Photothermal actuator and apparatus comprising photothermal actuator
AssigneePENTAX Corporation
InventorKei Masunishi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photothermal actuator comprises an optical fiber bundle, a light inputting apparatus, and a thermal receiving element. The optical fiber bundle is inserted in a tube of a catheter etc. The light inputting apparatus inputs light into the optical fiber bundle. The thermal receiving element is provided on a part of an outer surface of the optical fiber bundle. The thermal receiving element is heated by the light so that the thermal receiving element and a part of the optical fiber bundle are stretched, whereby the optical fiber bundle and the tube are bent.
Claims22
A photothermal actuator comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle that is inserted in a tube;
- a light inputting apparatus that inputs light into said optical fiber bundle;
- and
- a thermal receiving element that is provided on a part of an outer surface of said optical fiber bundle,
- said thermal receiving element being heated by said light so that said thermal receiving element and apart of said optical fiber bundle are stretched, whereby said optical fiber bundle and said tube are bent.
A guide wire having a photothermal actuator, said photothermal actuator comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle that is inserted in a tube;
- a light inputting apparatus that inputs light into said optical fiber bundle;
- and
- a thermal receiving element that is provided on a part of an outer surface of said optical fiber bundle,
- said thermal receiving element being heated by said light so that said thermal receiving element and a part of said optical fiber bundle are stretched, whereby said optical fiber bundle and said tube are bent.
A guide wire having a tube and some photo thermal actuators, each photothermal actuator comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle in which light is inputted by a light inputting apparatus, said optical fiber bundle being inserted in said tube;
- and
- a thermal receiving element that is provided on a part of an outer surface of said optical fiber bundle,
- said thermal receiving element being heated by said light so that said thermal receiving element and a part of said optical fiber bundle are stretched, whereby said optical fiber bundle and said tube are bent.
A catheter having a photothermal actuator, said photothermal actuator comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle that is inserted in a tube;
- a light inputting apparatus that inputs light into said optical fiber bundle;
- and
- a thermal receiving element that -is provided on a part of an outer surface of said optical fiber bundle,
- said thermal receiving element being heated by said light so that said thermal receiving element and a part of said optical fiber bundle are stretched, whereby said optical fiber bundle and said tube are bent.
A catheter having a tube and some photo thermal actuators, each photothermal actuator comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle in which light is inputted by a light inputting apparatus, said optical fiber bundle being inserted in said tube;
- and
- a thermal receiving element that is provided on a part of an outer surface of said optical fiber bundle,
- said thermal receiving element being heated by said light so that said thermal receiving element and a part of said optical fiber bundle are stretched, whereby said optical fiber bundle and said tube are bent.
An endoscope having a photothermal actuator, said photothermal actuator comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle that is inserted in a tube;
- a light inputting apparatus that inputs light into said optical fiber bundle;
- and
- a thermal receiving element that is provided on a part of an outer surface of said optical fiber bundle,
- said thermal receiving element being heated by said light so that said thermal receiving element and a part of said optical fiber bundle are stretched, whereby said optical fiber bundle and said tube are bent.
An endoscope having a tube and some photothermal actuators, each photothermal actuator comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle in which light is inputted by a light inputting apparatus, said optical fiber bundle being inserted in said tube;
- and
- a thermal receiving element that is provided on a part of an outer surface of said optical fiber bundle,
- said thermal receiving element being heated by said light so that said thermal receiving element and a part of said optical fiber bundle are stretched, whereby said optical fiber bundle and said tube are bent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.