The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 13, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1993
Mir A Imran, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Intelliwire, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A device comprising a flexible elongate member having proximal and distal extremities. A flexible coil spring is provided having proximal and distal extremities. The proximal extremity of the coil spring is secured to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member. A shape-memory alloy element is disposed within and extends substantially longitudinally of the coil spring. The shape-memory alloy element has a memory which makes it attempt to assume a straight shape when an electrical current is passed through and heats the same. The shape-memory alloy element also has a stiffness which increases with the temperature of the element. An electrical current supply is provided for supplying an electrical current to the shape-memory alloy element for changing the stiffness of the shape-memory alloy element to thereby stiffen the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member.