Micromachined actuators/sensors for intratubular positioning/steering
US5771902A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/2926
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Micromachined thin film cantilever actuators having means for individually controlling the deflection of the cantilevers, valve members, and rudders for steering same through blood vessels, or positioning same within a blood vessel, for example. Such cantilever actuators include tactile sensor arrays mounted on a catheter or guide wire tip for navigation and tissues identification, shape-memory alloy film based catheter/guide wire steering mechanisms, and rudder-based steering devices that allow the selective actuation of rudders that use the flowing blood itself to help direct the catheter direction through the blood vessel. While particularly adapted for medical applications, these cantilever actuators can be used for steering through piping and tubing systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.