Patent ID: 8052597

Claim:
An articulation joint for use in a medical device, the articulation joint comprising a tubular body comprising: a plurality of interconnected adjacent segments, wherein each segment comprises a generally cylindrical tube with a first end, a second end, an outer wall, and a central lumen, wherein the first end of a first segment of the plurality of segments includes a tang that interlocks with a notch on the second end of an adjacent segment to form a non-articulating interface substantially preventing all rotational movement between the first end of the first segment and the second end of the adjacent segment, and wherein the outer wall of each segment includes at least one hinge element therein and at least one slot therethrough; at least one cable guide element comprising a passage, wherein the at least one cable guide element is configured to at least partially extend through the at least one slot and to at least partially reside within the at least one slot; and one or more control cables threaded through the at least one cable guide element comprising the passage.