Granted Patent B2

US 12,678,147 · App. 18/215,762 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Inventor: Enrique Romo (Dublin, CA)

Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.

A61B17/00234A61B1/0055A61B1/0056A61B34/30A61M25/0138A61M25/0147A61B2034/301A61B2034/306Y10T74/20323

Abstract

Claims (35)

1 . A bending section to carry a tool for use in medical procedures, the bending section comprising:

a body including a first strut and a second strut; and

a channel formed through the body, the channel comprising:

a top portion defining a slot extending along a length of the channel and thereby separating the first strut from the second strut, the first and second struts extending parallel to a neutral axis of the body along the length of the channel;

a bottom portion extending along the length of the channel, wherein at least a section of the bottom portion of the channel has materials removed to form a plurality of gaps each shaped in a teardrop form tapering toward the bottom portion; and

a wire arranged along the bottom portion and configured to, when pulled, close a distance between the plurality of gaps and bend the body toward the bottom portion,

wherein the first strut and the second strut partially surround the channel.

2 . The bending section of claim 1 , wherein the cross section of the body is C-shaped.

3 . The bending section of claim 2 , wherein the first strut and the second strut are capable of bending toward a center of the cross section.

4 . The bending section of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a non-cylindrical cross-section.

5 . The bending section of claim 1 , wherein the bending section articulates an instrument comprising an end effector.

6 . The bending section of claim 5 , wherein the end effector is passable through the channel such that it is interchangeable.

7 . The bending section of claim 5 , wherein the end effector comprises forceps, scissors, a laser, a cautery tool, or a needle.

8 . The bending section of claim 5 , wherein the end effector comprises a pair of tines.

9 . The bending section of claim 5 , wherein the channel comprises a top pathway, a bottom pathway and a narrowed region therebetween connecting the top and bottom pathways.

10 . The bending section of claim 5 , wherein the channel further receives an ancillary component of the end effector.

11 . The bending section of claim 10 , wherein the ancillary component comprises fibers or electrical wires.

12 . An apparatus to facilitate bending of an instrument comprising:

a wire;

a rod including a bendable section, the bendable section comprising:

a channel formed through a portion of the rod, wherein the rod has a non-uniform wall thickness such that the channel has a non-circular cross-section;

a strut portion extending along a length of the channel including a first and a second strut separated from each other by a slot of the channel; and

a teardrop section extending along the length of the channel and positioned opposite the strut portion, wherein the teardrop section has materials removed to form a plurality of leaves that are separated from one another by a gap shaped in a teardrop form tapering away from the strut portion,

wherein the bendable section is configured to bend when tension is applied to the wire.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the wire is configured to, when tension is applied to the tendon, close a distance between the plurality of gaps.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the rod is formed from a superplastic material.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the channel is configured to receive at least one ancillary component including one or more of a pull wire, an actuation wire, an optical fiber, an electrical wire, a pneumatic component, a hydraulic component, and an open lumen.

16 . A medical apparatus, comprising:

a rod including a bending section that includes:

a channel formed through a portion of the rod, wherein the rod has a non-uniform wall thickness such that the channel has a non-circular cross-section;

a strut portion extending along a length of the channel including a first strut and a second strut separated from each other by a slot of the channel; and

a teardrop section extending along the length of the channel and positioned opposite the strut portion, wherein the teardrop section has materials removed to form a plurality of leaves that are separated from one another by a gap shaped in a teardrop form tapering away from the strut portion.

17 . The medical apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the rod is formed from a superplastic material.

18 . The medical apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the channel is configured to receive at least one ancillary component including one or more of a pull wire, an actuation wire, an optical fiber, an electrical wire, a pneumatic component, a hydraulic component, and an open lumen.

19 . The medical apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the channel has a top portion and a bottom portion, and the top portion separates the first strut from the second strut, and wherein the bottom portion is wider than the top portion.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (400)