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 980-8574, Japan | [c] Department of Urology, Tohoku Kosai Hospital,
Kokubuncho, Sendai 980-0803, Japan
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Mami Tanaka, Department of Mechatronics
and Precision Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University,
04 Aoba-yama, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan. Tel./Fax: +81 22 217 8578;
E-mail: mami@ rose.mech.tohoku.ac.jp
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 in vitro and in vivo animal
experiments.
