Microactuator systems, drainage devices equipped therewith, and methods of use
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsHyowon Lee, Qi Yang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Drainage devices and microactuator systems adapted to be incorporated into drainage devices to provide a self-clearing capability for reducing obstructions in the drainage devices and/or a self-monitoring capability to confirm the overall operating condition of the drainage devices and their microactuators. Such a microactuator system includes a microactuator having a base, a cantilever comprising a flexure extending from the base and a plate structure at a distal end of the flexure, a sensing element on the flexure for sensing deflection of the cantilever, and a device for inducing an oscillating deflection of the cantilever relative to the base.
Claims20
A microactuator system for use with a drainage device, the microactuator system comprising:
- a microactuator comprising a base, a cantilever comprising a flexure extending from the base and a plate structure at a distal end of the flexure, and a strain sensing element on the flexure for sensing deflection of the cantilever;
- means for inducing an oscillating deflection of the cantilever relative to the base, the inducing means comprising a magnetic field generating device that generates an external magnetic field;
- wherein the strain sensing element senses deflection of the cantilever while the external magnetic field acts on the microactuator;
- and
- wherein the strain sensing element is configured for optimizing alignment of the microactuator with the external magnetic field, whereby sensed strain of the strain sensing element is calibrated relative to the external magnetic field to establish a relationship between a deflection angle of the cantilever and a misalignment angle between the cantilever and the external magnetic field, the relationship being operable to indicate misalignment between the cantilever and the external magnetic field and enable optimizing the alignment of the microactuator with the external magnetic field based on the sensed strain from the strain sensing element.
A medical drainage device comprising:
- a drainage passage;
- an opening in a wall of the drainage device and fluidically connected to the drain passage;
- at least one microactuator disposed in the opening, the microactuator comprising a base, a cantilever comprising a flexure extending from the base and a plate structure at a distal end of the flexure, and a strain sensing element on the flexure for sensing deflection of the cantilever;
- means for inducing an oscillating deflection of the cantilever relative to the base, the inducing means comprising a magnetic field generating device that generates an external magnetic field;
- wherein the strain sensing element senses deflection of the cantilever while the external magnetic field acts on the microactuator;
- and
- wherein the strain sensing element is configured for optimizing alignment of the microactuator with the external magnetic field, whereby sensed strain of the strain sensing element is calibrated relative to the external magnetic field to establish a relationship between a deflection angle of the cantilever and a misalignment angle between the cantilever and the external magnetic field, the relationship being operable to indicate misalignment between the cantilever and the external magnetic field and enable optimizing the alignment of the microactuator with the external magnetic field based on the sensed strain from the strain sensing element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.