| CPC B25J 9/065 (2013.01) [A61B 34/35 (2016.02); A61B 34/37 (2016.02); G05B 19/4155 (2013.01); A61B 2034/301 (2016.02); G05B 2219/45117 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A method comprising:
monitoring movement of an elongate device;
receiving user input commanding motion of the elongate device;
determining a mode of operation based on at least one of the monitored movement or the received user input; and
adjusting a property of the elongate device based on a profile associated with the mode of operation, wherein the adjusting the property of the elongate device includes:
maintaining the property of the elongate device substantially the same during a first interval;
reducing a rigidity of the elongate device at a first rate during a second interval; and
reducing the rigidity of the elongate device at a second rate, different from the first rate, during a third interval.
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