New Scale Technologies Micro-positioner Has Applications in Retinal Microsurgery, Robotic End-of-arm Tooling, other applications

Tiny Micro-positioner Has Applications in Retinal Microsurgery, Robotic End-of-arm Tooling, MEMS and photonics micro-manufacturing, and fiber positioning and alignment

New Scale Technologies, Inc. (www.newscaletech.com) is developing the world’s smallest commercial hexapod under a Phase 1 Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant. Awarded by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the grant funds development of a clinically-compatible, six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) hand-held micromanipulator for hand tremor cancellation in microsurgical systems.

A prototype micromanipulator was developed the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University with New Scale contributions. At less than 25 mm in diameter, it was the first hexapod or Gough-Stewart platform small enough for use in a hand-held instrument.

 New Scale is using the SBIR grant to develop an improved hexapod system with the same small size as the prototype, preparing the way for a clinically-compatible product ready for commercialization. Specific aims include improved dynamic performance, higher precision, and integration of a microcontroller with local feedback and motion control. Additionally, New Scale will evaluate the feasibility of a future wireless instrument with MEMS inertial sensors, on-board batteries and wireless communication.

 The hexapod system incorporates six piezoelectric SQUIGGLE® micro motors, miniature bearing assemblies, motor mounts, flexures, spring preloads and miniature drive electronics.

 In the handheld surgical tool, CMU algorithms enable the hexapod system to track its own motion, filter the undesired motion component, and deflect the tool tip with equal and opposite motion to reduce tremor amplitude. The CMU research was published in IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, Volume 20, Issue 2, by Yang, MacLachlan and Riviere.

 With its unprecedented small size and submicron precision, a commercialized version of the miniature hexapod has utility beyond microsurgery. Applications include use as a robotic end-effector for testing and manufacture of MEMS and photonics accessories, and positioning and alignment of collimated fibers or assemblies.NewScale-hexapod-SBIR-PRsmall

 

M3 “micro-mechatronic module” platform delivers key benefits

 The micro hexapod positioner builds on New Scale’s M3 “micro-mechatronic module” development platform, enabling the smallest, highest resolution, most repeatable closed-loop positioning solutions available. Each M3 smart module integrates New Scale’s patented and proprietary SQUIGGLE® or UTAF™ piezoelectric motors, drive electronics, position sensors, micro mechanical guides and control technologies. These “all in-one” smart modules plug-and-play directly with an embedded processor and provide the fastest time to market with the lowest total cost.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Event Calendar

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
29
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
FAME Annual Event
04/30/2019    
3:30 pm - 7:00 pm
FAME's 2019 Annual Event Will Focus on Apprenticeships! Regional Apprenticeships – A School to Career Connection Featuring Mr. Brent Parton, Deputy Director of the Center [...]
ROSA Annual Dinner
OSA ROCHESTER 2019 ANNUAL DINNER Invited talk to follow business meeting and dinner.  Members and guests register at the event link. Invited Talk: Astrophysics and Recent [...]
2019 Glass Spring Cartel Baseball Game
05/21/2019    
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for the annual Glass Cartel Spring Baseball game. This year, the game will be on Tuesday, May 21st in Club 3000. Details: 6:00 [...]
Events on 04/30/2019
FAME Annual Event
30 Apr 19
Rochester
ROSA Annual Dinner
30 Apr 19
Rochester
Events on 05/21/2019

Event Details & Registration

View Events

About Us

New York Photonics is a not-for-profit organization founded to promote and enhance the New York State optics, photonics and imaging industry by fostering the cooperation of business, academia and government.

Archives

Past Newsletters