Affiliations: [a] Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yamaguchi
University, Yamaguchi, Japan | [b] Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine,
Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan | Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan | Department of Human and Information Systems, Faculty
of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Minoru Morita, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan. E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Cerebral strokes occur on account of a thrombus formed in blood
vessels, which blocks the blood flow to the brain and induces brain cell
necrosis. We require the ability to quickly treat this by dissolving the
thrombus with a low risk of brain hemorrhage. In this study, we concentrate on
the design of a high-performance microstirrer to dissolve the thrombus. The
piezoactuator is selected and discussed because it has both sensing and
actuation functions, and has a high power in relation with its size. Further, a
new type of microstirrer is designed to generate high-amplitude vibration, and
its motion can be easily controlled by adjusting the input signals to the
actuators. Several types of microstirrers were manufactured on the basis of the
finite-element method (FEM) simulation results, and the effect on the
dissolution was experimentally validated.
Keywords: Microstirrer, piezo-cell, cerebral stroke, thrombus dissolution, FEM, motion control
