US 12,465,200 B2
Steerable micro-endoscope having an electro-surgery tool
Marek Sekowski, Pacific Palisades, CA (US); Mark Simon, Westlake Village, CA (US); and Russ Meek, Sierra Madre, CA (US)
Assigned to Research Development International Corporation, Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed by Research Development International Corporation, Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/132,310.
Application 18/132,310 is a division of application No. 15/751,150, abandoned, previously published as PCT/US2015/056279, filed on Oct. 19, 2015.
Application 15/751,150 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2015/027170, filed on Apr. 22, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/066,340, filed on Oct. 20, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0240520 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 1/005 (2006.01); A61B 1/05 (2006.01); A61B 1/07 (2006.01); G02B 23/24 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/018 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/0052 (2013.01) [A61B 1/0055 (2013.01); A61B 1/0057 (2013.01); A61B 1/05 (2013.01); A61B 1/07 (2013.01); G02B 23/2476 (2013.01); A61B 1/00087 (2013.01); A61B 1/018 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00318 (2013.01); A61B 18/1492 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steerable micro-endoscope comprising a cylindrical elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongated member comprising at least a first lumen, a tensioning wire running in the first lumen, a distal end of the tensioning wire being attached at the distal end of the elongated member and a proximal end of the tensioning wire exiting the first lumen at the proximal end of the elongated member;
the elongated member having a proximal portion extending from the proximal end toward the distal end of the elongated member and a distal portion extending from the distal end to the proximal portion of the elongated member, the proximal portion having a first durometer and the distal portion having a second durometer, lower than the first durometer; the first lumen being arranged such that the distal portion of the elongated body bends when the proximal end of the tensioning wire is pulled;
wherein the elongated member comprises a second lumen; an electrode wire being arranged in the second lumen such that the distal end of the electrode wire does not protrude from the distal portion of the elongated member when the elongated member is not bent, and such that the distal end of the electrode wire protrudes from the distal portion of the elongated member when the elongated member is bent by more than a predetermined angle.