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US 11,931,893 B2Granted
Devices with low melting point alloy for control of device flexibility
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsFarshid Alambeigi, Reza Seifabadi, Mehran Armand
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuum device/manipulator includes a first flexible tube, a low melting point (LMP) alloy disposed within the first flexible tube, and a temperature adjustment element that applies heat or cooling to change a phase of the LMP alloy. Changing the phase of the LMP alloy controls a flexibility of the first flexible tube.
Claims12
A grasper comprising:
- a flexible membrane;
- a low melting point (LMP) alloy disposed within the flexible membrane;
- and
- a temperature adjustment element configured to apply heat or cooling to change a phase of the LMP alloy,
- wherein changing the phase of the LMP alloy controls a flexibility of the flexible membrane, and
- wherein the grasper is configured to cause the flexible membrane to engage an object in an instance in which the LMP alloy is in a liquid phase and then cause the temperature adjustment element to cause the LMP alloy to change to a solid phase, wherein the change to the solid phase causes a rigid engagement of the flexible membrane and the object.
3 more elements
A grasper comprising:
- a flexible membrane;
- a low melting point (LMP) alloy disposed within the flexible membrane;
- a temperature adjustment element configured to apply heat or cooling to change a phase of the LMP alloy;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- control a temperature of the LMP alloy, via control of the temperature adjustment element, to selectively cause the LMP alloy to be in:
- a liquid phase while the flexible membrane is in contact with the object to conform to contours of the object;
- and
- a solid phase to grasp the object via a rigid engagement of the flexible membrane with the object.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.