US 12,402,783 B2
Systems and methods for varying stiffness of an endoscopic insertion tube
Golan Salman, Atlit (IL); Igal Shteiman, Kfar Yona (IL); Hadar Schwarcz, Netanya (IL); Jeruham Avron, Haifa (IL); and Christopher Stephen, Roswell, GA (US)
Assigned to EndoChoice, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed by EndoChoice, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/450,520.
Application 18/450,520 is a continuation of application No. 16/716,057, filed on Dec. 16, 2019, granted, now 11,771,310.
Application 16/716,057 is a continuation of application No. 14/838,509, filed on Aug. 28, 2015, granted, now 10,542,877, issued on Jan. 28, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/066,760, filed on Oct. 21, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/043,647, filed on Aug. 29, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0389781 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 1/005 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/0055 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00078 (2013.01); A61B 1/0052 (2013.01); A61B 1/12 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of tensioning an insertion portion of a medical device,
wherein the medical device comprises:
(1) a handle connected to the insertion portion at a proximal portion of the insertion portion,
(2) a bending portion at a distal portion of the insertion portion, and
(3) an actuator,
the method comprising:
actuating the actuator; and
activating a spring to deform the spring, wherein a proximal portion of the spring is connected to a wire extending along a length of the insertion portion, wherein a distal end of the wire is connected to the bending portion such that the wire is pulled when the spring is deformed, wherein a shaft connects the spring to the wire,
wherein the shaft has a U-shaped structure comprising:
a first wall connected to a distal end of the spring; and
a second wall, parallel to the first wall, connected to a proximal end of the wire.