Patent ID: 6986774

Claim:
A method of manipulating matter in a space in a mammalian body, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a manipulating device comprising i) at least one bent or twisted elongated shape memory alloy member having pseudoelasticity at the mammalian body temperature, and ii) a barrier material spanning each alloy member, the barrier material being impermeable to the matter manipulated; iii) an elongated housing defining a bore sized to pseudoelastically deform each alloy member in a relatively straightened state, and b) extending each member from the bore to manipulate matter within the space, each member bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the bore at the mammalian body temperature; and c) withdrawing each alloy member into the bore such that each alloy member becomes relatively straightened at the mammalian body temperature.