In this paper we present a study of laser damage to large core multimode glass optical fibers by high peak laser power of up to 175 kW. Fibers samples prepared with polymer coatings having different refractive indices were tested in a twopoint bend tester while transmitting laser light. The peak power used in the experiment clearly differentiated the performance among the samples. A polymer coa...

Laser-induced deformation (bending) in azo dye-doped liquid-crystal elastomer thick films is demonstrated. We directly measure the laser-power-dependent deformation-strength (driving force). The deformation-relaxation time is also measured. We have observed that it recovers within 300 ms after the excitation laser pulse is gone, this gave a constant time of 75 ms. By estimating the optical elec...

An essential problem in developing concentric-tube continuum robots is to determine the shape of the robot, which is dependent on robot structure and external load. A comprehensive model that takes into considerations of influencing factors is hence required. In this work, the shape modeling of a type of concentric-tube continuum robot built with a collection of super-elastic NiTiNol tubes is s...

Circular tubes are widely used in daily life and manufacture under bending load. The structural parameters of a circular tube, such as its wall thickness, number shapes ribs, supporting flanges, closely related to the tube’s rigidity. In this study, tube with eight ribs flange was optimized, order obtain lowest weight, through comprehensive optimization. We obtained optimal influence on weight....

The detection capabilities of both laser and high-intensity quartz arc tubes were evaluated. The Spectra-Physics Model 171-19, 18-W argon ion laser and Laser Sonics Model CS-2, 200-mW air-cooled argon ion laser were compared with Payton Scientific's Luma-Print, high-intensity quartz arc tube. The light sources were evaluated as to their detection limits for various biological stains. The stains...

This paper presents a miniature wrist that can be integrated into needle-sized surgical instruments. The wrist consists of a nitinol tube with asymmetric cutouts that is actuated by a single tendon to provide high distal curvature. We derive and experimentally validate kinematic and static models for the wrist and describe several prototype wrists, illustrating the straightforward fabrication a...

Lipid and protein sorting and trafficking in intracellular pathways maintain cellular function and contribute to organelle homeostasis. Biophysical aspects of membrane shape coupled to sorting have recently received increasing attention. Here we determine membrane tube bending stiffness through measurements of tube radii, and demonstrate that the stiffness of ternary lipid mixtures depends on m...