Variable Radius Vertebra Bend Restrictor

1 . A bend restrictor for a flexible conduit, comprising:

at least two adjacent vertebrae, each vertebra comprising,

a central passage for the flexible conduit,

a ball portion, and

a receiver portion configured to receive the ball portion, wherein the ball portion of one adjacent vertebra is disposed within the receiver portion of the other adjacent vertebra; and

a vertebra insert disposed between the at least two adjacent vertebrae, wherein the vertebra insert prevents a lock out position between the ball portion and the receiver portion.

2 . The bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the vertebra insert comprises two half sections.

3 . The bend restrictor of claim 2 , wherein the bend restrictor further comprises a band wrapped around the two half sections of the vertebra insert.

4 . The bend restrictor of claim 3 , wherein the vertebra insert comprises an external groove in which the band is disposed.

5 . The bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the at least two adjacent vertebrae comprise external flanges adapted to receive the vertebra insert.

6 . The bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the ball portion of each vertebra comprises a flange received within a groove formed in the receiver portion, wherein sides of the flange on the ball portion do not contact sides of the groove in the receiver portion.

7 . The bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein each vertebra comprises an external ball portion proximate to the receiver portion and the vertebra insert comprises a receiver portion configured to receive the external ball portion of the vertebra.

8 . A method of varying a minimum bend radius of a vertebra bend restrictor, the method comprising:

disposing a ball portion of a first vertebra in a receiver portion of a second vertebra, wherein the ball portion of the first vertebra and the receiver portion of the second vertebra lock out at a first relative angle between chords of the first vertebra and second vertebra;

passing a flexible conduit through a central passage of the vertebrae;

disposing a vertebra insert between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the vertebra insert restricts the relative angle between the first vertebra and the second vertebra to a second relative angle smaller than the first relative angle between chords of the first vertebra and second vertebra.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the vertebra insert comprises two half sections, and wherein the method further comprises:

banding the two half sections of the vertebra insert around an exterior portion of one of the first vertebra and second vertebra.

10 . A method of deploying a flexible conduit to an offshore location, the method comprising:

assembling a vertebra bend restrictor around a portion of the flexible conduit, wherein the vertebra bend restrictor comprises at least two adjacent vertebrae and provides a first minimum bend radius;

spooling the flexible conduit;

transporting the spooled flexible conduit to the offshore location;

unspooling the flexible conduit;

assembling a vertebra insert between the at least two adjacent vertebrae to provide a second minimum bend radius, wherein the vertebra insert reduces a maximum relative angle between chords of the at least two adjacent vertebrae; and

deploying the flexible conduit.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the vertebra insert comprises two half sections, and wherein the method further comprises:

banding the two half sections of the vertebra insert around an exterior portion of one of the first vertebra and second vertebra.

12 . The method of claim 10 , farther comprising:

recovering the flexible conduit;

removing the vertebra insert; and

re-spooling the flexible conduit.