TUBE AND STEERABLE INTRODUCTION ELEMENT COMPRISING THE TUBE

The invention relates to a tube (2) and a steerable introduction element like a catheter, an endoscope or a sheath comprising the tube. The tube comprises a composite material including a shape memory alloy material (12) and a non-shape-memory polymer material (22). The tube is used for making the i...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. Verfasser: HAKKENS, Franciscus Johannes Gerardus
Format: Patent
Sprache:eng ; fre ; ger
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:The invention relates to a tube (2) and a steerable introduction element like a catheter, an endoscope or a sheath comprising the tube. The tube comprises a composite material including a shape memory alloy material (12) and a non-shape-memory polymer material (22). The tube is used for making the introduction element steerable in a relatively easy way by modifying the temperature of the tube as required for achieving a preferred bending of the introduction element. By using this steering mechanism the introduction element can be positioned relatively accurately, because the composite material includes a non-shape-memory polymer material, which is more stable than, for instance, a shape-memory polymer material and which may be optimized for other properties like hardness, stiffness, et cetera. Furthermore, using the tube for steering an introduction element can lead to cost reductions and can enable miniaturization.