Patent ID: 7077856

Claim:
An electromechanical driver, flexible shaft, and surgical attachment assembly, comprising: a) a flexible shaft including a flexible sheath having a first end and a second end, and having disposed therein at least one flexible torque translating member and at least one electrical connection wire; b) said at least one flexible torque translating member being coupleable to a surgical attachment at said first end of said sheath, and to a driver element at said second end; c) said surgical attachment including; i) at least one selectively moveable element, said moveable element being coupled to said torque translating member such that said moveable element may be selectively moved in correspondence with the provision of a torque along said torque translating member, ii) at least one selectively activateable sensor mechanism, the at least one selectively activateable sensor mechanism being one of a tissue proximity sensor and a pulse oximeter, for sensing and providing data concerning at least one feature of the environment surrounding said attachment when selectively activated by an activating signal, iii) said attachment further including at least one transmitter and receiver mechanism coupled to the sensor mechanism and the at least one electrical connection wire for receiving said activating signal, and transmitting said sensor data along said connection wire; and d) said driver element including i) a torque generating mechanism coupled to said torque translating member, and ii) a processor element coupled to said at least one electrical connection wire for sending an activating signal, receiving said sensor data, analyzing same, and controlling the application of said torque by said torque generating mechanism in accordance with said analysis.