Shape memory polymer (SMP) gripper with a release sensing system

Patent · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:873151

Maitland, Duncan J ^[1]; Lee, Abraham P ^[2]; Schumann, Daniel L ^[3]; Silva, Luiz Da ^[4]

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1. Pleasant Hill, CA
2. Walnut Creek, CA
3. Concord, CA
4. Danville, CA

A system for releasing a target material, such as an embolic coil from an SMP located at the end of a catheter utilizing an optical arrangement for releasing the material. The system includes a laser, laser driver, display panel, photodetector, fiber optics coupler, fiber optics and connectors, a catheter, and an SMP-based gripper, and includes a release sensing and feedback arrangement. The SMP-based gripper is heated via laser light through an optic fiber causing the gripper to release a target material (e.g., embolic coil for therapeutic treatment of aneurysms). Various embodiments are provided for coupling the laser light into the SMP, which includes specific positioning of the coils, removal of the fiber cladding adjacent the coil, a metal coating on the SMP, doping the SMP with a gradient absorbing dye, tapering the fiber optic end, coating the SMP with low refractive index material, and locating an insert between the fiber optic and the coil.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6102917
• OSTI ID: 873151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/606/
absorbing
adjacent
aneurysms
arrangement
catheter
causing
cladding
coating
coil
coils
connectors
coupler
coupling
display
display panel
doping
driver
dye
embodiments
embolic
embolic coil
feedback
feedback arrangement
fiber
fiber optic
fiber optics
gradient
gripper
heated
index
insert
laser
laser driver
laser light
light
located
locating
material
memory
memory polymer
metal
metal coating
optic
optic fiber
optical
optical arrangement
optics
panel
photodetector
polymer
positioning
provided
refractive
refractive index
release
releasing
removal
sensing
shape
shape memory
smp
smp-based
specific
tapering
target
target mater
target material
therapeutic
treatment
utilizing
various
various embodiments
via
via laser