Patent ID: 8287469

Claim:
A surgical device, comprising: a flexible elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends; a tensioning element extending through a channel formed along a length of the elongate shaft, the channel having at least one opening configured to allow a portion of the tensioning element to exit the channel in response to a tension applied to the tensioning element and bend at least a portion of the elongate shaft, the tensioning element exiting the channel adjacent to the at least a portion of the elongate shaft that bends; and a retaining element extending around the at least a portion of the elongate shaft that bends such that, when the retaining element is disposed around a bent portion of the elongate shaft, the retaining element allows the tensioning element at the bent portion of the elongate shaft to exit through the at least one opening, and limits displacement of the tensioning element at the bent portion of the elongate shaft.