Patent ID: 8679097

Claim:
A device for diagnostic or surgical procedures comprising: a tubular outer body member having a proximal end and a distal end; a handle attached to the proximal end of the tubular outer body member; a flexible distal end segment extending from the distal end of the tubular outer body member, the flexible distal end segment having an axial end segment passage formed therethrough; first and second cables disposed so that a first portion of each cable is disposed within the tubular outer body member and a second portion of each cable is disposed within the flexible distal end segment, each cable having a distal end attached to an attachment point of the flexible distal end segment on its outer surface adjacent its distal end, the attachment points of the first and second cables being diametrically opposed so that when tensile forces are applied to one or both of the cables, a difference in the tensile force applied to the two cables causes the flexible distal end segment to bend; a rotation control member comprising: an extension tube portion rotatably disposed within the tubular outer body member; a flexible drive shaft portion attached to and extending distally from a distal end of the extension tube portion for rotation therewith, at least a portion of the flexible drive shaft portion being rotatably and slidably disposed within the axial end segment passage so as to take on a profile of the flexible distal end segment while being rotational therein; and an operable end attached at a distal end of the flexible drive shaft portion for rotation therewith, the flexible drive shaft portion being selectively rotatable to establish a desired rotational orientation of the operable end relative to the flexible distal end segment, the operable end having at least two operating states, wherein the extension tube portion is operably connected to a rotation control mechanism housed in the handle, the rotation control mechanism being configured to allow selective and endless rotation of the extension tube portion, the flexible drive shaft portion and the operable end while the flexible distal end segment remains rotationally fixed, and wherein the operable end is connected to an actuation mechanism, and further wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a third cable longitudinally movably disposed within the flexible drive shaft portion, wherein movement of the third cable causes the operable end to change operating states, whereby the handle and the flexible tubular body are used in a first manipulation of the operable end, the first and second cables are used in a second manipulation of the operable end, the rotation control member is used in a third manipulation of the operable end, and the actuation mechanism is used in a fourth manipulation of the operable end, with each of said manipulations being independent of, and having no effect on, the other of said manipulations.