Shape Memory Actuators for Medical Rehabilitation and Neuroscience

Actuators based on shape memory alloys (SMA) proved to be particularly advantageous with respect to other actuation technologies when they are embedded in applications requiring strict compliance to a set of compatibility (e.g. mechanical, biological, weight, ...) and environmental constraints. Most noteworthy are the uses in miniaturised components, lightweight systems, sensing-actuating systems (e.g. actuators interacting with changing environmental variables), low-noise or low-impact appliances (e.g. actuators with reduced interaction with the environment) and self-sensing controllable devices. With particular regard to these preferred applications, SMA can also play a role in solving specific actuation problems in the fields of Medical Rehabilitation and Neuroscience. The main characteristics expected of SMA actuators for these fields are light weight and portability; self-adjustment to evolving needs; applicability of actuation in shielded environments (with bioimaging and diagnostic devices: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, fMRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and the like).