Importance

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Abstract

An implantable probe having an elongated sheath with provision for remotely positioning a device disposed within the elongated sheath. In one embodiment, the device is a circuit board, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) such as Nitinol is used to fabricate one or more actuators that are coupled to the circuit board. The shape memory effect exhibited by the SMA actuator is thermally activated. Electrical current is selectively applied to the actuator to resistively heat the SMA to a temperature sufficient to change its shape. When the shape of the SMA changes, the actuator moves the circuit board or other device longitudinally within the elongated sheath so that the light emitted is directed to a different portion of a treatment site. In another embodiment, the circuit board is rotated about its longitudinal axis within the sheath. In still another embodiment, the actuator moves a piston so as to pump a fluid through a pair of lumens disposed within the sheath to dissipate heat produced by the light emitting devices in a remotely disposed heat exchanger. Another embodiment uses the actuators to both circulate the fluid and move a circuit board.

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First Claim