Micro-electromechanical device

• US 20080073163A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson), Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Weir, Michael P., Dunki-Jacobs, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,079,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/71.1
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0051 For defining the movement, i.e. structures that guide or limit the movement of an element mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock H01H3/60
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/0012 Protection against reverse engineering, unauthorised use, use in unintended manner, wrong insertion or pin assignment

Abstract

A micro-electromechanical device includes a frame, a moveable member movably connected to the frame such that the moveable member is capable of movement relative to the frame and drive system for use in moving the moveable member relative to the frame. A braking system is provided that inhibits movement of the moveable member relative to the frame.

Claims

1. A micro-electromechanical device, comprising:

a frame;

a moveable member movably connected to the frame such that the moveable member is capable of movement relative to the frame;

a drive system for use in moving the moveable member relative to the frame; and

a braking system that inhibits movement of the moveable member relative to the frame.

2. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 1, wherein the braking system has a first configuration that inhibits movement of the moveable member relative to the frame and a second configuration that allows for movement of the moveable member relative to the frame.

3. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 2, wherein the braking system comprises an actuator.

4. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a cylinder and a piston located partially in the cylinder, the piston being moveable linearly relative to the cylinder from a retracted position that is removed from the moveable member and an extended position in contact with the moveable member for a braking operation.

5. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 4, wherein the piston is actuated by heating and expanding a material located in the cylinder using an electric current.

6. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 5, wherein capillary forces retract the piston into the cylinder once the electric current is removed and the material cools.

7. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 6, wherein the material undergoes a phase change due to application of the current.

8. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 7, wherein the material is water, the current heats and vaporizes the water to extend the piston.

9. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 7, wherein the material is wax, the current heats and melts the wax to extend the piston.

10. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 3 further comprising a flexible web having a blocking portion disposed between the actuator and the moveable member, the flexible web configured to be moved by the actuator into and out of contact with the moveable member.

11. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 10, wherein the flexible web is located adjacent an etched opening that extends through the frame.

12. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 10 further comprising a pad carried by the web and located to contact the moveable member for a braking operation, the pad having a hardness that is less than that of the web.

13. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 10 further comprising a pad carried by the web and located to contact the moveable member for a braking operation, the pad having a hardness that is greater than that of the web.

14. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 10 further comprising a pad carried by the web and located to contact the moveable member for a braking operation, the pad comprising an elastomer, a plastic, a metal, an amorphous diamond, or composite of one or more of these.

15. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises an electroactive polymeric material.

16. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 1, wherein the moveable member comprises a scanner including a mirror.

17. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 16, wherein the scanner is configured to scan a beam of light across two dimensions over a field of view using the mirror.

18. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 17, wherein the scanner comprises a first scanning member that is moveable relative to the frame and a second scanning member that is moveable relative to the first scanning member and the frame.

19. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 1, wherein the braking system uses a magnetic field to inhibit movement of the moveable scanner relative to the frame.

20. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 1 further comprising a controller that controls movement of the moveable member.

21. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 20 further comprising a sensor that provides a signal indicative of acceleration to the controller.

22. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 21, wherein the controller controls the braking system based on the signal provided by the sensor.

23. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

24. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 23 comprising multiple accelerometers arranged to sense both angular and linear accelerations.

25. The micro-electromechanical device of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises an electrostatic comb drive.

26. A medical device configured to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s body, the medical device comprising:

a micro-electromechanical scanning device for optical scanning of a field of view within the patient'"'"'s body, the micro-electromechanical scanning device comprising a frame, a scanning member movably connected to the frame such that the scanning member is capable of movement relative to the frame, the scanning member configured to direct light across a field-of-view, a drive system for use in moving the scanning member relative to the frame and a braking system that inhibits movement of the moveable scanner relative to the frame.

27. The medical device of claim 26 further comprising an optical fiber for directing light to the scanning device.

28. The medical device of claim 26, wherein the braking system has a first configuration that inhibits movement of the scanning member relative to the frame and a second configuration that allows for movement of the moveable scanner relative to the frame.

29. The medical device of claim 28, wherein the braking system comprises an actuator.

30. The medical device of claim 29, wherein the actuator comprises an electroactive polymeric material.

31. The medical device of claim 26 wherein the scanning member includes a mirror.

32. The medical device of claim 31, wherein the scanning member is configured to scan a beam of light across two dimensions over a field of view using the mirror.

33. The medical device of claim 26, wherein the braking system uses a magnetic field to inhibit movement of the moveable scanner relative to the frame.

34. The medical device of claim 26 further comprising a controller that controls movement of the scanning member.

35. The medical device of claim 34 further comprising a sensor that provides a signal indicative of acceleration of the micro-electromechanical scanning device to the controller.

36. The medical device of claim 35, wherein the controller controls the braking system based on the signal provided by the sensor.

37. The medical device of claim 36, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

38. A method of controlling a micro-electromechanical device including a frame and a moveable member capable of movement relative to the frame, the method comprising:

detecting an acceleration of the micro-electromechanical device;

generating a signal indicative of the acceleration; and

inhibiting movement of the moveable member relative to the frame based on the signal.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising determining whether the acceleration is above a predetermined threshold.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein if the acceleration is above the predetermined threshold then inhibiting movement of the moveable member.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of inhibiting movement of the moveable member is performed using a braking system.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising controlling the braking system using a controller.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the braking system comprises an actuator, the actuator being controlled by the controller.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of inhibiting movement of the moveable member relative to the frame based on the signal comprises deflecting a flexible web into a path of the moveable member using the actuator.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the moveable member comprises a scanner configured to direct light across a field-of-view.