Patent US5348259A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5348259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flexible, articulable column
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1992-02-10
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Granted: 1994-09-20
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Expires: 2012-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A flexible, articulable column having a central cable tensioning member with a series of ball and socket members strung on the cable forming articulable joints. Each socket member has at least one conical opening with internal teeth engagable with a ball which is made of an elastomeric polymer. When the cable is tensioned, the sockets move toward each other and the balls are indented by the teeth of the socket. The column thus becomes rigid. Releasing the tension returns the column to the flexible state.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernesto E. Blanco
- 👤 William Schnorr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:39
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/20; F16M11/24; F16M11/40; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61B17/115; A61B17/1155; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00305; A61B2017/00314; A61B2017/00318; A61B2017/00323; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; F16M2200/00; F16M2200/02; F16M2200/021; F16M2200/022; F16M2200/024; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32008; Y10T403/32024; Y10T403/32032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A flexible, articulable column having an axis defined by a cable tensioning member comprising: a series of balls and socket members slidably strung along the cable tensioning member to form articulable joints; each socket member having at least one generally conical opening with internal "V" shaped teeth engagable with one of said balls; the ball being softer than the socket such that when the cable applies tension, pulling the balls and sockets together, the teeth indent the balls and the column becomes rigid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flexible, articulable column having an axis defined by a cable tensioning member comprising: a series of balls and socket members slidably strung along the cable tensioning member to form articulable joints; each socket member having at least one generally conical opening with internal "V" shaped teeth engagable with one of said balls; the ball being softer than the socket such that when the cable applies tension, pulling the balls and sockets together, the teeth indent the balls and the column becomes rigid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A flexible, articulable column having an axis defined by a cable tensioning member comprising: a series of elastomeric polymer balls and socket members slidably strung along the cable tensioning member to form articulable joints; each socket member having at least one generally conical opening with internal "V" shaped teeth engagable with one of said elastomeric polymer balls; the ball being softer than the socket such that when the cable applies tension, pulling the balls and sockets together, the teeth indent the balls and the column becomes rigid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A flexible, articulable column having an axis defined by a cable tensioning member comprising: a series of elastomeric polymer balls and socket members slidably strung along the cable tensioning member to form articulable joints; each socket member having at least one generally conical opening with internal "V" shaped teeth engagable with one of said elastomeric polymer balls; the ball being softer than the socket such that when the cable applies tension, pulling the balls and sockets together, the teeth indent the balls and the column becomes rigid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
An articulable column according to claim 2 wherein the balls are Nylon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
An articulable column according to claim 2 wherein the balls are Teflon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
An articulable column according to claim 2 wherein the balls are Delrin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A flexible, articulable column having an axis defined by a cable tensioning member comprising: a series of elastomeric polymer balls and socket members slidably strung along the cable tensioning member to form articulable joints; each socket member having at least one, generally conical, opening with substantially "V" shaped tapered internal teeth engagable with one of said elastomeric polymer balls; the ball being softer than the socket such that when the cable applies tension, pulling the balls and sockets together, the teeth indent the balls and the column becomes rigid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A flexible, articulable column having an axis defined by a cable tensioning member comprising: a series of elastomeric polymer balls and socket members slidably strung along the cable tensioning member to form articulable joints; each socket member having at least one, generally conical, opening with substantially "V" shaped tapered internal teeth engagable with one of said elastomeric polymer balls; the ball being softer than the socket such that when the cable applies tension, pulling the balls and sockets together, the teeth indent the balls and the column becomes rigid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
An articulable column according to claim 6 wherein the balls are Nylon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
An articulable column according to claim 6 wherein the balls are Teflon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
An articulable column according to claim 6 wheien the balls are Delrin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
A surgical stapler comprising: a flexible, articulable column having an axis defined by a cable tensioning member; staple inserting means at one end of the column and cable control means at the opposite end; a series of plastic balls and socket members slidably strung along the cable to form articulable joints; each socket member having at least one generally conical opening with internal teeth engagable with one of said plastic balls; the ball being softer than the socket such that, upon the cable control means being actuated, the cable applies tension, pulling the balls and sockets together, the teeth indenting the balls to make the column rigid whereupon staples are fired, and when the cable tension is released, the column returns to flexible condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A surgical stapler comprising: a flexible, articulable column having an axis defined by a cable tensioning member; staple inserting means at one end of the column and cable control means at the opposite end; a series of plastic balls and socket members slidably strung along the cable to form articulable joints; each socket member having at least one generally conical opening with internal teeth engagable with one of said plastic balls; the ball being softer than the socket such that, upon the cable control means being actuated, the cable applies tension, pulling the balls and sockets together, the teeth indenting the balls to make the column rigid whereupon staples are fired, and when the cable tension is released, the column returns to flexible condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A surgical stapler according to claim 10 wherein the balls are Nylon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A surgical stapler according to claim 10 wherein the balls are Teflon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A surgical stapler according to claim 10 wherein the balls are Delrin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
An articulable column according to claim 1 wherein balls are Nylon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
An articulable column according to claim 1 wherein balls are Teflon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
An articulable column according to claim 1 whetrein the balls are Delrin.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-19 | 1998-03-21 | 1998-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-19 | 2002-03-21 | 2002-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-19 | 2006-03-21 | 2006-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |