US Patent Issued to Intuitive Surgical Operations on May 20 for "Low-friction medical tools having roller-assisted tension members" (California Inventor)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,303,226, issued on May 20, was assigned to Intuitive Surgical Operations Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif.).

"Low-friction medical tools having roller-assisted tension members" was invented by Alain Sadaka (San Jose, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A low-friction medical device is provided having roller-assisted tension members and a friction-reducing curved guide path. The device includes a first link, a second link, and a tension member. A proximal end portion of the first link is coupled to an instrument shaft. A proximal end portion of the second link is rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of first link about a first axis. The seco...