Abstract: A cooling device may be configured to cool a shape-memory alloy member. The cooling device may include: a cooling unit configured to cool the shape-memory alloy member or a part that is to make contact with the shape-memory alloy member; a refrigerant supply pipe including one end connected to a refrigerant supply source and other end connected to the cooling unit, the refrigerant supply pipe configured to supply a refrigerant supplied from the refrigerant supply source to the cooling unit; and a refrigerant discharge pipe including one end connected to the cooling unit, the refrigerant discharge pipe configured to discharge the refrigerant discharged from the cooling unit from other end of the refrigerant discharge pipe.

Abstract: A suture needle for endoscopic surgery, may include: a needle body; a suture thread; and a connector configured to connect the needle body and the suture thread, wherein the needle body mat be constituted of a shape memory alloy, may have an arc shape as its original shape, and may be configured to be restored to the arc shape at a predetermined temperature or higher, and the connector may be constituted of a material different from the shape memory alloy.

Abstract: A base panel member 22 is provided with openings 24. A back panel member 26 having projections 28 that can be inserted into the openings 24. Springs 38 bias the projections 28 against the openings 24. Shape-memory members 40 are disposed in the vicinity of the springs 38. The projections 28 are inserted into the openings 24 by a biasing force of the springs 38, so that airflow through the openings 24 is prohibited. The shape-memory members 40 change shape according to temperature changes, and produce a force against the biasing force. This allows the projections 28 to be separated from the openings 24, creating an airflow state in which the air can pass through the openings 24. A design is formed by combining the base panel member 22 and the projections 28, while the projections 28 are inserted into the openings 24.

Abstract: The manufacturing methods according to the present teachings provide shape memory alloy products having both a uniform composition and a precise shape memory recovery temperature. In this manufacturing method, raw material powders (e.g., Ti and Ni powders) may be precisely mixed. Next, a compound may be synthesized from the raw material powder mixture using a combustion synthesis method. The combustion synthesized compound may be melted and cast into a desired shape (e.g., a shape of the final product or a shape close to that of the final product).