Patent ID: 7615067
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A medical instrument comprising: a handle; a distal work member; a proximal movable member controlled from said handle; a distal movable member controlled from said proximal movable member to provide controlled movement of said distal work member; an instrument shaft that intercouples said proximal and distal movable members; and actuation means coupled between said movable members; said handle having a ball end with an outer at least partially spherical surface; said proximal movable member comprising a movable ring assembly supported about the ball end of said handle and adapted for multi-directional motion relative to the ball end of said handle; said movable ring assembly including an annular rider having an inner concave surface that rides on and conforms to the outer at least partially spherical surface of the ball end; said annular rider constructed and arranged for the multi-directional motion over the outer spherical surface of the ball end to, in turn, control multi-directional motion of said distal movable member; wherein said actuation means comprises a set of cables, each having proximal and distal cable ends that couple between said movable members and further including a rotation knob coupled with the rider while rotationally mounted relative to the rider and a cable retainer supported by said rotation knob and for retaining proximal ends of said cables.