Stryker Corporation
Surgical Instrument With Steerable Camera

Abstract:

A surgical instrument for use on a patient. A tube assembly comprises an outer tube having a curved region, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and comprising a single lumen, and a handle coupled to the outer tube. A viewing assembly is disposed within the single lumen. An actuation assembly is coupled to the inner tube and configured to steer the viewing assembly. The handle and the actuation assembly are complimentarily arranged such that the outer tube is positionable and the viewing assembly is steerable a user grasping the tube assembly with a single hand. The single lumen may define an irrigation flow path in communication with a fluid source and provide pressurized irrigation flow. An interior tube may be provided comprising an articulating region configured to articulate between a substantially curved condition and a substantially straight condition. Methods of manipulating an instrument are also disclosed.