Patent ID: 9138274
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A bellows fastener for joining together two separate pieces, said fastener comprising: a bellows comprising a material that changes shape when activated by a catalyst, and having a structure causing said bellows to contract from an extended state to a contracted state when said shape changing material is activated by said catalyst so that a first side of the bellows moves toward a second side thereof; a first sleeve having a first proximate end with first means for connecting said first proximate end to the first side of said bellows, and a first distal end with first anchoring means for attaching said first distal end to one of said pieces; and, a second sleeve having a second proximate end with second means for connecting said second proximate end to the second side of said bellows, and a second distal end with second anchoring means for attaching said second distal end to the other of said pieces; wherein said first and second connection means connect said first and second proximate ends respectively to said first and second sides of the bellows so that activation of said bellows by said catalyst while the bellows is in its extended state causes said bellows to contract and its first and second sides to pull said first and second sleeves and their distal ends toward each other.