143 results about "Deployable structure" patented technology

A valve prosthesis device is disclosed suitable for implantation in body ducts. The device comprises a support stent, comprised of a deployable construction adapted to be initially crimped in a narrow configuration suitable for catheterization through the body duct to a target location and adapted to be deployed by exerting substantially radial forces from within by means of a deployment device to a deployed state in the target location, and a valve assembly comprising a flexible conduit having an inlet end and an outlet, made of pliant material attached to the support beams providing collapsible slack portions of the conduit at the outlet. The support stent is provided with a plurality of longitudinally rigid support beams of fixed length. When flow is allowed to pass through the valve prosthesis device from the inlet to the outlet, the valve assembly is kept in an open position, whereas a reverse flow is prevented as the collapsible slack portions of the valve assembly collapse inwardly providing blockage to the reverse flow. The device is configured so that retrograde flow will be altered from laminar flow and directed towards the leaflets to effect closing.

A valve prosthesis device is disclosed suitable for implantation in body ducts. The device comprises support stent, comprised of a deployable construction adapted to be initially crimped in a narrow configuration suitable for catheterization through the body duct to a target location and adapted to be deployed by exerting substantially radial forces from within by means of a deployment device to a deployed state in the target location, the support stent provided with a plurality of longitudinally rigid support beams of fixed length; valve assembly comprising a flexible conduit having an inlet end and an outlet, made of pliant material attached to the support beams providing collapsible slack portions of the conduit at the outlet. When flow is allowed to pass through the valve prosthesis device from the inlet to the outlet the valve assembly is kept in an open position, whereas a reverse flow is prevented as the collapsible slack portions of the valve assembly collapse inwardly providing blockage to the reverse flow.

Surgical correction of human eye refractive errors such as presbyopia, hyperopia, myopia, and stigmatism by using transcutaneously inductively energized artificial muscle implants to either actively change the axial length and the anterior curvatures of the eye globe. This brings the retina / macula region to coincide with the focal point. The implants use transcutaneously inductively energized scleral constrictor bands equipped with composite artificial muscle structures. The implants can induce enough accommodation of a few diopters, to correct presbyopia, hyperopia, and myopia on demand. In the preferred embodiment, the implant comprises an active sphinctering smart band to encircle the sclera, preferably implanted under the conjunctiva and under the extraocular muscles to uniformly constrict the eye globe, similar to a scleral buckle band for surgical correction of retinal detachment, to induce active temporary myopia (hyperopia) by increasing (decreasing) the active length of the globe. In another embodiment, multiple and specially designed constrictor bands can be used to enable surgeons to correct stigmatism. The composite artificial muscles are either resilient composite shaped memory alloy-silicone rubber implants in the form of endless active scleral bands, electroactive ionic polymeric artificial muscle structures, electrochemically contractile endless bands of ionic polymers such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), thermally contractile liquid crystal elastomer artificial muscle structures, magnetically deployable structures or solenoids or other deployable structures equipped with smart materials such as preferably piezocerams, piezopolymers, electroactive and eletrostrictive polymers, magnetostrictive materials, and electro or magnetorheological materials.

A catheter apparatus for assessing denervation comprises: an elongated catheter body; a deployable structure coupled to the catheter body, the deployable structure being deployable outwardly from and contractible inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the catheter body; one or more ablation elements disposed on the deployable structure to move outwardly and inwardly with the deployable structure; one or more stimulation elements spaced from each other and disposed on the deployable structure to move with the deployable structure, the stimulation elements being powered to supply nerve stimulating signals to the vessel; and one or more recording elements spaced from each other and from the stimulation elements, the recording elements being disposed on the deployable structure to move with the deployable structure, the recording elements configured to record response of the vessel to the nerve stimulating signals.

A deployable structure is disclosed. The deployable structure may include one or more slit-tube longerons; and one or more flat sheets coupled with the one or more slit-tube longerons. The one or more slit-tube longerons and the one or more flat sheets may be stowed by rolling the one or more slit-tube longerons and the one or more flat sheets together into a roll. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the one or more slit-tube longerons may be exposed when stowed. In another embodiment, the one or more slit-tube longerons may be manufactured from a shape memory material. These slit-tube longerons unroll into to a straight configuration when exposed to heat.

A deployable structure that may include a slit-tube longeron and a flat panel coupled with the slit-tube longeron. The slit-tube longeron may include a tubular member having a slit that runs along the longitudinal length of the slit-tube longeron. The deployable structure may be configured to couple with a satellite. And the deployable structure may be configured to transform between a stowed state and a deployed state where the tubular member is substantially straight when the deployable structure is in the deployed state, and the tubular member is wrapped around the satellite when the deployable structure is in the stowed state.

A catheter apparatus for assessing denervation comprises: an elongated catheter body; a deployable structure coupled to the catheter body, the deployable structure being deployable outwardly from and contractible inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the catheter body; one or more ablation elements disposed on the deployable structure to move outwardly and inwardly with the deployable structure; one or more stimulation elements spaced from each other and disposed on the deployable structure to move with the deployable structure, the stimulation elements being powered to supply nerve stimulating signals to the vessel; and one or more recording elements spaced from each other and from the stimulation elements, the recording elements being disposed on the deployable structure to move with the deployable structure, the recording elements configured to record response of the vessel to the nerve stimulating signals.

A collapsible self-supporting structure used in combination with an improved articulating hub assembly. The articulating hub assembly is used as a connector among tubular rod elements which together provide a generally tubular frame matrix used to erect a collapsible self-supporting prefabricated deployable structure where a clear span interior without supporting columns is required.

A deployable structure is disclosed. The deployable structure may include one or more slit-tube longerons; and one or more flat sheets coupled with the one or more slit-tube longerons. The one or more slit-tube longerons and the one or more flat sheets may be stowed by rolling the one or more slit-tube longerons and the one or more flat sheets together into a roll. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the one or more slit-tube longerons may be exposed when stowed. In another embodiment, the one or more slit-tube longerons may be manufactured from a shape memory material. These slit-tube longerons unroll into to a straight configuration when exposed to heat.

A double tang articulating hub assembly used in combination with a collapsible self-supporting structure. The double tang articulating hub assembly is used as a connector among tubular rod elements which together provide a generally tubular frame matrix used to erect a collapsible self-supporting prefabricated deployable structure where a clear span interior without supporting columns is required. The hub employs a plurality of one piece “forked plugs” each containing a cylindrical plug with two tangs and an integral post connecting the tangs allowing the forked plug to rotate.

An open-lattice, foldable, self-deployable structure with a number of spaced, bendable longitudinal members forming cells each bounded by a portion of two spaced longitudinal members and two spaced diagonal members. The diagonal members are joined to the longitudinal members at the cell boundary intersections of the diagonal members and the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members are made of a material which bends by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point and the diagonal members are made of a material which both bends and twists by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point so that the structure can be collapsed and then self resurrected.

Affordable commercial service platforms in space focusing on customer affordability, quality microgravity services, innovation and combining five emerging space technologies. The invention provides an integrated approach to microgravity services in orbit. First, the reusable launch vehicle (RLV) offers affordable transportation services, platform reboost, and eliminates platform subsystems of propulsion, RCS, liquid storage / resupply, and the like. Second, deployable structures are not heavy for the launch, but expand in orbit. Third, orbital phone networks offer customers control of unmanned experiments. Fourth, an enhanced robotic system transfers payloads. Fifth, manufactured thin film solar cells in orbit offer advantages including weight / cost reductions. The orbital service platform has a low initial cost, expands as the market demands, is repairable, offers quality unmanned microgravity, leads to production facilities using similar hardware and offers numerous affordable commercial services.

The invention belongs to the field of communication technology and specifically relates to a P-band broadband high-isolation double circularly-polarized thin-film array antenna. The array antenna successively comprises, from top to bottom, a parasitic patch layer, a radiation patch layer, a cellular cardboard dielectric layer having a supporting effect, and a rasterized metallic reflecting plate layer. Each of the top surface of the parasitic patch layer and the top surface of the radiation patch layer is equipped with M*N square copper patches. The top surface of the cellular cardboard dielectric layer is a ground layer and M*N pairs of vertical H-shaped slits are etched on the top surface of the cellular cardboard dielectric layer. The bottom surface of the cellular cardboard dielectric layer is a feed network layer. A feed network is formed by M 3dB bridges and M pairs of one-to-eight T-shaped power dividers which are connected. A signal is transmitted via the feed network and is coupled to the radiation patches and the parasitic patches via the H-shaped slits. The rasterized metallic reflecting plate layer is arranged at a position under the feed network layer and a quarter wavelengths away from the feed network layer. The array antenna is a flexible foldable and deployable structure, decreased in weight, increased in bandwidth, and capable of achieving left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization.

A resilient flexure has one end attached within a cavity in a rigid member, and the other end attached within a cavity in a structural mode. The cavities are shaped to limit the flexure's bend radius. The member and the node have mating surfaces that abut to constrain the amount of rotation of the member. The aforementioned elements are shaped to prevent the strain in the flexure from exceeding its design limit when the joint is at its maximum angular deflection and the attached member is fully collapsed.

A deployable structure includes a structural mechanism consisting of a plurality of rigid links (1) connected together by rotational joints (2) to form an array of Bennett linkages (20). The Bennett linkages (20) are interconnected so that the structural mechanism, including all the Bennett linkages (20), has a single degree of mobility. The structural mechanism has a profile with a curvature that varies during movement to deploy the structure from a state in which its profile is flat to a state in which its profile is curved. This allows is very convenient as the structure may be assembled, stored and / or transported in the flat state, prior to deployment into the curved state. As such the structure has many application including the frame for a tent.

The invention discloses a tensegrity deployable antenna, which mainly solves the problems of large folding volume and low deployment reliability in the prior art. It consists of n quadrilateral plane expansion units connected to each other through Hooke hinge joints (3) to form a regular polygonal prism-shaped expansion structure; each quadrilateral plane expansion unit adopts a spring frame structure, and the center adopts four support rods (2) and rotating The pair (4) is a cross-shaped expansion structure formed by fixed connections. The two straight rods of the cross-expansion structure can rotate relatively around the central axis of the planar rotating pair; through the second spring (1-2) of each quadrilateral planar expansion unit and the tensile force of the fourth spring (1-4), causing the overall structure to expand from the collapsed state. The invention has the characteristics of high deployment reliability and small folded volume, is particularly suitable as a deployment structure of a large spaceborne antenna, and can be used in the aerospace field.

A deployable structure that may include a slit-tube longeron and a flat panel coupled with the slit-tube longeron. The slit-tube longeron may include a tubular member having a slit that runs along the longitudinal length of the slit-tube longeron. The deployable structure may be configured to couple with a satellite. And the deployable structure may be configured to transform between a stowed state and a deployed state where the tubular member is substantially straight when the deployable structure is in the deployed state, and the tubular member is wrapped around the satellite when the deployable structure is in the stowed state.

A deployable structure for use in establishing a reflectarray antenna is provided that includes a flexible reflectarray and a deployment structure that includes an endless pantograph for deploying the flexible reflectarray from a folded, undeployed state towards a deployed state in which the flexible reflectarray is substantially planar. In a particular embodiment, the deployment structure includes a plurality of tapes that engage the endless pantograph and are used to establish a positional relationship between the deployed reflectarray and another component of the reflectarray antenna.

A retractable tape spring in-building method for a deployable structure comprising a main tape spring having an axis of deployment and of refurling substantially parallel to an unfurled axis X and comprising two ends, a secondary tape spring comprising two ends and a winding mandrel carried by a shaft parallel to an axis Z perpendicular to the axis X, the main tape spring being wound around the mandrel, a first end of the main tape spring being fixed to the mandrel, the method comprising the following steps: fixing a first end of the secondary tape spring a predefined distance away from a second end of the main tape spring, fixing a second end of the secondary tape spring on the mandrel. A deployable structure comprising a tape spring for a flexible structure is also provided.

A deployable structure comprising a support and at least one structural element is provided. The structural element is mechanically attached to the support. The latching mechanism assembly is adapted to containing the structural element in a non-deployed state until it is remotely activated or de-latched.

A mobile service station includes a deployable structure configurable between a first closed configuration wherein the structure is a container having two side walls, a roof, a floor, a front wall and a rear wall, and a second deployed configuration as an operating service station. The station includes service station accessories mounted on at least one of the side walls. At least one side wall of the structure is foldable between a first vertical position, wherein the side wall acts as a vertical side wall for the closed configuration, and a second position wherein the side wall acts as additional floor space for the structure in the deployed configuration. The service station is adaptable for use as a high-end food stand, among other applications. A method configures the mobile service station.

A deployable structure comprising a side wall having a plurality of segments which make the side wall a tube-like shape as a whole. Four adjacent segments are connected with one another at one point to make one module. The folding patterns of the segments along the connecting creases have two purposes, one of which is a closing pattern to reduce an inner angle between connected segments adjacent in a circumferential direction of the side wall, accompanied with a folding in a direction of a central axis, the other of which is an opening pattern to enlarge the inner angle between connected segments adjacent in the circumferential direction of the side wall, accompanied with a folding in the direction of the central axis. As a result the side wall can be deployed and packaged in both directions of the central axis and the radius of the side wall by folding the segments along the connecting creases thereof in the closing and opening patterns.

An apparatus and method for preventing the migration of unconsolidated and / or loosely consolidated material into the wellbore. Such prevention is accomplished by introducing a well treatment comprising an expandable deployable structure into an uncosolidated zone proximate the wellbore. These deployable structures are inserted into the voids of the geological formation and using stored mechanical energy convert from an unexpanded or undeployed state to an expanded or deployed state. These deployable structures can exert forces, pressure or a combination of both in multiple directions on the surrounding media.

A deployable structure with panels forming an antenna equipped with a solar generator includes: a set of antenna panels each having a substantially rectangular useful surface, the antenna panels abutting each other on first sides parallel to each other, at least one photovoltaic solar panel, each photovoltaic solar panel abutting an antenna panel on a second side of said antenna panel perpendicular to the first sides, first articulation systems, each of said articulation systems enabling an antenna panel to be caused to pivot relative to an adjacent antenna panel about an axis substantially parallel to the first sides of said antenna panels, a second articulation system for each photovoltaic solar panel, each of said articulation systems enabling a photovoltaic solar panel to be caused to pivot relative to the antenna panel that it abuts about an axis substantially parallel to the second side of said antenna panel.

A device is disclosed for sequencing the deployment of a deployable structure comprising a first body, at least one second body mobile relative to the first body, and at least one third body mobile relative to either the first body or the second body and disposed, in an at least partially folded position of the structure, against or between the first and second bodies. The device comprises a first member fixedly mounted on the third body and preventing its deployment when it is immobilized and a second member mounted on the second body and immobilizing the first member until the second body has effected a selected portion of a kinematic that drives it from an initial position to a final position.

A deployable structure comprises: a support, a tape spring fixed to the support, able to pass from a wound configuration wound about an axis Z, to a deployed configuration, and a mobile arm able to rotate with respect to the support about the Z-axis, able to form a first contact with the tape spring so as to control the deployment of the tape spring.

System and method for repairing an annular organ structure such as heart valve including valve leaflet, chordae tendinae, papillary muscles and the like. Provides a deployable structure in the form of a plurality of tissue-contactor members with integrated tissue-shrinkable energy-emitting elements. Said plurality of tissue-contactor members in a deployed state having a configuration of radially expanded middle region suitable for contacting the inner wall of an annular organ structure for effectively applying tissue-shrinkable energy site-specifically. May be deployed into the heart using a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Reshaping collagen-rich tissue through the emission or generation of heat or radiation, modifying the tissue through the process of denaturation. Configuration of deployable structures at distal section of system enables method of treatment of an annular organ structure without an interruption of flow of blood or bodily fluid through the valvular annulus.

The invention discloses a cable-pole type deployable structure, obtained by mutual connection of octahedral basic units in two plane directions, wherein each octahedral base unit is composed of an inhaul cable and a pressure bar; the octahedral base unit is composed of an upper rectangular pyramid and a lower rectangular pyramid which have the same bottom surface; four edges of the bottom surface quadrilateral of the rectangular pyramid are composed of travel cables for only bearing tension; four edges of the upper rectangular pyramid are four upper oblique cables; four edges of the lower rectangular pyramid are four lower oblique cables; four horizontal pressure bars are connected from the four top points of the bottom surface quadrilateral of the rectangular pyramid to a central point of the quadrilateral; the intersection point of the four horizontal pressure bars is connected with the top point of the upper rectangular pyramid through a first vertical pressure bar; the intersection point of four horizontal pressure bars is connected with the top point of the lower rectangular pyramid by a second vertical pressure bar; adjacent octahedral basic units are connected through the top points of the bottom surface quadrangle of the pyramid; and the upper oblique cables of all basic units in each line and row in the deployable structure assembled by octahedral basic units in the same plane are connected to an active cable.