The CheMin instrument of the Curiosity Mars Rover performs chemical and mineralogical analyses on Mars rocks. In order to analyze rock samples, the rock powder first has to be sorted. PICMA Stack multilayer piezo actuators from PI Ceramic qualified for this task. They carry out the oscillations required in material selection and supply at a defined frequency. Due to their all-ceramic insulation, they are ideal for long-term use in outer space conditions at a temperature close to the absolute zero and with extremely low ambient pressure.
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ELT: A Spectacular Eye on the Sky
PICA Stack Actuators from PI for Precise and Reliable Image Stabilization in the World’s Largest Telescope
In the Chilean desert, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is currently building the largest telescope in the world - the ELT. It consists of five mirrors, with the main mirror having a diameter of 39 meters. The smallest mirror, the M5, is designed to compensate for aberrations and guarantee high image quality, thanks in part to eleven PICA stack actuators from PI Ceramic.
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Point-of-Care Testing: The Pocket Laboratory
Piezoceramics Make Precise Liquid Handling in In Vitro Diagnostics Possible
In vitro diagnostics (IVD) is a requirement for recognizing diseases in blood, saliva, and urine samples. Some IVDs are used for analysis in laboratories, while point-of-care (PoC) tests are used close to the patient. However, all IVDs have one thing in common: Tiny liquid samples, in the milli- or picoliter range, are moved. For the handheld PoC devices, it is important for the components to be small and space-saving.
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Smart Vaccine Patch Production with Piezo Elements
In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, modern vaccination technologies are gaining importance as they promise to protect the world population from future pandemics. Vaccine patches are one of these next generation applications and piezo components or actuators can be used to precisely dispense tiniest droplets on the microneedles.
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Ultrasonic Metering in Intensive Care Devices
Viruses and other infections particularly affect people with pre-existing conditions such as renal or cardiovascular diseases. In regard to the treatment and therapy of such illnesses, the demands on the medical devices used are ever increasing. Piezo technology offers various possibilities to improve them: Using piezo transducers, for example, makes intensive care devices such as infusion systems smarter and facilitates vital patient monitoring.
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Piezo Technology for Medical Ventilators and Nebulizers
Chronic respiratory diseases like mucoviscidosis, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but also bronchitis, influenza and lung diseases related to COVID-19 require extensive medical treatment. Medical ventilators and nebulizers have a significant part in improving patients’ clinical condition and treating their illnesses. Piezo-driven devices offer high precision and efficiency as well as hygienic advantages.
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How an Industrial Safety Concept Can Be Combined with a Hexapod
Finger, hand, or body protection in automated production processes
The integration of a barrier-free safety concept into the control circuit of the hexapod, e.g. of a PILZ safety light curtain, ensures finger, hand, and body protection depending on the required safety level.
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High Dynamic and Precision in All Three Directions in Space: Positioning Systems for Genome Sequencing
The Sequencing-by-Synthesis method, also known as Solexa-Illumina-method, is the most widespread method among all Next-Generation-Sequencing methods (NGS). It was used to identify the RNA fingerprint of the SARS-COV2 virus in January 2020 in a research institute in Wuhan. Dynamic and precise motion and positioning systems are crucial for the "Sequencing-by-Synthesis" genome sequencing method.
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Piezo Ceramics Enable Precise Liquid Handling for in Vitro Diagnostics
In vitro diagnostics (IVD) opens up numerous possibilities for early diagnosis and detection of diseases. The requirements for fluid handling in IVD devices are extremely demanding: very small quantities of fluids with different properties must be dosed or moved with high precision. Piezoelectric components and actuators perform these tasks.
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Piezo Ceramic Components in Medical Technology
On the 17th of March 2020 piezo experts from research and industry will come together in Cranfield to discuss Piezo Ceramic Applications in the Medical World at the PI UK Ceramic Academy.
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