Remote steering system for medical catheter
First Claim
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1. A thermal energy responsive surgical device insertable into the body of a patient, the device comprising:
- a generally cylindrical flexible member comprising a first non-metallic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion;
at least one strip formed from a second non-metallic material, said strip being bonded to said flexible member, said second non-metallic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of said first non-metallic material; and
a supply system for supplying thermal energy to said second non-metallic material strip from a position remote therefrom to effect expansion of said second non-metallic material strip and a change in angular configuration of said flexible member.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for remotely controlling the bending of an elongated member by implementing energy responsive control over a member that is configured from two plastic materials of differing coefficients of thermal expansion. The disclosed methods and apparatus are particularly applicable for use in applications such as surgical catheterization where control of the member from a position relatively remote from the member is desired.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A thermal energy responsive surgical device insertable into the body of a patient, the device comprising:
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a generally cylindrical flexible member comprising a first non-metallic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion; at least one strip formed from a second non-metallic material, said strip being bonded to said flexible member, said second non-metallic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of said first non-metallic material; and a supply system for supplying thermal energy to said second non-metallic material strip from a position remote therefrom to effect expansion of said second non-metallic material strip and a change in angular configuration of said flexible member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 34)
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26. An energy-responsive bi-plastic switch, comprising:
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a first member formed from a first plastic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion; and a second member positioned along at least a portion of said first member and being formed from a second plastic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of said first plastic material, said second member being responsive to thermal energy input to effect a change in angular orientation of the adjacent portion of the first member. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for effecting bending of a first member in response to thermal energy input to a second member positioned adjacent the first member, comprising the steps of:
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forming the first member from a non-metallic flexible material having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion; forming the second member from a non-metallic flexible material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is at least twice that of said first non-metallic material; bonding the second member along at least a portion of the first member; and receiving thermal energy with said second member to effect expansion thereof and bending of the first member in a predetermined direction generally away from said second member. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An energy responsive device operable to change directional orientation along at least a single axis, comprising:
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an elongated flexible member comprising a first non-metallic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion; a plurality of strips coupled to said flexible member, said strips being formed from a second, non-metallic material and arranged its discrete zones along said flexible member, said zones being longitudinally spaced apart from one another along the length of said flexible member; and an energy supply system for imparting thermal energy to a predetermined one or more strip in at least one of said zones from a position remote therefrom to effect expansion of said one or more strips and a change in angular orientation of said flexible member. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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Specification