Is a
Patent attributes
Patent Jurisdiction
Patent Number
Date of Patent
January 4, 2011
Patent Application Number
11162991
Date Filed
September 30, 2005
Patent Citations Received
...
Patent Primary Examiner
Patent abstract
Methods and devices are provided for actuating and/or articulating a grasping device. In one exemplary embodiment, a grasping device is provided having a shaft with an end effector having opposed jaws coupled to the shaft. An electrically expandable and contractible actuator, such as an electroactive polymer actuator, can be used to actuate the end effector to open and close the opposed jaws to grasp tissue or other objects. In another embodiment, an electroactive polymer actuator can be used to pivotally or angularly adjust a position of the end effector relative to the shaft by delivering energy to the electroactive polymer actuator.
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