Invention Grant
US08845523B2 Endoscope apparatus, actuators, and methods therefor 有权
内窥镜装置,致动器及其方法

Endoscope apparatus, actuators, and methods therefor
Abstract:
There is disclosed a MicroFlex Scope (MFS). The MFS is a dexterous endoscope providing access, direct visualization, tissue sampling, and treatment, of body lumens. In one embodiment, the distal end of the MFS is an ultra-flexible tip that comprises a plurality of thin, curved shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator elements attached to at least one structural skeleton, a coil spring skeleton or hinge structure. The SMA actuator elements in each structural skeleton segment are indirectly heated by a heater element and produce force in response to their temperature relative to specific thresholds. In configurations comprising a plurality of actuator elements, multiplexing/demultiplexing of heating currents and sensor voltages may be accomplished via a parallel bus and demultiplexing circuit. In this regard, a demultiplexing circuit using standard microelectronic fabrication techniques may be designed to achieve individual sensing and control over each actuator element.
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