| abstract |
Articulation devices, systems, methods for articulation, and methods for fabricating articulation structures will often include simple balloon arrays, with inflation of the balloons interacting with elongate skeletal support structures so as to locally alter articulation of the skeleton. The balloons can be mounted to a substrate of the array, with the substrate having channels that can direct inflation fluid to a subset of the balloons. The articulation array structure may be formed using simple planar 3-D printing, extrusion, and/or laser micromachining techniques. The skeleton may comprise a simple helical coil or interlocking helical channels, and the array can be used to locally deflect or elongate an axis of the coil under control of a processor. Liquid inflation fluid may be directed to the balloons from an inflation fluid canister, and may vaporize within the channels or balloons of the articulation system, with the inflation system preferably including valves controlled by the processor. The articulation structures can be employed in minimally invasive medical catheter systems, and also for industrial robotics, for supporting imaging systems, for entertainment and consumer products, and the like. |