Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is an instrument (10) which includes a tubular section (12) having a wall (13) made of a material exhibiting superelastic characteristics and a delivery tube (14) having a bore (15) through which the tubular section (12) passes. The instrument (10) may be adapted for use in medical/dental and non-medical procedures. The superelastic character of the wall material is used in combination with the delivery tube (14) to alternately restrict the shape of the wall (13) and allow it to change to its unconstrained shape. Thus, the wall (13) can be sufficiently deformed to permit the tubular section (12) to pass in and out of and through the delivery tube (14) while at the same time enabling the tubular section (12) to have a shape when extended outside of the delivery tube (14) that is sufficiently bent or curved to be suitable for performing a desired function, for example a medical or dental procedure inside a patient's body. In this way, the delivery tube (14) enables the tubular section (12) to reach the site of the procedure through more narrow insertion paths, and in the case of medical/dental applications, with less trauma to the surrounding tissue along the insertion path. Because it can be inserted through more narrow pathways, the tubular section (12) can be delivered to more remote and harder to reach locations.

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First Claim