• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.278-286
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• 1999

To predict the behavior of the intravascular micro active endoscope in the real human vascular system, a human mock circulation system was developed. The intravascular micro active endoscope which consists of micro active bending catheter and micro drug infusion catheter was driven in the velocity, Re number and temperature controlled flow. The three SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) zigzag type spring in the micro active bending catheter was heated by the electric current generated by PWM controller, and the shape memory effect made the actuator bend to any direction. The micro drug infusion catheter was driven through the inner hole of the micro active bending catheter. A mock circulation system is shaped from Ascending Arota to Femoral artery according to a human data (the data contains many vascular sizes and hydrographs of many control points). We developed a vascular model with glass and silicone tubes, and set the flow system with circulation parts, flow settling parts, and lots of valves. The heater and heat-controller was added to the How system to centre! the temperature of the How at 36.5$^{\circ}C$. The result showed that the developed intravascular micro active endoscope could be induced to any point in the vascular model.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.615-617
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• 1997

This paper reports experimental results on the fabrication and analysis of millimeter-sized bending actuators for active catheter by use of the shape memory alloy spring and the flexible beam. The major components of micro actuator are shape memory alloy spring, stainless steel strip and two acryl links. The micro actuator with the diameter of 2.0 mm and the length of 25 mm has been fabricated and characterized for the possible application to the micro active catheters. The measured maximum angle is $60^{\circ}$ and the response time is 5 sec.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1998.07g
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• pp.2512-2514
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• 1998

The bending actuator using zigzag type shape memory alloy springs has been fabricated and characterized. The small sized actuator with outer diameter of 3.0mm and inner diameter of 2.0mm could be implemented because zigzag type spring has advantages for thin wall type actuator over the coil type spring. The measured characteristics of the fabricated bending actuator show the possibility of practical application to micro active bending catheter.