Robotic systems' mobility is constrained by power sources and wiring. While pneumatic actuators remain tethered to air supplies, we developed a new actuator utilizing light energy. Inspired nocturnal animals' eyes, designed bilayer soft incorporating Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) on the inner surface of silicone layer. This design maintains silicone's transparency flexibility while achieving 54% faster response time compared conventional through enhanced photothermal conversion.

Soft actuators driven by liquid-to-gas phase changes do not require large air pumps or power supply equipment, making them ideal for flexible and compact mechanisms. However, the response time of conventional change is slow, lasting 10 s. In this study, we proposed a silicone actuator with an improved thermodynamic downsizing to reduce liquid amount volume. When placed in hot water at 75 °C, bends. The wall thickness ratio tube sealed inside could be used control bending angle. actuator's...

During muscle regeneration, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) promotes both proliferation and migration. However, the relationship between migration is poorly understood in this context. To elucidate complex on a physiological level, we established an intravital imaging system for measuring ERK activity, speed, cell-cycle phases mouse satellite cell-derived myogenic cells. We found that vivo, maximally activated cells two days after injury, then followed by increases cell number...

ABSTRACT Osteoblasts arise from bone-surrounding connective tissue containing tenocytes and fibroblasts. Lineages of these cell populations mechanisms their differentiation are not well understood. Screening enhancer-trap lines zebrafish allowed us to identify Ebf3 as a transcription factor marking cells in skeletal muscle embryos. Knockout mice had no effect on chondrogenesis but led sternum ossification defects result defective generation Runx2+ pre-osteoblasts. Conditional temporal...

Nutrient transfer from mother to the embryo is essential for reproduction in viviparous animals. In teleost Xenotoca eiseni belonging family Goodeidae, intraovarian intakes maternal component secreted into ovarian fluid via trophotaenia. Our previous study reported that epithelial layer cells of trophotaenia incorporate a protein vesicle trafficking. However, molecules responsible absorption were still elusive. Here, we focused on Cubam (Cubilin-Amnionless) as receptor involved absorption,...

Wearable gait assistive devices have been im-proved by soft robotics in terms of safety and physical burden the wearer. Currently, electrical sensors computers around wearer are bottlenecks enhancing wearer's activities. In this paper, we present a wearable system using pneumatic for all actuation, sensing, computation. Pneumatic artifical muscles (PAMs) on thighs were used to generate assistance force, thin PAMs whole legs sensing motion. All connected each other tubes, pressure response...

A gait training method that can adjust the target leg load is required to meet varied demands of trainees. In this study, we propose a running using soft gait-assistive suit-a power-assistive device adds an external force trainee by actuating pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM). Herein, assisting applied so activity reduced throughout cycle. We detected terminal stance phase as appropriate assist timing from pressure information, and was used for PAM control. conducted verification experiment...

Pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) are light and soft, expected to be applied gait assistance robots with multiple actuators on the human body. The PAMs can used as not only actuators, but also sensors detect phase by using their deformable bodies whose internal pressure changes in response wearer's gait. However, conventional methods have targeted single point detection a for ON/OFF control of PAM actuators. In this study, we proposed an algorithm estimate postural state wearer, especially...

In this study, we propose a small rotary actuator mounted on the tip of forceps manipulator for laparoscopic surgery. The proposed comprises soft (SA) and cylindrical cam mechanism that converts linear motion into motion. SA is made from silicone driven pneumatically. Therefore, it lightweight, inexpensive, highly biocompatible. Using an SA, entire can be lighter smaller. addition, has advantage easy sterilization disposability due to absence electrical parts in it. Furthermore, using air as...

In recent years, wearable power assistive devices to support human walking have been actively developed. A soft gait suit actuated by pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) can detect phases from the pressure information of PAMs. previous phase detection method this suit, only a specific in cycle has detected. However, for more advanced assisting, it is desirable be able continuously state multiple parts leg during walking. study, we applied reservoir computing, which computational using...

In laparoscopic surgery using a surgical robot, automation of tasks has the potential to increase efficiency including shorten operation time and reduce fatigue surgeon. Estimating position suture needle contributes semi-autonomous control master-follower robot. this study, we propose method estimate future exit point from tissue when suturing with posture before insertion, based on deep learning segmented. The tip in 2D image was estimated by neural networks, past positions obtained...

Dynamic intravital imaging is essential for revealing ongoing biological phenomena within living organisms and influenced primarily by several factors: motion artifacts, optical properties spatial resolution. Conventional quality a volume, however, degraded involuntary movements trades off between the imaged speed quality. To balance such trade-offs incurred two-photon excitation microscopy during imaging, we developed unique combination of interlaced scanning simple image restoration...

One of the recent developments in physical reservoir computing, which uses complex dynamics a system as computational resource, is use pneumatic pipeline resource. This air for computation, and because it lightweight power-saving, used gait-assist control using soft exoskeleton with rubber artificial muscles. In this study, we verified that by feeding back estimated information to system, computing can generate periodic pressure changes stable limit cycle, such those seen walking. A feedback...

This paper tackles the challenge of accurate depth estimation from monocular laparoscopic images in dynamic surgical environments. The lack reliable ground truth due to inconsistencies within these makes this a complex task. Further complicating learning process is presence noise elements like bleeding and smoke. We propose model framework that uses generic surgery video dataset for training, aimed at achieving precise settings. architecture employs binocular disparity confidence information...

Soft robotics is a swiftly evolving field. Pneumatic actuators are suitable for driving soft robots because of their superior performance. However, control challenging due to the hysteresis characteristics. In response this challenge, we propose an adaptive method compensate actuators. Employing novel dual pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) bending actuator, innovative approach abates effects by dynamically modulating gains within traditional PID controller corresponding predicted variation...

Machine-human interaction systems have been proposed to improve motion learning efficiency by providing feedback on misalignment between a learner and an instructor. Conventional teaching based haptic information presentation generally use electrical sensors motors, which causes the exoskeleton suit weight scale of entire system become large. In this study, we pneumatic-driven that provides simultaneously presenting visual torque learner. We achieved lightweight, soft, user-safety using...

Estimating the position of a surgical instrument and identifying its type are important first steps in developing assistance automation technology.However, there few reports on object detection technology using microscope field ophthalmology.Some major challenges estimation tool recognition under microsurgery this that target area is narrow, image may be distorted through refraction at air-liquid interface, angle view often enlarged or reduced as needed by surgeon.To address these...

Abstract During muscle regeneration, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) promotes both proliferation and migration. However, the relationship between migration is poorly understood in this context. To elucidate complex on a physiological level, we established an intravital imaging system for measuring ERK activity, speed, cell-cycle phases mouse satellite cells. We found that vivo , was maximally activated cells two days after injury, then followed by increases cell number motility....

In this study, we investigated trainees’ adaptation by conducting static balance training in a tandem standing posture. The horizontal tensile force loads the front, back, left, and right directions were applied using pneumatic artificial muscles. We analyzed that occurred during changing direction of load on lumbar region according to tendency trainee. conducted experiments following protocol. Ten trainees participated experiment. Phase 1, four same number times random order investigate...

Abstract Nutrient transfer from mother to the embryo is essential for reproduction in viviparous animals. In teleost Xenotoca eiseni belonging family Goodeidae, intraovarian intakes maternal component secreted into ovarian fluid via trophotaenia. Our previous study reported that epithelial layer cells of trophotaenia incorporate a protein vesicle trafficking. However, molecules responsible absorption were still elusive. Here, we focused on Cubam ( Cub ilin- Am nionless) as receptor involved...

In thoraco-laparoscopic surgery, the identification of a bleeding source is recognized as one most important issues with hemostasis during operation. However, previously proposed techniques are only capable detecting an approximate region, not precise location itself. To develop system which can accurately localize source, post-bleeding images and their corresponding information may be required. to pinpoint sources from actual surgery no easy task even for experienced surgeon. previous...

Soft actuators driven by liquid-to-gas phase changes do not require large air pumps or power supply equipment, making them ideal for flexible and compact mechanisms. However, the response time of conventional change is slow, lasting 10 s. In this study, we propose a silicone actuator with an improved thermodynamic downsizing to reduce amount liquid volume. The proposed bends, when placed in hot water at 75°C. wall thickness ratio tube sealed inside can be used control bending angle. was 1.70...

In thoraco-laparoscopic surgery, the identification of a bleeding source is recognized as one most important issues with hemostasis during operation. However, previously proposed techniques are only capable detecting an approximate region, not precise location itself. To develop system which can accurately localize source, post-bleeding images and their corresponding information may be required. to pinpoint sources from actual surgery no easy task even for experienced surgeon. previous...