Acoustically-actuated bubble-powered rotational micro-propellers

SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL

卷:347

Article

Mohanty, Sumit¹  Zhang, Jiena²  McNeill, Jeffrey M.³  Kuenen, Thom¹  Linde, Frederic P.¹  Rouwkema, Jeroen²  Misra, Sarthak^1,4,5 

[1] Univ Twente, Dept Biomech Engn, Surg Robot Lab, NL-7522 NB Enschede, Netherlands

[2] Univ Twente, Dept Biomech Engn, Vascularizat Lab, NL-7522 NB Enschede, Netherlands

[3] Univ Penn, Dept Chem, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA

[4] Univ Groningen, Dept Biomed Engn, Surg Robot Lab, NL-9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands

[5] Univ Med Ctr Groningen, NL-9713 AV Groningen, Netherlands

关键词: Microrobotics;    Acoustic streaming;    Acoustofluidics;    Bubble-powered motors;    Self-propulsion;    Minimally-invasive surgeries;    Ultrasound;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.snb.2021.130589

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Bubble-powered acoustic microsystems span a plethora of applications that range from lab-on-chip diagnostic platforms to targeted interventions as microrobots. Numerous studies strategize this bubble-powered mechanism to generate autonomous self-propulsion of microrobots in response to high frequency sound waves. Herein, we present two micro-propeller designs which contain an axis-symmetric distribution of entrapped bubbles that vibrate to induce fast rotational motion. Our micro-propellers are synthesized using 3D Direct Laser Writing and chemically-functionalized to selectively trap air bubbles at their micro-cavities which function as propulsion units. These rotational acoustic micro-propellers offer a dual advantage of being used as mobile microfluidic mixers, and as autonomous microrobots for targeted manipulation. With regards to targeted manipulation, we demonstrate magneto-acoustic actuation of our first propeller design that can be steered to a desired location to perform rotational motion. Furthermore, our second propeller design comprises of a helical arrangement of bubble-filled cavities which makes it suitable for spatial micro-mixing. Our acoustic propellers can reach speeds of up to 400 RPM (rotations per minute) without requiring any direct contact with a vibrating substrate in contrast to the state-of-the-art rotary acoustic microsystems.

【 授权许可】

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