This paper presents systematic modeling and design of an optically powered piezoelectric microactuator for driving a microfluidic dispenser that could find a potential application in a retinal prosthesis. The first part of the paper treats a microactuator system comprised of a micron-scale piezoelectric unimorph integrated with a miniaturized solid-state solar cell. The microactuator design is tailored for driving a microfluidic dispenser to dispense a stored liquid chemical through its micron-sized outlet ports at a rate of about when the integrated solar cell is irradiated by light at a power density of , corresponding to the requirements of the potential application. The microactuator system design is accomplished by first obtaining analytical models for the solar cell characteristic behavior and the microactuator displacements and then combining them to obtain the key dimensions of the microactuator through a design optimization. An analysis of the performance characteristics of the microactuator and a finite element analysis validating the analytical model for the microactuator’s displacements and the peak stresses under the operating loads are presented. The latter part of the paper presents a design of a microfluidic dispenser utilizing the optically powered microactuator and satisfying the desired input/output requirements. An analytical model integrating various energy domains involved in the system, viz. opto-electrical, piezoelectric, mechanical and hydraulic, is derived for the liquid flow through the dispenser’s micron-sized outlet ports. Finally, the energetic feasibility of the microactuator design obtained for the specified input and output criteria is also discussed.
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e-mail: saggere@ulc.edu
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July 2005
Technical Papers
Modeling and Design of an Optically Powered Microactuator for a Microfluidic Dispenser
Mandar Deshpande,
Mandar Deshpande
Graduate Student
ASME Student Mem.
Micro- Systems Mechanisms and Actuators Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Illinois at Chicago
, Chicago, IL, 60607
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Laxman Saggere
Laxman Saggere
Assistant Professor
ASME Mem.
Micro- Systems Mechanisms and Actuators Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
e-mail: saggere@ulc.edu
University of Illinois at Chicago
, Chicago, IL, 60607
Search for other works by this author on:
Mandar Deshpande
Graduate Student
ASME Student Mem.
Micro- Systems Mechanisms and Actuators Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Illinois at Chicago
, Chicago, IL, 60607
Laxman Saggere
Assistant Professor
ASME Mem.
Micro- Systems Mechanisms and Actuators Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Illinois at Chicago
, Chicago, IL, 60607e-mail: saggere@ulc.edu
J. Mech. Des. Jul 2005, 127(4): 825-836 (12 pages)
Published Online: January 18, 2005
Article history
Received:
June 22, 2004
Revised:
January 18, 2005
Citation
Deshpande, M., and Saggere, L. (January 18, 2005). "Modeling and Design of an Optically Powered Microactuator for a Microfluidic Dispenser." ASME. J. Mech. Des. July 2005; 127(4): 825–836. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1900749
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