Abstract
Shape memory alloys are quite fascinating materials characterized shape memory effect and superelasticity, which ordinary alloys have not. Many application using these alloys have been developed in several fields since 1981. Especially Ti-Ni alloys are now being as new key material for medical device. Arch wires and Guide wire were the starting point of the medical application. In particular, Guide wire formed the basics of today's IVR market application. Now Super elasticity of SMA became key material of stents. It is predicted that Medical Device and Diagnostics market spreads to 40,000,000,000,000 yen five years later.
