanced along the longitudinal central axis.