Medical devices formed from shape memory alloys displaying a stress-retained martensitic state and method for use thereof
First Claim
1. A method for utilizing a deformable article of manufacture adapted to have selectable first and second predetermined configurations, the article being formed at least partly of a shape memory alloy, said method including the steps of a) deforming the article under a deforming force from the first predetermined configuration to the second predetermined configuration while the shape memory alloy is, at least partially, in its stable martensitic state and at a first temperature;
- b) applying a resisting force to the deformed article of manufacture using a restraining means, c) heating the article from the first temperature to a second temperature in the presence of the resisting force, thereby transforming the alloy from its stable martensitic state to its metastable stress-retained martensitic state, while the article remains in its second configuration; and
d) removing the resisting force thereby to allow the alloy to transform to its austenitic state and the shape of the article to be restored substantially to the first configuration.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for utilizing a deformable article of manufacture formed at least partly of a shape memory alloy. The method includes the steps of deforming the article from a first predetermined configuration to a second predetermined configuration while the shape memory alloy is, at least partially, in its stable martensitic state and at a first temperature. A resisting force is applied to the deformed article of manufacture using a restraining means and the article is heated from the first temperature to a second temperature in the presence of the resisting force. The stable martensitic state is transformed to a metastable stress-retained martensitic state. The resisting force is then removed allowing the alloy to transform to its austenitic state and the shape of the article to be restored substantially to its first configuration. Devices primarily medical devices operative by employing this method are also disclosed.
256 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for utilizing a deformable article of manufacture adapted to have selectable first and second predetermined configurations, the article being formed at least partly of a shape memory alloy, said method including the steps of
a) deforming the article under a deforming force from the first predetermined configuration to the second predetermined configuration while the shape memory alloy is, at least partially, in its stable martensitic state and at a first temperature; -
b) applying a resisting force to the deformed article of manufacture using a restraining means, c) heating the article from the first temperature to a second temperature in the presence of the resisting force, thereby transforming the alloy from its stable martensitic state to its metastable stress-retained martensitic state, while the article remains in its second configuration; and
d) removing the resisting force thereby to allow the alloy to transform to its austenitic state and the shape of the article to be restored substantially to the first configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A selectably deformable article of manufacture adapted to have selectable first and second predetermined configurations, said article being formed at least partly of a shape memory alloy, wherein
a) said shape memory alloy is at least partially in a stable martensitic state and at a first temperature, thereby to facilitate deformation of said article from the first predetermined configuration to the second predetermined configuration; - and
b) said shape memory alloy is further transformable from said stable martensitic state to a metastable stress-retained martensitic state, when heated to at least a second temperature in the presence of a predetermined resisting force, the resisting force impeding transformation of said shape memory alloy from said metastable stress-retained martensitic state to an austenitic state and thereby also impeding reversion of said article of manufacture from said second predetermined configuration to said first predetermined configuration. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification