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The design and fabrication of a miniature catheter-tip structure incorporating shape memory alloy actuators are described. The ability of the active catheter-tip to generate large displacement and force at low frequency has been evaluated in an experimental set-up intended to replicate, in vitro, conditions similar to those encountered within a body cavity. The experimental results indicate that the proposed structure works properly, and that it could be improved in order to obtain a device truly usable for intracavitary operations.>
Dario et al. (2002) studied this question.