Method of inserting medical devices incorporating SIM alloy elements
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of medical treatment of a mammal which comprises the steps of:
- (a) providing a device comprising an element which comprises a shape memory alloy which displays stress induced martensite behavior at body temperature of the mammal, the element being restrained in a deformed configuration, the restraining means stressing the element thereby inducing stress induced martensite in the alloy;
(b) positioning the device so that the shape memory alloy element is within a mammalian body or in such proximity to a mammalian body that the element and the restraining means are substantially at body temperature; and
(c) at least partially removing the restraining means from the element thereby transforming the element from the deformed configuration, the transformation occurring with the element and the restraining means being substantially at body temperature.
2 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Medical devices which are currently proposed to use elements made from shape memory alloys may be improved by the use of stress-induced martensite alloy elements instead. The use of stress-induced martensite decreases the temperature sensitivity of the devices, thereby making them easier to install and/or remove.
-
Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A method of medical treatment of a mammal which comprises the steps of:
-
(a) providing a device comprising an element which comprises a shape memory alloy which displays stress induced martensite behavior at body temperature of the mammal, the element being restrained in a deformed configuration, the restraining means stressing the element thereby inducing stress induced martensite in the alloy; (b) positioning the device so that the shape memory alloy element is within a mammalian body or in such proximity to a mammalian body that the element and the restraining means are substantially at body temperature; and (c) at least partially removing the restraining means from the element thereby transforming the element from the deformed configuration, the transformation occurring with the element and the restraining means being substantially at body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 38)
-
-
5. A method for installing a medical device within or proximate to a mammalian body such that the device is substantially at body temperature, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a medical device comprising a memory alloy element at least partly formed from a pseudoelastic shape-memory alloy, wherein the shape-memory alloy can display reversible stress-induced martensite at about body temperature such that the shape-memory alloy has a stress-induced martensitic state and an austenitic state, the memory alloy element having (i) a deformed shape when the alloy is in its stress-induced martensitic state and (ii) a different unstressed shape; (b) engaging the memory alloy element with a restraining means at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy for placing the alloy in its stress-induced martensitic state and the memory alloy element in its deformed shape and subsequently positioning the medical device within or proximate to the body at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy while the memory alloy element remains in its deformed shape; and (c) while maintaining the temperature of the memory alloy element above the As of the alloy, disengaging the restraining means from the memory alloy element so that at least a portion of the alloy transforms from its stress-induced martensitic state so that the memory alloy element spontaneously transforms from its deformed shape toward its unstressed shape, wherein substantially all of the transformation occurs from removing the restraining means and not from any change in temperature of the device or the restraining means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for installing a medical device within or proximate to a mammalian body such that the device is substantially at body temperature, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a medical device comprising a memory alloy element at least partly formed from a pseudoelastic shape-memory alloy, wherein the shape-memory alloy can display reversible stress-induced martensite at about body temperature such that the shape-memory alloy has a stress-induced martensitic state and an austenitic state, the memory alloy element having (i) a deformed shape when the alloy is in its stress-induced martensitic state and (ii) a different unstressed shape; (b) placing the memory alloy element within a hollow restraining member at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy for placing the alloy in its stress-induced martensitic state and the memory alloy element in its deformed shape, and positioning the medical device within or proximate to the body at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy while the memory alloy element remains in its deformed shape; and (c) while maintaining the temperature of the memory alloy element above the As of the alloy, causing relative movement between the hollow restraining member and the memory alloy element so that at least a portion of the alloy transforms from its stress-induced martensitic state so that the memory alloy element spontaneously transforms from its deformed shape toward its unstressed shape, wherein substantially all of the transformation occurs from the relative movement and not from any change in temperature of the device or the restraining means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 40, 41)
-
-
14. A method for installing a medical device within or proximate to a mammalian body such that the device is substantially at body temperature, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a medical device comprising a hollow memory alloy element at least partly formed from a pseudoelastic shape-memory alloy, wherein the shape-memory alloy can display reversible stress-induced martensite at about body temperature such that the shape-memory alloy has a stress-induced martensitic state and an austenitic state, the memory alloy element having (i) a deformed shape when the alloy is in its stress-induced martensitic state and (ii) a different unstressed shape; (b) placing a restraining means in the hollow memory alloy element at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy for placing the alloy in its stress-induced martensitic state and the memory alloy element in its deformed shape and positioning the medical device within or proximate to the body at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy while the hollow memory alloy element remains in its deformed shape; and (c) while maintaining the temperature of the memory alloy element above the As of the alloy, causing relative movement between the restraining means and the memory alloy element so that at least a portion of the alloy transforms from its stress-induced martensitic state so that the memory alloy element spontaneously transforms from its deformed shape toward its unstressed shape, wherein substantially all of the transformation occurs from the relative movement and not from any change in temperature of the device or the restraining means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 37)
-
-
16. A method for inserting a medical device into a mammalian body comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a medical device comprising (i) a restraining means and (ii) a memory alloy element at least partly formed from a pseudoelastic shape-memory alloy, wherein the alloy can display reversible stress-induced martensite at about human body temperature such that the alloy has a stress-induced martensitic state and an austenitic state, the memory alloy element having (i) a deformed shape when the alloy is in its stress-induced martensitic state and (ii) a different unstressed shape when the alloy is in its austenitic state; (b) directly contacting the memory alloy element with the restraining means at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy for placing the alloy in its stress-induced martensitic state and deforming the memory alloy element into its deformed shape; and (c) after step (b), while maintaining the temperature of the device above the As of the alloy, inserting the memory alloy element into the human body and at least partly separating the restraining means from the memory alloy element so that at least a portion of the alloy transforms from its stress-induced martensitic state to its austenitic state so that the memory alloy element spontaneously transforms from its deformed shape toward its unstressed shape, wherein substantially all of the transformation occurs from disengaging the restraining means and not from any change in temperature of the device or the restraining means. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A method for inserting a catheter into a mammalian body comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a catheter at least partly formed from a pseudoelastic shape-memory alloy, wherein the alloy can display reversible stress-induced martensite at about body temperature such that the alloy has a stress-induced martensitic state and an austenitic state, the catheter having (i) an easy insertion shape when the alloy is in its stressed-induced martensitic state and (ii) a different unstressed shape when the alloy is in its austenitic state; (b) stressing the catheter with a restraint at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy for placing the alloy in its stress-induced martensitic state and the memory alloy element in its deformed easy insertion shape; (c) after step (b), inserting the catheter into the mammalian body at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy; and (d) after step (c), at least partly disengaging the restraint from the catheter so that at least a portion of the alloy transforms from its stress-induced martensitic state to its austenitic state so that the catheter spontaneously transforms from its easy insertion shape to its unstressed shape, wherein substantially all of the transformation occurs from disengaging the restraint and not from any change in temperature of the catheter or the restraint. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 39)
-
-
25. A method for inserting a catheter into a mammalian body such that the catheter is substantially at body temperature, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a medical device comprising a catheter at least partly formed from a pseudoelastic shape-memory alloy, wherein the alloy can display reversible stress-induced martensite at about body temperature such that the catheter has a stress-induced martensitic state and an austenitic state, the catheter being (i) straightened when the alloy is in its stress-induced martensitic state and (ii) curved when the alloy is in its austenitic state; (b) sliding a straight pin down the catheter axis at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy for placing the alloy in its stress-induced martensitic state and straightening the catheter; and (c) after step (b), while maintaining the temperature of the catheter above As, inserting the catheter into the body and withdrawing the pin from the catheter so that at least a portion of the alloy transforms from its stress-induced martensitic state to its austenitic state so that the catheter spontaneously transforms from being straightened to being curved, wherein substantially all of the transformation occurs from withdrawing the pin from the catheter and not from any change in temperature of the catheter or the pin. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for inserting a medical device into a mammalian body such that the device is substantially at body temperature, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing a medical device comprising a memory alloy element at least partly formed from a pseudoelastic shape-memory alloy, wherein the shape-memory alloy displays reversible stress-induced martensite at about body temperature such that the shape-memory alloy has a stress-induced martensitic state and an austenitic state, the memory alloy element having (i) a straightened shape when the alloy is in its stressed-induced martensitic state and (ii) a different unstressed shape when the alloy is in its austenitic state; (b) placing the memory alloy element into a hollow placement device at a temperature greater than the As of the alloy for placing the alloy in its stress-induced martensitic state and the memory alloy element in its straightened shape; and (c) while maintaining the temperature of the memory alloy element above the As of the alloy, extruding the memory alloy element from the placement device into the body so that at least a portion of the alloy transforms from its stress-induced martensitic state so that the memory alloy element spontaneously transforms from being straightened to being in its unstressed shape, wherein substantially all of the transformation occurs from disengaging the restraining means and not from any change in temperature of the device or the placement device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification