Patent US2199525A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5771902A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micromachined actuators/sensors for intratubular positioning/steering
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1995-09-25
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2015-09-25
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham P. Lee
- 👤 Peter A. Krulevitch
- 👤 M. Allen Northrup
- 👤 Jimmy C. Trevino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/18; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00318; A61B2017/00345; A61B2017/1205; A61B2017/2926
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
33 words
A device adapted for guiding a tool or the like through a passageway, said device comprising: a plurality of bendable means; and means for individually activating each of said plurality of bendable means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
33 words
A device adapted for guiding a tool or the like through a passageway, said device comprising: a plurality of bendable means; and means for individually activating each of said plurality of bendable means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bendable means comprises a plurality of microcantilevers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said means for selectively activating said plurality of microcantilevers is selected from the group consisting of conductive polymers, thermal means, piezoelectric means, electrostatic means, and shape-memory alloy film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said activating means for said plurality of bendable means comprises a plurality of shape-memory alloy films.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said means for selectively activating said plurality bendable means is selected from the group consisting of shape-memory alloy films, conductive polymers, and piezoelectric polycrystalline silicon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bendable means comprises a plurality of microcantilevers having a length of about 100-500 μm and a deflection capability of under 50 to about 200 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said activating means for said plurality of microcantilevers comprise at least one shape-memory alloy film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said activating means for said plurality of microcantilevers comprise a conductive polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said conductive polymer includes polypyrrole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said activating means for said plurality of microcantilevers, comprise piezoelectric means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Means which may function either as a microactuator or as a force sensor, comprising: a substrate; said substrate being provided with a plurality of microactuator means; and means for activating said plurality of microactuator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Means which may function either as a microactuator or as a force sensor, comprising: a substrate; said substrate being provided with a plurality of microactuator means; and means for activating said plurality of microactuator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The means of claim 11, wherein said microactuator include piezoresistive polycrystalline silicon lines to form a force sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The means of claim 11, wherein said microactuator means include piezoelectric polycrystalline silicon lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The means of claim 11, wherein said microactuator means comprise microcantilevers which include a layer of conductive polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The means of claim 14, wherein said layer of conductive polymer includes polypyrrole.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The means of claim 11, wherein said microactuator means include at least one shape-memory alloy film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination of a device selected from the group consisting of a catheter and a guide wire and the means of claim 11.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The steering device of claim 17, wherein said plurality of microdevices includes at least one microcantilever.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A steering device for guiding microtools through a passageway having a cross-distance as small as about 250 μm, said steering device comprising: a plurality of microdevices positioned in spaced location to each other; and means for selectively activating at least one of said plurality of microdevices.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A steering device for guiding microtools through a passageway having a cross-distance as small as about 250 μm, said steering device comprising: a plurality of microdevices positioned in spaced location to each other; and means for selectively activating at least one of said plurality of microdevices.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The steering device of claim 19, wherein said microdevices include constructed to be directed by a flow of fluid through said passageway.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |