Processing of particulate Ni-Ti alloy to achieve desired shape and properties
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsThomas D. Kadavy, Donald C. Baumgarten
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for manufacturing complex shape memory alloy materials is described. The method comprises generating a particulate form of a shape memory alloy, combining the particulate with a binder, molding, heating (which may include the steps of debinding and sintering), and thermo-mechanical processing. The method allows for the formation of complex shape memory alloy materials that exhibit the desirable properties of shape memory alloys, namely shape memory and superelasticity.
Claims47
A method for manufacturing products from shape memory alloys comprising:
- generating a particulate form of at least one shape memory alloy;
- combining the particulate shape memory alloy with a binder to form a feedstock;
- molding the feedstock into a desired shape to produce a formed product;
- at least partially debinding the formed product to produce a debound formed product;
- heating the at least partially debound formed product to produce a sintered product;
- and
- thermo-mechanical processing the sintered product.
A method for manufacturing complex shapes from nitinol comprising the steps of:
- combining particulate nitinol with a binder to form a feedstock;
- molding the feedstock into a desired shape;
- debinding;
- heating;
- and
- thermo-mechanical processing.
A method for manufacturing three-dimensional medical devices from shape memory alloys comprising the steps of:
- providing a particulate form of nickel-titanium alloy;
- combining the particulate nickel-titanium alloy with a binder to form a feedstock;
- injection molding the feedstock into a desired shape to produce a formed product;
- debinding the formed product in one or more steps to produce the debound product, wherein at least one debinding step includes solvent debinding;
- heating the debound formed product to produce a sintered product;
- and
- thermo-mechanical processing the sintered product.
A method for manufacturing three-dimensional medical devices from shape memory alloys comprising the steps of:
- providing a particulate form of nickel-titanium alloy;
- combining the particulate nickel-titanium alloy with a binder to form a feedstock;
- injection molding the feedstock into a desired shape to produce a formed product;
- subjecting the formed product to a first debinding agent;
- subjecting the formed product to a second debinding agent;
- wherein the steps of subjecting the formed product to a first debinding agent and subjecting the formed product to a second debinding agent result in the production of the debound product;
- heating the debound product to produce a sintered product;
- and
- thermo-mechanical processing the sintered product.
A method for manufacturing three-dimensional medical devices from shape memory alloys comprising the steps of:
- providing atomized nickel-titanium alloy;
- combining the atomized nickel-titanium alloy with a binder to form a feedstock;
- injection molding the feedstock into a desired shape to produce a formed product;
- solvent debinding the formed product;
- heat debinding the formed product;
- wherein the steps of solvent debinding and heat debinding produce the debound product;
- sintering the debound formed product to produce a sintered product;
- and
- thermo-mechanical processing the sintered product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.