Patent ID: 9504372
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A method for treating a patient, comprising: inserting an endoscope tube into an intradural space of the patient via an interspace of a vertebral column of the patient, wherein the endoscope tube has an electroactive tip, a guide portion containing one or more actuators, and a maximum outer diameter of less than 2.5 mm; steering the endoscope tube along the intradural space to a location by causing the electroactive tip to bend via an electrical signal directly supplied to the electroactive tip and along an electrical cable extending along a steering lumen of the endoscope tube and a steering system in communication with the electrical cable while visually monitoring the steering using an optical lumen of the endoscope tube and a video monitor in communication with the optical lumen, wherein the steering system comprises: once the endoscope tube has been steered to the location, inserting a medical device through a working lumen of the endoscope tube; and performing a medical procedure at the location using the medical device while visually monitoring the medical procedure using the optical lumen and the video monitor.