• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.434-441
• /
• 2013

Bending motion has been used in the surgical instruments with bending structures and tendon mechanisms. A simplified bending angle amplification ratio between the proximal and distal bending joint was derived in this article. The bending structure of disk and rib in the proximal joint was analyzed based on finite element method with an emphasis on the circumferential uniformity of bending stiffness. Regarding the distal joint, optimal design and sensitivity analysis was done with four design variables of outer and inner diameter, rib height and rib width while maximizing the deformation under the stress distribution below the yield stress. Outer diameter and rib width are most critical to maximum deformation as the outer diameter and inner diameters are so to maximum equivalent stress.