Method to Fabricate Continuous Lengths of Helical Coiled Shape Memory Wire
Description of Invention:
The invention is a method and apparatus for fabricating and storing continuous lengths of helical coil shaped memory wire for use in springs, endotracheal tubes, medical stents and as reinforcement for medical tubing (e.g. catheters). The helically coiled wire is continuously formed from a special nickel-titanium wire and spooled for storage in a straightened form. When the wire is later unspooled, it will snap back into the desired helical coil form.
In one method of the invention, Nitinol wire is passed through a spring forming unit to curve the wire. The so formed coil is then loosely guided along a cylindrical mandrel, passed through a high temperature oven so that the helical coil shape will be memorized, and then uncoiled and stored in a straightened form. The method provides a very thin wire with great strength and integrity of shape that resists kinking or collapse in most medical applications.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michael Shmilovich J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5019
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
