Medical capsule device actuated by radio-frequency (RF) signal
US5170801A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1990 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2210/0023
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.