Nano electromechanical systems (NEMS) represent an important new class of device with wide ranging applications. In this paper we report proposals and calculations for novel methods for excitation and readout of cantilever-style NEMS resonators which are applicable over a wide temperature range. We suggest a Lorentz force-based excitation method and discuss an ultrasensitive readout provided by...

We investigate the performance of a linear electromechanical oscillator as an energy harvester of finite-bandwidth random vibrations. We derive exact analytical expressions for the net electrical power and the efficiency of the conversion of the power supplied by the noise into electrical power for arbitrary colored noise. We apply our results to the important case of exponentially correlated n...

A brief description of the stability problem in micro and nano electromechanical devices (MEMS/NEMS) actuated by Casimir forces is given. To enhance the stability, we propose the use of curved surfaces and recalculate the stability conditions by means of the proximity force approximation. The use of curved surfaces changes the bifurcation point, and the radius of curvature becomes a control par...

We report on the characterization of nanometer-scale resonators. Each device incorporates one multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) as a torsional spring. The devices are actuated electrostatically, and their deflections, both low frequency and on resonance, are detected optically. These are some of the smallest electromechanical devices ever created and are a demonstration of practical integrated...

A prototype endovascular electromechanical clot-extraction device was fabricated using a combination of shape memory polymer and shape memory nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol). Five embolic vascular occlusions were created in 4 rabbits by injecting thermally coagulated blood through a 4F catheter in the common carotid artery. Angiography immediately after clot injection showed complete or partial...

The design of RF MEMS switches involves several disciplines: mechanics, materials science and electrical engineering. While significant progress has been made in the RF design of the switches, mechanical and material studies are required for mass commercialization of reliable devices. Senturia and co-workers at MIT have presented a closed form solution to describe the electromechanical behavior...

We consider the electromechanical properties of a single-electronic device consisting of a movable quantum dot attached to a vibrating cantilever, forming a tunnel contact with a nonmovable source electrode. We show that the resonance Kondo tunneling of electrons amplifies exponentially the strength of nanoelectromechanical (NEM) coupling in such a device and make the latter insensitive to meso...

Measurement of the acoustic power in high-energy ultrasonic devices is complex due to occurrence of the strong cavitation in front of the sonotrode tip. In our research we used three methods for characterization of our new ultrasonic probe for neuroendoscopic procedures. The first method is based on the electromechanical characterization of the device measuring the displacement of the sonotrode...

This paper reports the design, modeling and fabrication of a novel MEMS device for low-frequency, low-g vibration energy harvesting. The new design is based on bi-stable buckled beam structure. To implement the design at MEMS scale, we further proposed to employ residual stress in micro-fabricated thin films. With an electromechanical lumped model, the multi-layer beam could be designed to achi...