Patent ID: 8702594

Claim:
An imaging system comprising: a base unit comprising: a housing; a system control module located in the housing; a main interface on the housing, the main interface includes a plurality of main electrical connectors operably coupled with the system control module and includes one or more main mechanical connectors; a mechanical system located in the housing and mechanically coupled with the one or more main mechanical connectors; and a mechanical activating member mechanically coupled with the mechanical system; and one or more imaging units each being configured to be removably coupled to the base unit, the imaging unit comprising: an elongate support member having a proximal end, a proximal section, a bendable section, and a distal end; an imaging interface on the proximal end of the elongate support member, the imaging interface includes a plurality of imaging electrical connectors that correspond and connect with the main electrical connectors of the main interface and includes one or more imaging mechanical connectors that correspond and connect with main mechanical connectors of the main interface; one or more mechanical actuators each having a proximal end mechanically coupled with the one or more imaging mechanical connectors and extending from the imaging interface along the elongate support member to a distal region of the bendable section which is coupled to a distal end of the mechanical actuator; and a plurality of electrically conductive elements electronically coupled with the imaging electrical connectors and disposed within the elongate support member and extending from the imaging interface to an imaging module located in the distal end of the elongate support member, wherein one of the main mechanical connectors of the base unit or the imaging mechanical connectors is a female force transfer member having a recess and the other is a male force transfer member with a shaft that slidably fits into the recess of the female force transfer member, wherein one of the female force transfer member or male force transfer member is electromagnetic.