Patent ID: 7591783

Claim:
An articulating joint for use in a medical device comprising: a number of ring links, each having an inner circumference and an outer circumference, each ring link including: two concave recesses with openings that face radially outward from the outer circumference of the ring link that are positioned on opposite sides of the outer circumference of the ring link; and two concave recesses with openings that face radially inward from the inner circumference of the ring link that are positioned on opposite sides of the inner circumference of the ring link and are oriented at 90 degrees to the two concave recesses positioned on opposite sides of the outer circumference of the ring link; and a plurality of spring segments that are secured within the concave recesses on the outer circumferences and inner circumferences of the ring links to join adjacent ring links together and that are bendable in the articulating joint; wherein the concave recesses on the outer circumference of a given ring link are aligned with the concave recesses on the inner circumference of an adjacent ring link in the articulating joint.