Patent ID: 8262563

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: an elongate hollow metal body extending along a longitudinal axis, the hollow body defining a central opening and having a predetermined wall thickness, a pattern of laser cut slits formed into the body, the slits defining a plurality of articulatable elements, wherein the plurality of articulatable elements enable active articulation of the body in a first plane and passive deflection in planes orthogonal to the first plane, wherein the pattern of slits comprises: at least one aperture; an S-shaped slit; and a spiral slit; and a plurality of rings disposed along an outer portion of the body along the longitudinal length, the plurality of rings are configured to receive a pull cable therethrough and a distal end of the pull cable is fixedly attached to a distal ring, wherein the pull cable is to articulate the body relative to the longitudinal axis when tension is applied to the pull cable.