Longitudinally-steerable structure and endoscope comprising said structure
AssigneesCentre National De La Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Nationale Superieure De Mecanique Et Des Microtechniques
InventorsJoel Abadie, Nicolas Chaillet, Christian Lexcellent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a longitudinally-steerable structure, comprising essentially longitudinal actuators made from shape memory alloy, Peltier effect elements with N and P doping and electrical control device. The above is characterized in that the actuators are arranged in pairs in an antagonistic manner, each actuator being connected at the ends thereof with a Peltier effect element with N doping and a Peltier effect element with P doping respectively. The invention further relates to an endoscope comprising at least one such structure.
Claims20
1-16. (canceled)
An orientable longitudinal structure comprising:
- substantially longitudinal actuators made of shaped memory alloy, n-doped and p-doped Peltier elements and electric operating means;
- said actuators being arranged in pairs and positioned antagonistically;
- and
- each said actuator being in contact substantially at its ends with an n-doped Peltier element and a p-doped Peltier element, respectively.
An endoscope comprising a longitudinal body having, at its distal end, a viewing system, wherein at least part of the longitudinal body is formed using at least one orientable longitudinal structure as claimed in claim 1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.