Stock material or miscellaneous articles – All metal or with adjacent metals – Having variation in thickness
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-24
2001-12-11
Zimmerman, John J. (Department: 1775)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
All metal or with adjacent metals
Having variation in thickness
C428S607000, C428S685000, C428S660000, C600S434000, C600S585000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06329069
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a composite structure and devices made from the same and method.
Shape memory alloy wire and sheets heretofore have been made. However, forming the wire and sheets from shape memory alloy ingots has been difficult and expensive. For example, in making wire from a nickel titanium alloy and starting with a bar of the nickel titanium alloy, the wire is generally drawn to a final size by a series of draw passes and interpass anneals. Ordinarily, the wire is completely annealed by an interpass anneal and the wire is drawn until it becomes too brittle to draw further, after which the wire is subjected to another interpass anneal followed by another draw. This procedure is continued until the final size wire is achieved. The final properties of the wire are greatly dependent on the amount of reduction after the last interpass anneal, commonly referred to as a mount of cold work. Nickel titanium alloys are generally cold worked to around 40% to achieve the optimum super-elastic or shape memory effect. Stainless steel wire, on the other hand, is generally cold worked to 90% to achieve the optimum strength and elasticity. These differences in cold working characteristics of these two materials as well as other materials leads to processing complications when such two materials are made into a composite structure. There is therefore a need for a solution to this problem. In addition, since such shape memory alloy materials are generally very abrasive, there is extensive wear on the dies during the drawing process. The use of such shape memory alloys also has been limited because of the poor conductivity of such shape memory alloys. In addition, the welding and joining of such shape memory alloys has been difficult because of its inter-metallic structure. Attempts have been made to plate such shape memory alloys to improve their soldering capabilities and also to improve the conductivity. Such plating has been generally relatively unsuccessful because the adhesion of such plating materials to the shape memory alloy is less than optimum. For that reason, when the shape memory alloys are subject to deformation, the plating has a tendency to flake off. There is therefore a need for a composite structure and method to overcome these difficulties.
In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a composite structure and method incorporating the present invention.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character in which at least one shape memory alloy is used.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character in which one of the components is a high strength material.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character in which cold working of the materials can be achieved.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character in which different degrees of cold working can be achieved by utilizing appropriate annealing temperatures.
Another object of the invention is to provide improved radiopacity.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character in which superelastic and actuator shape memory alloys are used.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which can be readily formed and shaped minimizing die wear.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which has improved conductivity.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which has improved weldability and solderability.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which can incorporate shape memory alloys having superelastic and/or actuator capabilities.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which can be utilized in the fabrication of many different types of devices.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which is particularly suitable for making mandrels for guide wires.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which is particularly useful for making guide wires having electrical characteristics.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which can be utilized for providing a device having a preferential bending plane.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which has improved torsion capabilities.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which can be utilized for forming multiple lumens and tubular members.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character in which sheets and tubes all of nickel titanium alloys can be provided which have smooth surfaces.
Another object of the invention is to provide a composite structure and method of the above character which can be utilized for providing wire and ribbons having increased radiopacity for use in flexible coils carried by the distal extremities of guide wires.
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Azizi Gholam Reza Zadno
Imran Mir A.
Simpson Jeffrey W.
Subramaniam Raj
Flehr Hohbach Test Albritton & Herbert LLP
Surface Genesis, Inc.
Zimmerman John J.
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