Originally Published MPMN July/August 2002
Miniature Motor May Enable Smaller-Diameter Catheters
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Advanced
Semiconductor Engineering Inc. will manufacture miniature linear actuators
for NanoMuscle Inc. at its Korean facilities.
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"Because the motors are so small and can be manufacturedinexpensively, they are ideal for narrow-diameter, disposable medical instruments," says Uchino when asked about potential applications for this novel technology. Catheters employed to break up kidney stones are just one example of these kinds of products. Currently, these catheters must have a diameter of at least 3 mm to accommodate the necessary motion control components. The Penn State motor would allow a diameter reduction of roughly 1 mm, making the catheter more comfortable to the patient while retaining sufficient power to eliminate the deposits. Because they are not electromagnetic, the motors could also be used in instrumentation for magnetic resonance imaging.
Copyright ©2002 Medical Product Manufacturing News