Mechanism for bending elongated body
US4969709A · kind A · utility
114Cited by
5References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 1989 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3576
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A mechanism for bending an elongated body such as the tube of an endoscope without the use of electric elements, thereby eliminating a shock hazard. A shape-memorizing alloy is inserted into the elongated body at portions to be bent. In some embodiments, heat for causing the shape-memorizing alloy and hence the elongated body to bend is produced by light carried by an optical fiber, while in other embodiments frictional heat produced by a mechanism vibrator is employed. In some embodiments using light, a shutter arrangement is added to control the heating of the shape-memorizing alloy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.