Patent ID: 8696552
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical system, comprising: a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, an interior of the shaft having a fluid-tight seal from the environment at each of the distal end and the proximal end so as to be sterilizable for re-use, the shaft including first and second steering cables; a power module including a coupling having first and second connectors, the first and second connectors rotatable in relation to the coupling and connected to the first and second steering cables of the shaft, the power module including selectively engageable first and second steering motors operably coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, the first and second steering motors secured to a movable carriage that is movable from a first position to a second position for selectively engaging the first and second motors to selectively rotate at least one of the first and second connectors for steering at least a portion of the shaft; an image capture device configured to receive image data from the distal end of the shaft; and a light-emitting diode configured to provide light at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the image capture device and the light-emitting diode are mounted to the distal end of the shaft and fluid-tightly sealed from the environment by the shaft so as to be sterilizable for re-use.