US 12,245,798 B2
Bidirectional thermally actuated component for use in medical devices
Michael W. Mullaney, Naples, FL (US); and Daniel Moran, Beacon, NY (US)
Assigned to TETRAVISION, LLC, Beacon, NY (US)
Filed by TETRAVISION, LLC, Beacon, NY (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/176,732.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/976,841, filed on Feb. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0259748 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/72 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/72 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00137 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00415 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermally actuated component comprises:
a flexible container element expandable into an expanded state and biased to return to a retracted state;
a thermally responsive material stored in the flexible container; and
a heating element positioned such that heat from the heating element melts the thermally responsive material when the heating element is activated such that the flexible container expands into the expanded state and the thermally responsive material contracts as it cools when the heating element is deactivated such that the flexible container returns to the retracted state.