Artificial urethral valve driven by SMA actuators with transcutaneous energy transmission system

Issue title: ICMIT '01

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Tanaka, Mami^{a; *} | Abe, Kazuhiro^a | Wang, Feng^a | Nakagawa, Haruo^b | Arai, Yoichi^b | Tanahashi, Yoshikatsu^c | Chonan, Seiji^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Mechatronics and Precision Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579, Japan | [b] Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579, Japan | [c] Department of Urology, Tohoku Kosai Hospital, Kokubuncho, Sendai 980-0803, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Tel.: +81 22 217 5878; Fax: +81 22 217 5878; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: This paper presents the development of a mechanical SMA urethral valve driven by a portable transcutaneous energy transmission system, which is powered by batteries. Structure of the valve was improved by introducing a bite mechanism in order to prevent the pinch of urethra by the valve. The cycling characteristics and energy transmission efficiency were examined by laboratory tests. Experimental results show that the stable operation can be obtained by introducing a voltage regulating circuit to the energy transmission system and utilizing the sinusoidal oscillation in the energy transmission system can enhance the transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the function of the valve system was tested by the vitro and vivo animal experiments.

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2003-271

Journal: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 18, no. 1-3, pp. 23-30, 2003