| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MATSUKI Hidetoshi TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, GRAD.SCH. OF ENG., PROFESSOR, 大学院・工学研究科, 教授 (70134020)
TANI Junji TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, INST. OF FLUID SCIENCE, PROFESSOR, 流体科学研究所, 教授 (30006192)
CHONAN Seiji TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, GRAD.SCH. OF ENG., PROFESSOR, 大学院・工学研究科, 教授 (20005424)
ARAI Yoichi TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, GRAD.SCH. OF ENG., PROFESSOR, 大学院・医学系研究科, 教授 (50193058)
FURUYA Yasufumi HIROSAKI UNIVERSITY, SCH. OF ENG., PROFESSOR, 工学部・知能機械工学科, 教授 (20133051)
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| Research Abstract |
This study deals with the development of artificial valves used as sphincters for the luminal organs such as the urethras or the rectums. Aiming at the realization of durable, practical and easy-operating implanted artificial valves, materials, mechanical structure, motion characteristics, motion control, bio-compatibility and simplicity of clinical implantation of the valves are studied in this project.
First, using a thin plate of the NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) as the actuator, an artificial urethral valve for the treatment of incontinence of urine was developed. Transcutaneous energy transmission system providing energy to the implanted valve was also developed. Further effort was made in the improvements of the mechanical structure of the valve and the efficiency of the energy transmission. A closed loop thermal control system was developed and integrated into the energy transmission system in order to prevent over-heating of the SMA surface. Through animal experiments using dogs
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, the efficiency of the whole system as an artificial urethral sphincter was verified.
Based on the experience and achieved results so far, in the last fiscal year of the project, effort was made in expending the application of the valve to the treatment of incontinence of feces. A rectal valve was developed. Structure of the valve was redesigned to meet the need of the rectal valve. Higher efficiency of transcutaneous energy transmission was obtained through further improvement of the transmission system. More reliable information transmission circuit was developed to obtain a more stable thermal control of the SMA actuator of the valve. Finally, the rectal valve, transcutaneous energy transmission system, and the thermal control system were tested by animal experiments using dogs. Experiment results verified the usefulness of the developed valve system as an artificial rectal sphincter.
In conclusion, an artificial urethral valve system and an artificial rectal valve system using SMA as actuators are developed. Efficacy of their function as artificial valves used as sphincters for the luminal organs is testified. Less
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