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Title: Apparatus for loading shape memory gripper mechanisms

Abstract

A method and apparatus for loading deposit material, such as an embolic coil, into a shape memory polymer (SMP) gripping/release mechanism. The apparatus enables the application of uniform pressure to secure a grip by the SMP mechanism on the deposit material via differential pressure between, for example, vacuum within the SMP mechanism and hydrostatic water pressure on the exterior of the SMP mechanism. The SMP tubing material of the mechanism is heated to above the glass transformation temperature (Tg) while reshaping, and subsequently cooled to below Tg to freeze the shape. The heating and/or cooling may, for example, be provided by the same water applied for pressurization or the heating can be applied by optical fibers packaged to the SMP mechanism for directing a laser beam, for example, thereunto. At a point of use, the deposit material is released from the SMP mechanism by reheating the SMP material to above the temperature Tg whereby it returns to its initial shape. The reheating of the SM material may be carried out by injecting heated fluid (water) through an associated catheter or by optical fibers and an associated beam of laser light, for example.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2]
  1. Walnut Creek, CA
  2. Livermore, CA
  3. Concord, CA
  4. Pleasanton, CA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
873768
Patent Number(s):
US 6240630
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
apparatus; loading; shape; memory; gripper; mechanisms; method; deposit; material; embolic; coil; polymer; smp; gripping; release; mechanism; enables; application; uniform; pressure; secure; grip; via; differential; example; vacuum; hydrostatic; water; exterior; tubing; heated; glass; transformation; temperature; tg; reshaping; subsequently; cooled; below; freeze; heating; cooling; provided; applied; pressurization; optical; fibers; packaged; directing; laser; beam; thereunto; released; reheating; whereby; returns; initial; carried; injecting; fluid; associated; catheter; light; release mechanism; water pressure; heated fluid; deposit material; temperature tg; optical fibers; laser beam; optical fiber; laser light; differential pressure; shape memory; memory polymer; smp material; uniform pressure; embolic coil; material via; apparatus enables; /29/606/

Citation Formats

Lee, Abraham P, Benett, William J, Schumann, Daniel L, Krulevitch, Peter A, and Fitch, Joseph P. Apparatus for loading shape memory gripper mechanisms. United States: N. p., 2001. Web.
Lee, Abraham P, Benett, William J, Schumann, Daniel L, Krulevitch, Peter A, & Fitch, Joseph P. Apparatus for loading shape memory gripper mechanisms. United States.
Lee, Abraham P, Benett, William J, Schumann, Daniel L, Krulevitch, Peter A, and Fitch, Joseph P. 2001. "Apparatus for loading shape memory gripper mechanisms". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/873768.
@article{osti_873768,
title = {Apparatus for loading shape memory gripper mechanisms},
author = {Lee, Abraham P and Benett, William J and Schumann, Daniel L and Krulevitch, Peter A and Fitch, Joseph P},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus for loading deposit material, such as an embolic coil, into a shape memory polymer (SMP) gripping/release mechanism. The apparatus enables the application of uniform pressure to secure a grip by the SMP mechanism on the deposit material via differential pressure between, for example, vacuum within the SMP mechanism and hydrostatic water pressure on the exterior of the SMP mechanism. The SMP tubing material of the mechanism is heated to above the glass transformation temperature (Tg) while reshaping, and subsequently cooled to below Tg to freeze the shape. The heating and/or cooling may, for example, be provided by the same water applied for pressurization or the heating can be applied by optical fibers packaged to the SMP mechanism for directing a laser beam, for example, thereunto. At a point of use, the deposit material is released from the SMP mechanism by reheating the SMP material to above the temperature Tg whereby it returns to its initial shape. The reheating of the SM material may be carried out by injecting heated fluid (water) through an associated catheter or by optical fibers and an associated beam of laser light, for example.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/873768}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001}
}