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US 2014/0276899 A1Published application
Magnetically controlled stiffness of materials
AssigneeAbbott Medical Optics Inc.
InventorCurt A. Novak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for the use of magneto-rheological fluids (MRF) and magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) for use in fluid control and distribution apparatus which are responsive to control by a magnetic field are disclosed.
Claims15
A flow rate control system, comprising:
- a tube comprising a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion;
- and
- a magnetic field source communicatively coupled to the MCE seeded portion;
- wherein the tube exhibits increased rigidity in response to activation of the magnetic field source.
1 more element
A method for improving fluid communication between a handpiece tip and an aspiration pump, comprising:
- aspirating a fluid from a surgical site with the handpiece tip through aspiration tubing with the aspiration pump;
- activating a magnetic field source communicatively coupled to a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion of the aspiration tubing,
- wherein the aspiration tubing exhibits increased rigidity in response to the activated magnetic field source.
A catheter, comprising:
- a hollow tube, wherein the hollow tube comprises a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion, wherein the catheter is configured to exhibit increased rigidity in response to exposure to a magnetic field.
A catheter system, comprising:
- a hollow tube having a lumen and distal end, wherein the hollow tube is configured an dimensioned to receive a guidewire within the lumen;
- a balloon having a proximal end and distal end, wherein the proximal end of the balloon is configured and dimensioned to couple with distal end of the hollow tube;
- and
- a tip have a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the tip is configured and dimensioned to couple with the distal end of the balloon, wherein the tip comprises a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion, and wherein the tip is configured to exhibit increased rigidity in response to exposure to a magnetic field.
1 more element
A method for modifying the flexibility of a catheter, comprising:
- providing a catheter comprising a magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) seeded portion;
- and
- exposing the magnetically controlled MCE seeded portion to a magnetic field source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.