Medical capsule device actuated by radio-frequency (RF) signal
First Claim
1. A medical capsule device adapted for release and/or collection of a substance at a defined location in the alimentary tract, said device comprising:
- a capsule body defining one or more apertures in the circumferential wall thereof;
a rotatably movable sleeve member positioned within said capsule body and defining one or more apertures in the circumferential wall thereof corresponding to said apertures in said capsule body, said sleeve member adapted to be rotatably movable from a closed position at which said apertures thereof are not in registration with said capsule body apertures to an open position at which said apertures thereof are in registration with said capsule body apertures and back to said closed position;
actuator means positioned in said sleeve member for rotatably moving said sleeve member and comprising (1) a circuit inductively coupled to an alternating magnetic field and operatively connected with (2) at least one actuator member made of a shape memory alloy responsive to heat obtained from said circuit; and
actuator engagement means associated with said capsule body and engaged by said actuator member during heat responsive movement so that said actuator member movement will thereby serve to rotatably move said sleeve member from said closed position to said open position and back to said closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical capsule device for releasing a substance at a defined location in the gastrointestinal tract. The device has a capsule body defining one or more apertures in the circumferential wall thereof and a sleeve valve rotatably positioned therein having one or more corresponding apertures in the circumferential wall thereof. The sleeve valve comprises a coil and electrically connected heatable resistor which are operatively associated with an actuator member formed of a shape memory alloy responsive to heat and which will move from a non-heated first shape to a heated second shape. Actuator stop means are provided in the capsule body for being engaged by the actuator member during movement from the non-heated first shape to the heated second shape so that the actuator member movement will serve to rotate the sleeve valve to an open position.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A medical capsule device adapted for release and/or collection of a substance at a defined location in the alimentary tract, said device comprising:
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a capsule body defining one or more apertures in the circumferential wall thereof; a rotatably movable sleeve member positioned within said capsule body and defining one or more apertures in the circumferential wall thereof corresponding to said apertures in said capsule body, said sleeve member adapted to be rotatably movable from a closed position at which said apertures thereof are not in registration with said capsule body apertures to an open position at which said apertures thereof are in registration with said capsule body apertures and back to said closed position; actuator means positioned in said sleeve member for rotatably moving said sleeve member and comprising (1) a circuit inductively coupled to an alternating magnetic field and operatively connected with (2) at least one actuator member made of a shape memory alloy responsive to heat obtained from said circuit; and actuator engagement means associated with said capsule body and engaged by said actuator member during heat responsive movement so that said actuator member movement will thereby serve to rotatably move said sleeve member from said closed position to said open position and back to said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification