Variable shape guide apparatus
First Claim
1. A variable shape guide apparatus comprisinga temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature,spring means housing the memory element for yieldably urging the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape, the spring means having an original shape alterable by movement of the memory element in its first direction toward its predetermined shape,insulation means for preventing electrically conductive contact between the memory element and the spring means, andcontrol means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction against the urging of the spring means to permit an operator to alter the shape of the spring means automatically by heating the memory element, whereby the spring means is allowed to resume its original shape upon cooling of the memory element housed in the spring means, the spring means being an elongated coil spring formed to include a longitudinal cavity and the memory element being positioned in the longitudinal cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A maneuverable distal apparatus includes a temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction. A spring is provided for yieldably urging the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A variable shape guide apparatus comprising
a temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, spring means housing the memory element for yieldably urging the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape, the spring means having an original shape alterable by movement of the memory element in its first direction toward its predetermined shape, insulation means for preventing electrically conductive contact between the memory element and the spring means, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction against the urging of the spring means to permit an operator to alter the shape of the spring means automatically by heating the memory element, whereby the spring means is allowed to resume its original shape upon cooling of the memory element housed in the spring means, the spring means being an elongated coil spring formed to include a longitudinal cavity and the memory element being positioned in the longitudinal cavity.
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4. A variable shape guide apparatus comprising
a temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, spring means housing the memory element for yieldably urging the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape, the spring means having an original shape alterable by movement of the memory element in its first direction toward its predetermined shape, insulation means for preventing electrically conductive contact between the memory element and the spring means, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction against the urging of the spring means to permit an operator to alter the shape of the spring means automatically by heating the memory element, whereby the spring means is allowed to resume its original shape upon cooling of the memory element housed in the spring means, the control means including power supply means, first electrical lead means for coupling the power supply means and the spring means in electrical communication, second electrical lead means for coupling the power supply means and the memory element in electrical communication, and circuit means interconnecting the spring means and the memory element for establishing an electrical circuit electrically connecting the spring means, the memory element, and the control means in series.
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6. A variable shape guide apparatus comprising
a temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, spring means housing the memory element for yieldably urging the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape, the spring means having an original shape alterable by movement of the memory element in its first direction toward its predetermined shape, insulation means for preventing electrically conductive contact between the memory element and the spring means, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction against the urging of the spring means to permit an operator to alter the shape of the spring means automatically by heating the memory element, whereby the spring means is allowed to resume its original shape upon cooling of the memory element housed in the spring means, the spring means including a longitudinal axis, the memory element being positioned along the longitudinal axis to apply a bending force to the spring means upon movement of the memory element to assume its predetermined shape, and the spring means being configured to provide means for converting bending forces to rotation-inducing forces so that the spring means rotates about its longitudinal axis in response to movement of the memory element to assume its predetermined shape.
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7. A variable shape guide apparatus comprising
a temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, spring means housing the memory element for yieldably urging the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape, the spring means having an original shape alterable by movement of the memory element in its first direction toward its predetermined shape, insulation means for preventing electrically conductive contact between the memory element and the spring means, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction against the urging of the spring means to permit an operator to alter the shape of the spring means automatically by heating the memory element, whereby the spring means is allowed to resume its original shape upon cooling of the memory element housed in the spring means, the spring means including spaced-apart distal and proximal portions, and further comprising first means for anchoring one end of the memory element to the distal portion and second means for anchoring the other end of the memory element to the proximal portion.
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10. A variable shape guide apparatus comprising
a temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, spring means housing the memory element for yieldably urging the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape, the spring means having an original shape alterable by movement of the memory element in its first direction toward its predetermined shape, insulation means for preventing electrically conductive contact between the memory element and the spring means, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction against the urging of the spring means to permit an operator to alter the shape of the spring means automatically by heating the memory element, whereby the spring means is allowed to resume its original shape upon cooling of the memory element housed in the spring means, the guide member being an elongated, tubular coil spring formed to provide the cavity and the control means including means for supporting the memory element within the cavity for movement relative to the coil spring so that the memory element applies a displacement force to the coil spring as the memory element moves to assume its predetermined shape causing the guide member to change shape and impart the biasing force to the memory element.
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13. A variable shape guide apparatus comprising
a flexible guide member having an original shape and being formed to include an interior cavity, a temperature-activated memory element within the interior cavity of the flexible guide member, the memory element moving against the flexible guide member to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, thereby altering the shape of the flexible guide member, the guide member providing spring means for yieldably applying a biasing force to the memory element so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature, thereby allowing the flexible guide member to resume its original shape, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved to assume its predetermined shape and alter the shape of the flexible guide member, whereby the guide member is allowed to resume its original shape upon cooling of the memory element, the control means including power supply means, first electrical lead means for coupling the power supply means and the guide member in electrical communication, and second electrical lead means for coupling the power supply means and the memory element in electrical communication, circuit means interconnecting the guide member and the memory element for establishing an electrical circuit electrically connecting the guide member, the memory element, and the control means in series.
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14. A variable shape guide apparatus comprising
a temperature-activated memory element, the memory element moving to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, a guide member formed to include an interior cavity, the memory element being positioned within the interior cavity and movable therein to engage the guide member and alter the shape of the guide member upon movement of the memory element to assume its predetermined shape, the guide member including a tip member having an initial position, the tip member normally occupying the initial position while the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, and rotating means for moving the tip member along a path orbiting the initial position in response to movement of the memory element to assume its predetermined shape and to apply a shape-altering force to the guide member, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element moves to assume its predetermined shape and activates the rotating means.
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19. An apparatus comprising
a base member formed to include an interior chamber and an exterior opening communicating with the interior chamber, the base member being insertable into a body cavity, guide means for selectively steering and aiming the base member along a path through the body cavity, the guide means having a proximal portion anchored in the interior chamber to the base member and a distal portion extending through the exterior opening in a direction away from the base member, at least the distal portion of the guide means being movable relative to the base member and including a tubular coiled spring formed to include a longitudinally extending chamber having an open mouth, a temperature-activated memory element positioned within the longitudinally extending chamber, the memory element moving to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined position so that the distal portion of the guide means is moved relative to the base member, the tubular spring being configured to provide spring means for yieldably applying a biasing force to the memory element so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the predetermined shape upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature to permit the distal portion of the guide member to be moved relative to the base member, and insulation means for preventing electrically conductive contact between the memory element and the tubular spring, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element moves to assume its predetermined shape, thereby moving the distal portion of the guide means relative to the base member.
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23. An apparatus comprising
a base member insertable into a body cavity, guide means within the base member for selectively steering and aiming the base member along a path within the body cavity, the guide means including a tubular coiled spring made of a resilient shape-memory alloy, the tubular coiled spring moving from an initial shape to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, and control means for selectively heating the tubular coiled spring so that the tubular coiled spring moves from its initial shape to assume its predetermined shape, the tubular coiled spring returning toward its initial shape upon being cooled to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature.
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24. An apparatus comprising
an elongated coiled spring formed to include a longitudinal cavity and spaced-apart distal and proximal portions, an elongated temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined shape and shortening in length when heated to a predetermined temperature, the memory element being disposed in the longitudinal cavity and including opposite ends, first means for anchoring one end of the memory element to the distal portion of the coiled spring, second means for anchoring the other end of the memory element to the proximal portion of the coiled spring, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction to apply a movement-inducing transverse shear load to the coiled spring and shortened to apply a movement-inducing axial compression load to assume a shape corresponding to the predetermined shape of the memory element, the first means including an end cap interconnecting the distal portion of the coiled spring and said one end of the memory element, the control means including power supply means, first electrical lead means for coupling the power supply means and the coiled spring in electrical communication, second electrical lead means for coupling the power supply means and the plug in electrical communication, the end cap and the plug being electrical conductors, and insulation means for preventing electrically conductive contact between the plug and the coiled spring.
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25. An apparatus comprising
an elongated coiled spring formed to include a longitudinal cavity and spaced-apart distal and proximal portions, the coiled spring being preformed to assume a predetermined curved shape, an elongated temperature-activated memory element moving in a first direction to assume a predetermined straight shape and shortening in length when heated to a predetermined temperature, the memory element being disposed in the longitudinal cavity and including opposite ends, first means for anchoring one end of the memory element to the distal portion of the coiled spring, second means for anchoring the other end of the memory element to the proximal portion of the coiled spring, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction to apply a movement-inducing transverse shear load to the coiled spring and shortened to apply a movement-inducing axial compression load to the coiled spring, thereby moving the coiled spring from its predetermined curved shape to assume a straight shape corresponding to the predetermined straight shape of the memory element.
Specification