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SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ENDOSCOPE |
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Principal Investigator: J.ABADIE
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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
This invention uses an innovative method to activate endoscope tips. Using Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) the tip orientation is controlled without complex mechanical transmission between it and the operator. Electrically controlled, the active tip orientation is independent of the endoscope curvature and length.
The SMA* placed directly in the endoscope tip, are controlled by an integrated Peltier effect system (a thermoelectric transducer). Such a transducer operates thermal transfers in the tip in order to heat and cool the SMA actuators with few perturbation for the surrounding environment. Tested tips are 6 mm in diameter with 4 mm inner diameter for the waythrough.
*SMA react to the temperature
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