US Patent Issued to INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS on Feb. 24 for "Joint structures and related devices and methods" (California Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 24 -- United States Patent no. 12,558,179, issued on Feb. 24, was assigned to INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC. (Sunnyvale, Calif.).

"Joint structures and related devices and methods" was invented by Tibor Hites (Sonora, Calif.) and J. Scot Hart (San Carlos, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A joint structure includes a first link and a second link coupled to one another by a joint. The first link and the second link are articulatable relative to each other about the joint. An actuation element extends through a first guide channel in the first link and a second guide channel in the second link. The first guide channel terminates in an opening where the actuation el...