Patent ID: 6013024
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A hybrid operation system for manipulating an object upon insertion of a tip of a conduit into the object, comprising:a conduit having multiple tubes therein, wherein a distal end portion of said conduit is flexible and wherein said conduit has at least one opening defined therein prior to said distal end portion;a drive mechanism that drives said multiple tubes within said conduit;an input mechanism that is responsive to an operator to output commands to said drive mechanism to control an operation of said multiple tubes;a plurality of notches defined in a tip of said distal end portion of said conduit;a plurality of operation wires extending from within said conduit to an outside of said conduit through said at least one opening in said conduit, wherein each of said plurality of operation wires further extends from said at least one opening through a corresponding one of said plurality of notches to an inner periphery of said conduit;a tip drive mechanism that adjusts respective tensions of said plurality of operation wires to bend said distal end portion of said conduit.