PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

A symmetric-actuating linear piezoceramic ultrasonic motor capable of producing a scissoring effect

A symmetric-actuating linear piezoceramic ultrasonic motor capable of producing a scissoring effect
2023-07-26
(Press-News.org)

As an electromechanical actuator, symmetric-actuating devices are often used in the fields where symmetrical motion, drive, and control are required, such as grasping or scissoring operations, and fast symmetric opening or closing of microchannels. One scenario with strong demand is minimally invasive surgery, including precision grasping and cutting tumor cells, retinal microsurgery, etc. In the field of micro electromechanical devices, the scissoring or grasping operation essentially belongs to two symmetrical actuations between two end-effectors. However, there is almost no one motor that can directly generate two symmetrical linear motions.

In general, to produce two symmetrical movements, a relatively simple method is to use two series-connected or parallel-connected stators to respectively drive two runners moving towards or away from each other simultaneously. The second way is to convert the rotational motion of an output shaft into two linear symmetric motions with the assist of a pair of reverse threads or a pair of reverse gears. The third solution is to employ sophisticated transmission mechanisms such as racks and pinions, flexible hinges, etc., to convert one-direction movement of one actuator into two opposite movements. However, all the above methods result in more complicated and larger structures, and may be at the cost of very limited strokes and output forces. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new driving mechanism to achieve symmetrical high-precision motions with a large movement range of two runners driven by only one miniaturized and integrated piezoelectric stator or actuator.

Nowadays, professor Dong Shuxiang's research group has developed a novel symmetric-actuating linear piezoceramic ultrasonic motor (SLPUM) which could directly generate two-way symmetrical motion outputs of one pair of scissors without using additional complex transmission mechanisms. The basic idea is that one piezoelectric ceramic bar containing (2 × 3) arrayed units can operate in the coupled resonant mode of the first longitudinal (L1) and third bending (B3) modes to produce two symmetrical elliptical movement trajectories in opposite directions at its two friction tips, see Figure 1. Through the friction coupling, the two symmetrical elliptical movements of friction tips can be converted into symmetrical, synchronous opposite or backward movements of two movers with the same velocity, as shown in Figure 2. This working mechanism has made a revolutionary change to the traditional working principle that one stator can only drive one actuator. At the same time, this symmetric-actuating mechanism doubles the working efficiency of the piezoelectric motor, as shown in Figure 3.

Furthermore, as a pair of commercial microsurgical scissors was mounted on the sliders, the L1-B3 SLPUM could be further applied to microsurgical robots for performing high-precision microsurgical operations, and the specific structure is shown in Figure 3A. Moreover, the scissoring effect can increase the output force of the two driving ends by several times. As shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, the prototype shows the features: (i) fast relative moving velocity (~ 1.0 m/s) of two sliders in outward or inward direction, (ii) high step resolution (40 nm for the slider), (iii) relatively large output force (3.4 N for the sliders and 17 N for the scissors), (iv) high output power (347.8 mW) and power density (405.4 mW/cm3 or 9.65 mW/cm3·kHz) which is double what has been reported, and (v) high efficiency (22.1%) under the electric field of 150 Vpp/mm. Therefore, this work is instructive for future piezoelectric actuating device designs.

For verification, we used this prototype to conduct experiments in different application scenarios, such as cutting copper wires, pork, beef slices, intestines, etc., as shown in Figure 5. Thus, this motor can be further applied in microsurgical robots to perform high-precision grasping, scissoring, and other surgical operations. And the design strategy proposed in this work paves a new way for developing future piezoelectric micro electromechanical devices.

END


[Attachments] See images for this press release:
A symmetric-actuating linear piezoceramic ultrasonic motor capable of producing a scissoring effect A symmetric-actuating linear piezoceramic ultrasonic motor capable of producing a scissoring effect 2 A symmetric-actuating linear piezoceramic ultrasonic motor capable of producing a scissoring effect 3

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

$2.1 million awarded to research link between migraine, strokes and cardiovascular disease

2023-07-26
DALLAS, July 26, 2023 — Existing research shows certain types of migraines can increase the risk of stroke, and there is growing evidence that they may also lead to other types of cardiovascular disease (CVD). To learn more about these connections, the American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is providing a total of $2.1 million in grants for seven new scientific research projects. The selected teams of scientists for the “Migraine ...

2023 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists announced

2023 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists announced
2023-07-26
NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences announced today the 2023 laureates of the  Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists.   Each will receive $250,000, the largest unrestricted scientific award for America’s most innovative, faculty-ranked scientists and engineers who are under the age of 42. The winners and their distinguished research: 2023 Laureate in Life Sciences: William Anderegg, Ph.D., The University of Utah (Ecology & Evolutionary ...

Metastatic breast cancer’s Trojan horse

Metastatic breast cancer’s Trojan horse
2023-07-26
Lymph nodes are one of the body’s first lines of defense against disease. Immune cells are dispatched from these biological police stations to fight off intruders. But somehow, lymph nodes are also the first stop for most metastatic cancers. “It’s paradoxical,” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Assistant Professor Semir Beyaz says. “The cancer goes right in, but the immune cells aren’t doing anything. It’s important to understand what’s going on because this is how cancer takes the whole body hostage.” Beyaz joined with collaborators from Massachusetts General Hospital to investigate. They ...

Collaborating with a university on a new product? Let your customers know!

2023-07-26
Researchers from WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, University of Bonn, and FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg published a new Journal of Marketing article that examines how consumers respond to new products co-developed with universities and the unique marketing opportunities for these products. Firms often collaborate with universities to access novel scientific knowledge and technological expertise with an aim to develop superior new products. For example, Italian start-up Angles90 co-developed the first dynamic training grips with the faculty of Strength Training Ergonomics at the Technical University of ...

Viral TikTok health videos tend to cover three topics, rely on influencers

Viral TikTok health videos tend to cover three topics, rely on influencers
2023-07-26
PULLMAN, Wash. –Sexual health, diet and exercise are the three topics that steal the show when it comes to popular health-related videos on TikTok. Unfortunately, there’s little else in terms of engaging health-related content on the video sharing platform, a Washington State University study found.  The social media platform’s mostly young audience also seems to prefer health-related videos featuring popular influencers’ role model appeals, such as their diet or exercise routine, rather than expert medical advice, ...

Octapharma's prothrombin complex concentrate, Balfaxar®, receives FDA approval for warfarin reversal in urgent surgery & invasive procedures

2023-07-26
PARAMUS, N.J., July 26, 2023 – Octapharma USA today announced that Balfaxar® (prothrombin complex concentrate, human-lans; marketed in Europe and Canada as octaplex®) has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the urgent reversal of acquired coagulation factor deficiency induced by vitamin K antagonist (VKA, e.g., warfarin) therapy in adult patients with need for urgent surgery or invasive procedures. Balfaxar® helps restore blood coagulation by replenishing the levels of clotting factors that are deficient due to warfarin therapy. Balfaxar® ...

MD Anderson and Nexo Therapeutics announce strategic research collaboration to advance new therapies against intractable targets

2023-07-26
HOUSTON, GOLDEN, Colo. and WATERTOWN, Mass. ― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Nexo Therapeutics today announced a multi-year strategic collaboration that aligns the innovative technology and capabilities of each organization at the earliest stages of drug discovery and development to rapidly advance impactful new cancer therapies against previously undruggable targets. The agreement brings together Nexo’s unique drug discovery platform, which combines innovative covalent chemistry and chemical biology, with the translational research and drug development expertise ...

Western science catches up with First Nations’ medicinal use of ant honey

Western science catches up with First Nations’ medicinal use of ant honey
2023-07-26
Scientists have discovered the honey produced by Australian ants possesses unique anti-microbial activity against bacteria and fungi that could make the liquid useful medicinally. The research, published today in PeerJ, was led by Andrew Dong and Dr Kenya Fernandes from the University of Sydney’s Carter Lab, which is led by Professor Dee Carter from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases. The team studied the Australian honeypot ant, Camponotus inflatus, which is found throughout desert areas mainly in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Among ...

Children’s Hospital Colorado launches state’s first pediatric precision medicine institute

Children’s Hospital Colorado launches state’s first pediatric precision medicine institute
2023-07-26
Aurora, Colo. (July 26, 2023) – Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) today announced the launch of the Precision Medicine Institute, which will allow experts to more efficiently integrate precision medicine into care provided to patients throughout the hospital. The Precision Medicine Institute uses innovative technology to integrate big data, including genomic data, into each individual patient's care plan to determine the best treatment for each patient. Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine or genomic medicine, uses the most up-to-date technology ...

Asian adults in U.S. less likely to survive cardiac arrest despite bystander CPR equal to white adults

2023-07-26
Research Highlights: Despite similar rates of bystander CPR after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Asian adults in the U.S. were 8% less likely to survive to hospital discharge and 15% less likely to have favorable neurological outcomes compared to white adults, according to an analysis of nearly 279,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The study is believed to be the first research comparing bystander CPR and survival rates between Asian and white adults in the U.S. after cardiac arrest. Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, July 26, 2023 DALLAS, July 26, 2023 — Despite similar rates of bystander CPR after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Asian ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Underserved youth less likely to visit emergency department for concussion in Ontario, study finds

‘Molecular shield’ placed in the nose may soon treat common hay fever trigger

Beetles under climate stress lay larger male eggs: Wolbachia infection drives adaptive reproduction strategy in response to rising temperature and CO₂

Groundbreaking quantum study puts wave-particle duality to work

Weekly injection could be life changing for Parkinson’s patients

Toxic metals linked to impaired growth in infants in Guatemala

Being consistently physically active in adulthood linked to 30–40% lower risk of death

Nerve pain drug gabapentin linked to increased dementia, cognitive impairment risks

Children’s social care involvement common to nearly third of UK mums who died during perinatal period

‘Support, not judgement’: Study explores links between children’s social care involvement and maternal deaths

Ethnic minority and poorer children more likely to die in intensive care

Major progress in fertility preservation after treatment for cancer of the lymphatic system

Fewer complications after additional ultrasound in pregnant women who feel less fetal movement

Environmental impact of common pesticides seriously underestimated

The Milky Way could be teeming with more satellite galaxies than previously thought

New study reveals surprising reproductive secrets of a cricket-hunting parasitoid fly

Media Tip Sheet: Symposia at ESA2025

NSF CAREER Award will power UVA engineer’s research to improve drug purification

Tiny parasitoid flies show how early-life competition shapes adult success

New coating for glass promises energy-saving windows

Green spaces boost children’s cognitive skills and strengthen family well-being

Ancient trees dying faster than expected in Eastern Oregon

Study findings help hone precision of proven CVD risk tool

Most patients with advanced melanoma who received pre-surgical immunotherapy remain alive and disease free four years later

Introducing BioEmu: A generative AI Model that enables high-speed and accurate prediction of protein structural ensembles

Replacing mutated microglia with healthy microglia halts progression of genetic neurological disease in mice and humans

New research shows how tropical plants manage rival insect tenants by giving them separate ‘flats’

Condo-style living helps keep the peace inside these ant plants

Climate change action could dramatically limit rising UK heatwave deaths

Annual heat-related deaths projected to increase significantly due to climate and population change

[Press-News.org] A symmetric-actuating linear piezoceramic ultrasonic motor capable of producing a scissoring effect