Bending structure and conductive device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12441008-B2
Application number	US-202218275805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2022
Priority date	Feb 25, 2021
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A bending structure includes a bending part, which has an inner coil part and an outer coil part that are elastically bendable and stretchable, and in which a corresponding winding section of the inner coil part is fit in a space between adjacent winding sections of the outer coil part. At least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part is conductive and forms a conductive path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bending structure, comprising:
a bending part, which has an inner coil part and an outer coil part that are elastically bendable and stretchable, and in which a corresponding winding section of the inner coil part is fit in a space between adjacent winding sections of the outer coil part, wherein at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part is conductive and forms a conductive path; a flexible member, being conductive and provided on an inner side of the inner coil part, wherein the flexible member is insulated from at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part forming the conductive path and forms another conductive path; and an end member that is conductive and connected with an end part of at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part forming the conductive path, wherein the end member forms the conductive path with at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part.

2 . The bending structure as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein both of the inner coil part and the outer coil part are conductive and form the conductive path.

3 . A conductive device, using the bending structure as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the conductive device has an electrode member that is conductive and connected with the conductive path formed by the at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part that are conductive.

4 . A bending structure, comprising:
a bending part, which has an inner coil part and an outer coil part that are elastically bendable and stretchable, and in which a corresponding winding section of the inner coil part is fit in a space between adjacent winding sections of the outer coil part, wherein at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part is conductive and forms a conductive path; a driving wire, being conductive and provided on an outer side of the outer coil part, wherein the driving wire is insulated from at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part forming the conductive path and forms another conductive path; and an end member that is conductive and connected with an end part of at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part forming the conductive path, wherein the end member forms the conductive path with at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part.

5 . A conductive device, using the bending structure as claimed in claim 4 , comprising:
a first electrode member, being conductive and connected with one of the conductive paths; a second electrode member, being conductive and connected with an other of the conductive paths; and an insulation member, provided between the first electrode member and the second electrode member.

6 . The conductive device as claimed in claim 5 ,
wherein the first electrode member and the second electrode member are forceps members for performing a holding operation.

7 . A bending structure, comprising:
a bending part, which has an inner coil part and an outer coil part that are elastically bendable and stretchable, and in which a corresponding winding section of the inner coil part is fit in a space between adjacent winding sections of the outer coil part, wherein at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part is conductive and forms a conductive path, wherein both of the inner coil part and the outer coil part are conductive, the inner coil part and the outer coil part are insulated from each other, the conductive path is formed by one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part, and another conductive path is formed by an other of the inner coil part and the outer coil part; and an end member that is conductive and connected with an end part of at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part forming the conductive path, wherein the end member forms the conductive path with at least one of the inner coil part and the outer coil part.

Assignees

• Nhk Spring Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hirata Takafumi
• Hotoda Yuki

Classifications

• B25J19/0025

  Means for supplying energy to the end effector · CPC title

• A61B34/71

  Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms · CPC title

• A61B18/1445

  at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod · CPC title

• A61B2034/305

  Details of wrist mechanisms at distal ends of robotic arms · CPC title

• B25J17/02 Primary

  Wrist joints · CPC title