A method of driving an actuator using a shape memory alloy is provided. An impact-driven actuator is activated by a pulse voltage generated by an action of a transistor. A keyboard outputs a key event at the timing of an input operation. A stress monitoring unit calculates a stress amount of an impact-driven actuator based on parameters of a key event and a pulse voltage. A stress adjustment unit changes the parameter of the pulse voltage when the stress amount reaches a permissible value. The parameter may be a wave crest value or a pulse width of the pulse voltage. The stress adjustment section is also able to stop the action of the impact-driven actuator in response to a key event corresponding to a break code.

A method for manufacturing a tubular medical instrument transfer device which includes a tubular medical instrument and a tubular tube body comprise a step S1 for accommodating at least a part of the tubular medical instrument into a lumen of the tubular tube body and a step S2 for cooling the tubular medical instrument to a temperature of a martensitic phase transformation start temperature of the shape memory alloy+7° C. or less and a tubular medical instrument transfer device characterized in that a sliding load under 50° C. warm water and a sliding load under 25° C. warm water satisfy a relationship represented by Expression (1).

increase rate of sliding load [%]=(sliding load under 50° C. warm water [N]−sliding load under 25° C. warm water [N])/sliding load under 25° C. warm water [N]×100≤30[%]  (1)

A method for shaping a shape memory workpiece includes: providing a shape memory workpiece having a first diameter and a predetermined shaping temperature; arranging the shape memory workpiece on a shaping tool; heating the shape memory workpiece to the shaping temperature; first expansion of the shape memory workpiece to a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; first changing of the temperature of the shape memory workpiece to an intermediate temperature below or above the shaping temperature; bringing the shape memory workpiece to the shaping temperature again; second expansion of the shape memory workpiece to a third diameter that is larger than the second diameter; ejecting the shape memory workpiece from the shaping tool; and final cooling of the shape memory workpiece to a cooling temperature below the intermediate temperature.

A shaping tool is also provided.

The present invention relates to a ball game racket with strings that comprise at least one string comprising a superelastic material.

The present invention provides a superelastic alloy containing Au in an amount of 8.0% by mass or more and 20.0% by mass or less and at least one of Cr and Mo as essential additive elements, Ta as an optional additive element, and Ti and inevitable impurities as a balance, wherein the Cr equivalent calculated on the basis of the following formula for the relationship of the Cr content, the Mo content and the Ta content is within the range of more than 0.5 and less than 8.0. The alloy is a Ni-free superelastic alloy, and has favorable X-ray-imaging property. Accordingly, the alloy can be suitably used in medical fields.

Cr equivalent=[Cr content (% by mass)]+([Mo content (% by mass)]/1.7)+([Ta content (% by mass)]/15)   [Formula 1]

Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating a finished endodontic instrument. A related embodiment includes electropolishing a finished endodontic instrument and then heat treating the endodontic instrument.

A method for making a device for causing thrombosis of an aneurysm, wherein said device comprises a single elastic filament configurable between (i) an elongated, substantially linear configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration, said method comprising: providing a sheet of shape memory material; producing a single filament, two-dimensional interim structure from said sheet of shape memory material; mounting said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure to a fixture so that said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is transformed into said longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration; and heat treating said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure while it is mounted to said fixture so as to produce said device in its longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration.

Shapeable guide wire devices and methods for their manufacture. Guide wire devices include an elongate shaft member having a shapeable distal end section that is formed from a linear pseudoelastic nickel-titanium (Ni—Ti) alloy that has linear pseudoelastic behavior without a phase transformation or onset of stress-induced martensite. Linear pseudoelastic Ni—Ti alloy, which is distinct from non-linear pseudoelastic (i.e., superelastic) Ni—Ti alloy, is highly durable, corrosion resistant, and has high stiffness. The shapeable distal end section is shapeable by a user to facilitate guiding the guide wire through tortuous anatomy. In addition, linear pseudoelastic Ni—Ti alloy is more durable tip material than other shapeable tip materials such as stainless steel.

A device includes a capsule extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a channel extending therethrough. The capsule is releasably coupled to a proximal portion of the device. Device also includes a first arm rigidly fixed to the distal end of the capsule to extend distally therefrom. In addition, Device includes a second arm, a proximal end of which is slidably received within the capsule so that the second arm is movable between an open configuration, in which the second arm is moved laterally away from the first arm and a distal end of the second arm is moved distally past the distal end of the first arm, and a closed configuration, in which the second arm is moved toward the first arm and the distal end of the second arm is moved proximally toward the distal end of the first arm.

A material engagement element sheet formed from a sheet material (10) incorporates a pattern of material engagement element slots (14), each slot containing an array of material engagement elements (20) which have a tapered distal section (30), a flange section (34) and a proximal section (32) which is attached to an edge of the slots in the sheet material. The material engagement element sheet material may be a single layer of shape memory material, or the sheet material may be a composite of different layers some of which may include pre-strained shape memory materials with distinguishable activation parameters. The material engagement element slot configuration allows for the simultaneous processing of the material engagement elements. The material engagement elements may be processed such that they are in a state that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material engagement element sheet. The configuration of the flexible base material and the pattern of the material engagement element slots may be used in order to manufacture various material engagement element devices including a material engagement element pad device (166), a cylindrical material engagement element device (104, 105), and a spherical material engagement element device (152).