The invention solves the problem of converting rotary to linear motion by means of cable driven pulleys, in addition providing a fully backdrivable, high-force and high-speed capable, reversible actuator, which is suitable in particular for incorporation in rehabilitation devices.

A surgical lift device to assist in surgical access through skin, tissue and organs

Purpose of the invention is to provide an improved solution to the problem of accessing internal organs and tissues in case of minimally invasive surgery, where surgical and inspection/guidance tools must be introduced into the human body (e.g. into the abdomen) through small apertures.

This invention provides a solution to the problem of controlling fluid flow in micro/nanofluidic circuits on chips, and specifically for chemical, biochemical and optofluidic applications. Fluid motion is controlled when entering, propagating and exiting the channel circuit by an original and very effective pumping system based on surface-acoustic-waves (SAW) generated by interdigitated electrode transducers (IDTs) on a piezoelectric substrate, e.g. lithium niobate, to which the fluidic circuit is bonded. The fluid is pumped by the pressure gradient induced by the SAW (of suitable wavelength compared to the channel cross section) in a direction opposite to its propagation direction, and is immediately stopped when the SAW is turned off (valve effect) if the channel material is hydrophobic. A single transducer is sufficient to control motion in the whole circuit, while combining a plurality of IDTs allows mixing, splitting or routing operations on the fluid in complex circuits, as sketched in the figure.