About a Catheter
A tube and a guide wire which are used for the medical treatment in a blood vessel are called catheter. MEMSAS,Inc has researched and developed to integrate and multi-functionalizes small medical treatment instruments, Micro Sensor, and Micro Actuator(Device converting energy into mechanical work)on an endoscope, a catheter, and a guide wire by using Micro nano machine technology. Several micro sensors and therapeutic devices have also developed for minimally invasive diagnosis and therapy. These devices can be used in other areas in human body and enables diagnosis and therapy which were impossible until now.

Problems for conventional catheter and guide wire insertion

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 When there are many blood vessels which must carry out embolism, medical treatment become complicated and it takes time.
○ Insertion become difficult, if the branch angle in a blood vessel turning point exceeds 100 degrees.
○ Forcing insertion hurts a blood vessel.

The Catheter of MEMSAS,Inc.

Active catheters using shape memory alloy
Unlike the conventional catheter, our Catherter is able to bend in several directions using shape memory effect by applying current from outside. This catheter will be useful for choosing blood vessel branches and precise positioning in the human body.
3 Shape Memory Alloy coils are extended and fixed in the stainless steel coil. It bends in several directions using shape memory effect by applying current from outside.
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Outer Diameter and length of the fabricated bending mechanism is 1.6 mm and 19 mm respectively. It bends about 45 degree by applying current of 90 mA.