Electroactive polymer activation system for a medical device
First Claim
1. A medical device comprising:
- an elongated member including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;
a balloon disposed about at least a portion of the elongated member adjacent to the distal end, wherein the balloon is fluidly connected to the lumen of the elongated member to receive a fluid for inflating the balloon;
one or more electroactive polymers disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the balloon, wherein the one or more electroactive polymers are electrically actuatable between a first contracted state and a second expanded state;
an activation circuit including a sensor for sensing a measure related to a parameter within the elongated member and/or balloon, wherein the activation circuit is coupled to the one or more electroactive polymers for selectively providing an electrical current to the one or more electroactive polymers according to the sensed measure; and
wherein the activation circuit includes a comparator having a first input connected to the sensor and a second input connected to a predefined threshold value, wherein the sensed measure is compared to the predefined threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An activation circuit for selectively providing an electrical current to one or more electroactive polymers (EAPs) in a medical device is disclosed. The activation circuit may include a sensor for sensing a measure related to a parameter of an elongated member and/or a balloon of the medical device. The electrical current may be provided to the one or more EAPs according to the sensed parameter of the elongated member and/or the balloon of the medical device. In some cases, the activation circuit may include a comparator for comparing the sensed measure to a threshold to determine when the electrical current is applied to the EAPs. The parameter may be a pressure, a fluid flow, a temperature, and/or other suitable parameter.
397 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A medical device comprising:
- an elongated member including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;
a balloon disposed about at least a portion of the elongated member adjacent to the distal end, wherein the balloon is fluidly connected to the lumen of the elongated member to receive a fluid for inflating the balloon;
one or more electroactive polymers disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the balloon, wherein the one or more electroactive polymers are electrically actuatable between a first contracted state and a second expanded state;
an activation circuit including a sensor for sensing a measure related to a parameter within the elongated member and/or balloon, wherein the activation circuit is coupled to the one or more electroactive polymers for selectively providing an electrical current to the one or more electroactive polymers according to the sensed measure; and
wherein the activation circuit includes a comparator having a first input connected to the sensor and a second input connected to a predefined threshold value, wherein the sensed measure is compared to the predefined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- an elongated member including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;
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16. A method of actuating an electroactive polymer between a contracted state and an expanded state in a medical device, the method comprising:
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providing an elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; providing an inflatable balloon disposed about the elongated member adjacent to the distal end, wherein the balloon is fluidly coupled to the lumen; providing one or more electroactive polymers adjacent at least a portion of the balloon; providing an activation circuit including a sensor for sensing a measure related to a parameter within the elongated member and/or balloon, the activation circuit coupled to the one or more electroactive polymers; providing an inflation fluid through the lumen to inflate the balloon; and automatically actuating the electroactive polymer in response to providing the inflation fluid through the lumen, wherein automatically actuating the electroactive polymer includes; sensing a measure related to a parameter within the elongated member and/or balloon with the sensor; comparing the sensed measure to a first threshold; and providing a current to the electroactive polymer when the sensed measure is greater than the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification