Patent ID: 6454762
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An instrument for applying light into the human or animal body, comprising:a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end portion, said distal end portion being pivotally connected to a remaining portion of said tubular shaft; a light waveguide being insertable into said tubular shaft, said light waveguide having a distal light-emitting end which comes to rest in said distal end portion of said tubular shaft; a manipulating means disposed at said proximal end of said tubular shaft, said manipulating means having at least one movable operating element operatively connected with said distal end portion via an actuator element for pivoting said distal end portion out of a longitudinal axis of said shaft, wherein said distal end portion is pivotably connected to said remaining portion of said tubular shaft by a joint which allows pivotal motion of said distal end portion in a first direction from an angle of zero degrees to an angle âˆ’|&agr;1|, which is less than zero degrees, and in an opposite direction from an angle of zero degrees to an angle +|&agr;2|, which is greater than zero degrees, with respect to said longitudinal axis of said tubular shaft.