Steerable devices
First Claim
1. A steerable device having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, the steerable device comprising:
- a structure composed of a material that exhibits shape memory characteristics incorporated into at least a portion of the length of the steerable device between the proximal end and the distal end, the structure having a length and a predetermined shape; and
at least one variable heating element disposed in at least a portion of the length of the structure to produce graded bending of the steerable device toward the predetermined shape by varying heat applied to the structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides steerable devices, such as catheters, having length, a proximal end, and a distal end that includes at least one shape memory structure incorporated into the device and configured such that graded or stepped bending of the shape memory structure may be achieved by variably heating the shape memory structure along some or all of the length of the shape memory structure to one or more transformation temperatures associated with the shape memory material either gradually or in steps, and driving devices providing the drive signal and/or energy to heat the shape memory structure to enable graded or stepped control thereof.
60 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A steerable device having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, the steerable device comprising:
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a structure composed of a material that exhibits shape memory characteristics incorporated into at least a portion of the length of the steerable device between the proximal end and the distal end, the structure having a length and a predetermined shape; and
at least one variable heating element disposed in at least a portion of the length of the structure to produce graded bending of the steerable device toward the predetermined shape by varying heat applied to the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A steerable device having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, the steerable device comprising:
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a plurality of structures composed of a material that exhibits shape memory characteristics incorporated into at least a portion of the length of the steerable device between the proximal end and the distal end, each of the structures having a length and a predetermined shape; and
a plurality of variable heating elements disposed in at least a portion of the length of the structure to produce graded bending of the steerable device toward at least one of the predetermined shapes by varying heat applied to at least one of the structures. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a steerable device having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, the steerable device comprising;
a plurality of structures composed of a material that exhibits shape memory characteristics incorporated into at least a portion of the length of the steerable device between the proximal end and the distal end, each of the structures having a length and a predetermined shape, and a plurality of variable heating elements disposed in at least a portion of the length of the structure to produce graded bending of the steerable device toward at least one of the predetermined shapes by varying heat applied to at least one of the structures; and
a driving device that provides a drive signal to heat the plurality of the variable heating elements. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification