Patent US6491626B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6491626B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Articulation systems for positioning minimally invasive surgical tools
Assignee: Nuvasive Inc
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Filing: 2000-04-13
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Granted: 2002-12-10
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Expires: 2020-04-13
Abstract
Abstract An articulator for positioning a tool during a surgical procedure, comprising: a longitudinally extending body; a plurality of transverse grooves extending inwardly from opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body; and a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body, the plurality of recesses defining an articulation control wire lumen and a tool control wire lumen, and wherein the tool control lumen is disposed collinear with a neutral bending axis of the articulator.
Inventors
- 👤 Corbett W. Stone
- 👤 David G. Matsuura
- 👤 Walter D. Gillespie
- 👤 James F. Marino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B1/00; F; F16; F16D; F16D1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; A61B1/0057; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00305; A61B2017/00309; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An articulator for positioning a tool during a surgical procedure, comprising: a longitudinally extending body; a plurality of transverse grooves extending inwardly from opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body; and a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body, the plurality of recesses defining an articulation control wire lumen and a tool control wire lumen, and wherein the tool control lumen is disposed collinear with a neutral bending axis of the articulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An articulator for positioning a tool during a surgical procedure, comprising: a longitudinally extending body; a plurality of transverse grooves extending inwardly from opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body; and a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body, the plurality of recesses defining an articulation control wire lumen and a tool control wire lumen, and wherein the tool control lumen is disposed collinear with a neutral bending axis of the articulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein the transverse grooves extend inwardly from each of the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body in an alternating manner along the length of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recesses extend inwardly from the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body in an alternating manner along the length of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein the transverse grooves extend further inwardly from one of the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body than from the other opposite side of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein, innermost ends of the transverse grooves are rounded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein, the longitudinally extending body is generally cylindrical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein, the articulator is integrally formed as a single monolithic block of material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The articulator of claim 7 , wherein, the articulator is injection molded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The articulator of claim 7 , wherein, the articulator is formed by stereolithography.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein, the therapeutic tool is selected from the group consisting of a scraper, a curette, a grasper, forceps, and scissors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein, the plurality of transverse grooves are spaced evenly apart along the length of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The articulator of claim 1 , wherein, the plurality of transverse grooves are spaced unevenly apart along the length of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The articulator of claim 12 , wherein, the plurality of transverse grooves are spaced progressively closer together towards a distal end of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The articulator of claim 12 , further comprising: a tool control wire received in the tool control wire lumen; and an articulator control wire received in the articulation control wire lumen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
An articulator for positioning a tool during a surgical procedure, comprising: a longitudinally extending body; a plurality of transverse grooves extending inwardly from opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body; and a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the opposite sides of the longitudinally extending body, wherein the plurality of recesses define a central control wire lumen, and wherein one side of the central control wire lumen is disposed collinear with a neutral bending axis of the articulator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
An articulator for positioning a tool during a surgical procedure, comprising: a longitudinally extending body; a plurality of transverse grooves extending inwardly from opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body; and a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the opposite sides of the longitudinally extending body, wherein the plurality of recesses define a central control wire lumen, and wherein one side of the central control wire lumen is disposed collinear with a neutral bending axis of the articulator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The articulator of claim 15 , wherein the transverse grooves extend inwardly from each of the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body in an alternating manner along the length of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The articulator of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of recesses extend inwardly from the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body in an alternating manner along the length of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The articulator of claim 15 , wherein the transverse grooves extend further inwardly from one of the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body than from the other opposite side of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The articulator of claim 15 , wherein the articulator is integrally formed as a single monolithic block of material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The articulator of claim 15 , wherein the central control wire lumen is dimensioned to receive both an articulation control wire and a tool control wire therethrough.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The articulator of claim 15 , wherein the central control wire lumen has a racetrack-shaped cross section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The articulator of claim 15 , wherein the central control wire lumen has a keyhole-shaped cross section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
71 words
An articulator for positioning a tool during a surgical procedure, comprising: a longitudinally extending body; a plurality of transverse grooves extending inwardly from opposite sides of the longitudinally extending body; a tool control wire lumen extending longitudinally through the longitudinally extending body, the tool control wire lumen being collinear with a neutral bending axis of the articulator; and an articulation control wire lumen disposed parallel to the tool control wire lumen.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
71 words
An articulator for positioning a tool during a surgical procedure, comprising: a longitudinally extending body; a plurality of transverse grooves extending inwardly from opposite sides of the longitudinally extending body; a tool control wire lumen extending longitudinally through the longitudinally extending body, the tool control wire lumen being collinear with a neutral bending axis of the articulator; and an articulation control wire lumen disposed parallel to the tool control wire lumen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The articulator of claim 23 , wherein the transverse grooves extend inwardly from each of the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body in an alternating manner along the length of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The articulator of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of recesses extend inwardly from the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body in an alternating manner along the length of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The articulator of claim 23 , wherein the transverse grooves extend further inwardly from one of the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinally extending body than from the other opposite side of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The articulator of claim 23 , wherein the articulator is integrally formed as a single monolithic block of material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The articulator of claim 27 , wherein, the articulator is injection molded.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The articulator of claim 27 , wherein, the articulator is formed by steriolithography.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The articulator of claim 23 , wherein, the therapeutic tool is selected from the group consisting of a scraper, a curette, a grasper, forceps, and scissors.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The articulator of claim 23 , further comprising: a tool control wire received in the tool control wire lumen; and an articulator control wire received in the articulation control wire lumen.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The articulator of claim 23 , wherein, the tool control wire lumen is dimensioned to open into innermost ends of the transverse grooves extending inwardly from each of the opposite lateral sides.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The articulator of claim 32 , wherein, the neutral bending axis passes mid-way between innermost ends of opposite transverse grooves.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The articulator of claim 23 , wherein, the articulation control wire lumen passes through the transverse grooves extending from only one side of the longitudinally extending body.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The articulator of claim 23 , wherein, the innermost ends of the transverse grooves extending from the opposite lateral sides extend past one another.
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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) | 2005-12-09 | 2006-06-10 | 2006-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-09 | 2010-06-10 | 2010-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-09 | 2014-06-10 | 2014-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |