Variable shape guide apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprisinga flexible, elongated tubular member having a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough,a nickel titanium tube arranged in the tubular member to extend along the central axis of the tubular member and formed to include a lumen extending therethrough, andcontrol means for selectively heating the nickel titanium tube to move the nickel titanium tube to assume a predetermined shape, thereby moving the tubular member so that it assumes a corresponding predetermined shape.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a flexible, elongated tubular member and a tube arranged to lie inside the tubular member. The tube has a lumen extending along the central axis of the tubular member. In one embodiment, the tube is made of a temperature-activated shape memory metal. In another embodiment, the tube is made of superelastic nitinol.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising
a flexible, elongated tubular member having a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough, a nickel titanium tube arranged in the tubular member to extend along the central axis of the tubular member and formed to include a lumen extending therethrough, and control means for selectively heating the nickel titanium tube to move the nickel titanium tube to assume a predetermined shape, thereby moving the tubular member so that it assumes a corresponding predetermined shape.
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5. An apparatus comprising
a flexible, elongated tubular member having a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough, a tube made of temperature-activated shape memory material and formed to include a lumen extending therethrough, the tube being arranged to lie inside the tubular member and positioned to cause the lumen to extend along the central axis of the tubular member, and control means for selectively heating the tube made of shape memory material to move the tube to assume a predetermined shape, thereby moving the tubular member so that it assumes a corresponding predetermined shape.
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12. An apparatus comprising
a flexible, elongated tubular member having a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough, and a tube made of superelastic nitinol and formed to include a lumen extending therethrough, the tube being arranged to lie inside the tubular member and positioned to cause the lumen to extend along the central axis of the tubular member.
Specification