Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026
08:01
Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures
Published on: November 21, 2019
7.7K
Magneto-Elastic μ-Vibrator for Smashing Thrombus
Wei Li1,2, Cong Xue3, Xinxin Li4,5
1State Key Lab of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China. weili@mail.sim.ac.cn.
Micromachines
|January 24, 2019
Summary
This study introduces a miniaturized thrombus dredger that uses magnetic fields to break up blood clots. The device successfully cleared a simulated vessel blockage in mice within one hour.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Devices
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Thrombus formation obstructs blood vessels, leading to serious health issues.
- Current thrombus removal methods have limitations in efficacy and invasiveness.
- Minimally invasive technologies are needed for effective thrombus management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and develop a miniaturized, resonant thrombus dredger.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the dredger in clearing simulated thrombi.
- To validate a flow-rate ratio detection method for assessing thrombus removal.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a miniaturized flexural resonant dredger driven by a magneto-elastic vibrator.
- Excitation of the dredger using an alternating magnetic field.
- Testing the prototype on a mice thrombus in a simulated vessel.
- Evaluation of thrombus-cleaning effectiveness using a flow-rate ratio detection method.
- Comparison of experimental results with finite-element simulations.
Main Results:
- The fabricated prototype successfully broke a mice thrombus into micro-pieces.
- A blocked simulated vessel was cleared and restored to an unobstructed state within 1 hour.
- Optimal excitation in the third resonant mode increased the flow-rate ratio by approximately 2.7 times compared to a partly blocked vessel.
- The flow-rate ratio detection method was validated through comparison with finite-element simulations.
Conclusions:
- The developed miniaturized thrombus dredger is effective in breaking down thrombi.
- The resonant dredger offers a promising minimally invasive approach for thrombus removal.
- The validated flow-rate ratio method provides a reliable assessment of thrombus-cleaning effectiveness.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Elasticity
4.9K
Elasticity is the ability of an object to withstand the effects of distortion and to return to its original size and shape once the forces causing deformation are removed. When an elastic material deforms under the action of an external force, it experiences internal resistance to the deformation. However, if no external force is applied, it returns to its original state.
The elasticity of an object can be described by a stress-strain curve, which represents the relationship between stress...
The elasticity of an object can be described by a stress-strain curve, which represents the relationship between stress...
4.9K
01:19Vibrating Concrete
398
Mechanical vibrators are instrumental in compacting newly poured concrete within formwork and around reinforcements. This process is essential to eliminate trapped air pockets and establish a dense concrete mass. One widely used method is vibrating by internal vibrators, often referred to as a poker vibrator or immersion vibrator. It is rapidly inserted through the full depth of the freshly laid concrete and slightly extends into the layer below it (which remains in a plastic state). Consistent...
398
01:20Elasticity in Concrete
358
Upon subjecting concrete to moderate or high uniaxial compressive or tensile stresses, the strain response is non-linear relative to the stress applied. As the stress is removed, the resulting stress-strain curve deviates from the original path traced during loading, creating a hysteresis loop, indicative of the concrete's non-linear and non-elastic properties. Typically, a material's modulus of elasticity, which is a measure of the material's stiffness, is inferred from the linear...
358
01:24IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview
4.7K
When Infrared (IR) radiation passes through a covalently bonded molecule, the bonds transition from lower to higher vibrational levels. The fundamental vibrational motions that result in infrared absorption can be classified as stretching or bending vibrations.
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
4.7K
01:00Elastic Collisions: Introduction
15.2K
An elastic collision is one that conserves both internal kinetic energy and momentum. Internal kinetic energy is the sum of the kinetic energies of the objects in a system. Truly elastic collisions can only be achieved with subatomic particles, such as electrons striking nuclei. Macroscopic collisions can be very nearly, but not quite, elastic, as some kinetic energy is always converted into other forms of energy such as heat transfer due to friction and sound. An example of a nearly...
15.2K
01:15Elastic Collisions: Case Study
20.5K
Elastic collision of a system demands conservation of both momentum and kinetic energy. To solve problems involving one-dimensional elastic collisions between two objects, the equations for conservation of momentum and conservation of internal kinetic energy can be used. For the two objects, the sum of momentum before the collision equals the total momentum after the collision. An elastic collision conserves internal kinetic energy, and so the sum of kinetic energies before the collision equals...
20.5K