(Source:http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=Application+of+Nitinol&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&
biw=1328&bih=574&um=1&ie=UTF8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=6Ak3UPerDMrlrAeFnYC
IAw#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Products+of+Nitinol&oq=Products+of+Nitinol&gs_l=img.12...57
26.8436.0.10654.8.8.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0...1c._rzG72tQ5zA&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=8
572ee6f8da6e34d&biw=1328&bih=574 ; Aug. 24, 2012)

Nitinol is used in a wide variety of medical and surgical applications. Its memory property enables parts to be deformed to allow easy insertion, and a brief heating restores their shape once they are in place. One such application is dental braces (plate 12A). Wires can be deformed to thread them through the braces on individual teeth, where upon heating the wire results in an internal force pulling the wire back into a straight line, which is usually the desired alignment of teeth. It is also useful for extracting ureteral stone, which opens the area because of the measured heating-‘Used for ureteral stone extraction, Hysteroscopy (plate 12B). The patented design enables the physician to engage, reposition, release or extract stones in the kidney or the ureter (plate 12C).

’(Ref. http://www.cookmedical.com/uro/dataSheet.do?id=4416 ; Aug. 24, 2012)

Therefore, because of the invention of Nitinol large number of medical tools and useful product are being created. The unique characteristics of bending and flexing paradigm have been successfully adopted in our life style through the modern technology.

Conclusion

Bending and Flexing are essential elements of living beings. The bending and flexing helps us to survive and provides comfort in different conditions. Bending and flexing are synonymous to living beings. Nature has millions of ‘bending’ examples. It is important for the designers to observe such mechanisms and adopt in design in innovative ways for comfort and survival.

Assignment #01: Conceptualize a device , design and make a model using Nitinol for medical purposes.