Flexible instruments with patterned antenna assemblies having variable recoverable flexibility
Flexible instruments and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a flexible instrument comprises an elongate device having an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric layer insulating the inner conductor from the outer conductor. The flexible instrument further includes a recess formed in the outer conductor. An insert is positioned within the recess and about the inner conductor.
1 . A flexible instrument, comprising:
an elongate device including an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric layer insulating the inner conductor from the outer conductor;
a non-conductive jacket layer positioned over at least a portion of the outer conductor;
a recess formed in and extending through a wall of the outer conductor and a wall of the non-conductive jacket layer; and
an insert positioned within the recess and about the inner conductor.
2 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongate device includes a proximal section and a distal section, and wherein the recess is positioned at the distal section of the elongate device to form an antenna body.
3 . The flexible instrument of claim 2 , further comprising a barrier layer extending over at least a portion of the antenna body and positioned over the insert.
4 . The flexible instrument of claim 3 wherein the barrier layer includes a plurality of non-conductive layers.
5 . The flexible instrument of claim 4 wherein the barrier layer is configured to secure the insert within the recess or configured to seal the antenna body from fluid.
6 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive material electrically coupling the inner conductor to the outer conductor near a distal tip of the flexible instrument.
7 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive material near a distal tip of the flexible instrument and electrically coupled to the inner conductor.
8 . The flexible instrument of claim 7 , further comprising a barrier layer extending over the conductive material, the insert, and over at least a portion of the elongate device.
9 . The flexible instrument of claim 7 , further comprising:
a non-conductive plug formed at a distal end of the conductive material; and
a barrier layer extending over the conductive material, the non-conductive plug, the insert, and over at least a portion of the elongate device.
10 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 wherein the insert is non-conductive.
11 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 wherein the recess has a rectangular, square, trapezoidal, triangular, circular, or oval cross-sectional shape.
12 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 wherein the recess has a linear, curved, curvilinear, annular, helical, serpentine, or zig-zag shape along a length of the outer conductor.
13 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 wherein the recess is further formed in the dielectric layer.
14 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 wherein the recess forms a portion of a recess pattern, and wherein the recess pattern includes a first recess and a second recess each formed along a distal section of the outer conductor.
15 . The flexible instrument of claim 14 wherein the recess pattern is defined by a spacing of the first recess and the second recess, a position of the first recess and the second recess, a shape of the first recess and the second recess, or a size of the first recess and the second recess.
16 . The flexible instrument of claim 14 wherein:
the insert is a first insert positioned within the first recess; and
the flexible instrument further includes a second insert positioned within the second recess and about the inner conductor.
17 . The flexible instrument of claim 14 , wherein the flexible instrument is bendable, and wherein the insert positioned within the recess modifies a bendability of the flexible instrument.
18 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongate device includes a proximal section and a distal section, and wherein the proximal section of the elongate device and the distal section of the elongate device are distinct and fixedly coupled cable sections.
19 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 , wherein the outer conductor includes a braided material and wherein the recess is formed in the braided material.
20 . The flexible instrument of claim 1 , wherein the recess is one of a plurality of recesses formed in the outer conductor.