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:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 12, 1999
Clyde Nason, Valencia, CA (US);
William H. Stutz, Jr., Eagle Rock, CA (US);
Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Northridge, CA (US);
Abstract
A drive mechanism for a medication delivery device includes a force receiving member, a force applying member and a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. The force applying member is operatively coupled to the force receiving member to move the force receiving member to a different position relative to the force applying member. The shape memory alloy actuator is formed from a shape memory alloy material and is operatively coupled to the force applying member. The shape memory alloy actuator is heat activated to distort the shape memory actuator from a first shape to a second shape to activate the force applying member to act upon the force receiving member to move the force receiving member to a different position relative to the force applying member. Also, the shape memory alloy actuator is returned to the first shape from the second shape after the force receiving member is moved to a different position relative to the force applying member. In addition, the shape memory alloy actuator may be activated by applying and removing an electrical current to the shape memory element. For example, the drive mechanism may further include a power source coupled to the shape memory actuator to provide the electric current to the shape memory actuator. In addition, the shape memory actuator may be formed from Nitinol material, such as a wire.