Active guide wire and method of making the same
US6936015B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/09141
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An active guide wire (1) that can be used in a narrow blood vessel in a complicate vascular system such as intracerebral is disclosed as well as a method of making the same. The active wire comprises a bias coil spring (3); an outer tube (4) having the bias coil spring (3) sheathed therewith and providing an external wall for the active wire guide (1); and a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator (5) in the form of a flat sheet anchored in and securely connected to the outer tube (4), wherein the flat sheet SMA actuator (5) is shape memorized so as to bend in a direction of the thickness of the flat sheet and has a shape running zigzag longitudinally thereof. The actuator (5) is energized with an electric current and thereby heated to have its leading end bent.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.