Method for imparting shapes to shape memory alloy wires
AssigneeGAC International, Inc.
InventorFujio Miura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of imparting a particular shape to a wire made of a shape memory alloy, such as a Ni-Ti alloy, which includes the steps of bending the wire inside a tubular body into the particular shape; heating the wire within the tubular body to a temperature sufficient to cause the wire to retain the particular shape; and removing the wire from the tubular body. The tubular body is made of a deformable metal, such as stainless steel or nickel-chrome alloy tubing, and includes a slit therethrough extending in its axial direction. The slit is provided to facilitate bending the tubular body and removing the wire from the tubular body.
Claims24
A method of forming a wire made of a shape memory alloy so as to retain a predetermined shape, said method comprising the following steps:
- bending a wire made of a shape memory alloy inside a tubular body into a predetermined shape;
- heating said wire within said tubular body to a temperature sufficient to cause said wire to retain said predetermined shape;
- and
- cooling said wire and removing said wire from said tubular body.
A method of shaping an orthodontic wire made of a shape memory alloy, so as to retain a predetermined shape, said method comprising the following steps:
- deforming the wire within a tubular body into the predetermined shape;
- heating the wire within the tubular body to a temperature sufficient to cause the wire to retain the predetermined shape;
- and
- cooling the wire and removing the wire from the tubular body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.