Patent ID: 7988621
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A torque-transmitting, variably-flexible, corrugated insertion device, comprising: a hollow body having an outer jacket, an inner sleeve, a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument; a handle at said proximal end of said hollow body having an outer handle and an inner handle defining a vacuum plenum volume therebetween communicating between said outer jacket and said inner sleeve, said handle having a vacuum port communicating with said vacuum plenum volume; tendons at least partly disposed between said outer jacket and said inner sleeve for maintaining said hollow body in a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition; a corrugated tube disposed between said outer jacket and said inner sleeve for transmitting torque from said proximal end toward said distal end; a vacuum-activated device in the form of a vacuum connection for applying suction between said outer jacket and said inner sleeve for frictionally locking said tendons and said corrugated tube in place and transitioning said hollow body between said relatively flexible condition and said relatively stiff condition; and a sliding valve encircling said outer handle and having a vacuum inlet/outlet formed therein for communicating with said vacuum connection, said sliding valve sliding between a position in which said vacuum inlet/outlet communicates with said vacuum port and a position in which said vacuum inlet/outlet is sealed against said vacuum port.