Variable Stiffness Steerable Cutter (Drilling, milling, etc) Using Low Melting Point Alloys

Case ID:

C14086

Disclosure Date:

3/21/2016

A new type of cable-driven continuum manipulator (CM) is presented, in which the stiffness of the device along its body length can be controlled using the thermomechanical properties of a phase changing alloy. The liquid phase of the alloy is used for achieving high dexterity and the solid phase for high stiffness. Joule heating and water cooling is used for transitioning the phase changing alloy
between stiff and compliant states. Single-segment and two-segment working prototypes of the CM are demonstrated. The mechanical and thermodynamic features of these prototypes are discussed and their physical performance is
investigated. The invention allows for significantly improved dexterity, high payload to weight ratio, controllable stiffness, energy efficiency, and a large lumen.

Patent Information:

Title	App Type	Country	Serial No.	Patent No.	File Date	Issued Date	Expire Date	Patent Status
DEVICES WITH LOW MELTING POINT ALLOY FOR CONTROL OF DEVICE FLEXBILITY	ORD: Ordinary Utility	United States	15/091,822	10,688,656	4/6/2016	6/23/2020	5/28/2038	Granted
DEVICES WITH LOW MELTING POINT ALLOY FOR CONTROL OF DEVICE FLEXBILITY	DIV: Divisional	United States	16/872,519	11,931,893	5/12/2020	3/19/2024	5/28/2038	Granted

Direct Link:

https://jhu.technologypublisher.com/technology/24951

Inventors:

Category(s):

Technology Classifications > Medical Devices > Surgical,

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For Information, Contact:

Heather Curran

hpretty2@jhu.edu

410-614-0300

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