We used inclined lithography to fabricate a pneumatic microvalve for tall microchannels such as those used to convey large cells. The pneumatic microvalve consists of three layers. The upper layer is the actual liquid microchannel, which has a parallelogram-shaped cross section of width 500 μm, height 100 μm, and an acute angle of 53.6◦. The lower layer is a pneumatic microchannel that function...

The non-pneumatic anti-shock garment (NASG) is a first-aid device that reverses hypovolaemic shock and decreases obstetric haemorrhage. It consists of articulated neoprene segments that close tightly with Velcro, shunting blood from the lower body to the core organs, elevating blood pressure and increasing preload and cardiac output. This chapter describes the controversial history of the prede...

This paper describes solutions that can be applied to pneumatic manipulator problems in positioning, both for angle trajectories and for long linear trajectories, used in construction tasks. Optimal positioning of a pneumatic manipulator along angle trajectories with minimum control energy consumption is given. The implementation of the control system is presented. Control algorithms for a long...

The performance characteristics of four 24-inch wheelchair tires are considered; one pneumatic and three airless. Specifically, two new airless polyurethane foam tires (circular and tapered cross-section) were compared to both a molded polyisoprene tire and a rubber pneumatic tire. Rolling resistance, coefficient of static friction, spring rate, tire roll-off, impact absorption, wear resistance...

After total hip (THR) or knee replacement (TKR), there is still an appreciable risk of developing deep-vein thrombosis despite prophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). In a prospective, randomised study we examined the efficacy of LMWH in combination with intermittent pneumatic compression in patients undergoing primary unilateral THR or TKR. We administered 40 mg of enoxaparin dai...

This study aimed to develop a novel 3D parallel mechanism robot driven by three vertical-axial pneumatic actuators with a stereo vision system for path tracking control. The mechanical system and the control system are the primary novel parts for developing a 3D parallel mechanism robot. In the mechanical system, a 3D parallel mechanism robot contains three serial chains, a fixed base, a movabl...

This article presents the development and control of a novel hybrid controlled vertical climbing robot based on Pneumatic Muscle Actuators (PMAs). PMAs are highly non– linear pneumatic actuators where their elongation is proportional to the internal pressure. The vertical sliding of the robot is based on four PMAs and through the combined and sequential contraction–extension of the pneumatic mu...

ADROIT Manipulation platform is a pneumatically actuated, tendon driven 28 degree of freedom platform being developed for investigating complex hand manipulation behaviors. ADROIT derives its unique capabilities, necessary to support dynamic and dexterous manipulation, from a custom designed high performance pneumatic actuation system for tendon driven hands. The custom pneumatic actuation syst...

This paper presents a nonlinear optimal control scheme for a mechatronic system that consists of a guided carriage and an antagonistic pair of pneumatic muscles as actuators. Modelling leads to a system of nonlinear differential equations including polynomial approximations of the volume characteristic as well as the force characteristic of the pneumatic muscles. The proposed control has a casc...