| CPC A61M 25/0102 (2013.01) [A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 34/37 (2016.02); F16L 3/1222 (2013.01); A61B 2034/301 (2016.02)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A system comprising:
(a) an instrument driver;
(b) an elongate instrument, the instrument driver being operable to drive movement of the elongate instrument, the elongate instrument including a flexible portion; and
(c) an anti-buckling assembly positioned about the flexible portion of the elongate instrument, the anti-buckling assembly including:
(i) a plurality of support members pivotally coupled together to form a scissor assembly, the scissor assembly being configured to expand and contract along a longitudinal dimension, and
(ii) a plurality of alignment members, the plurality of alignment members being pivotally coupled with the plurality of support members, each alignment member of the plurality of alignment members being configured to maintain an orientation that is perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension as the scissor assembly expands and contracts along the longitudinal dimension, the plurality of alignment members being configured to slidably support the flexible portion of the elongate instrument and thereby restrict buckling of the flexible portion of the elongate instrument.
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