Miniature plastic gripper and fabrication method

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:870855

Benett, William J ^[1]; Krulevitch, Peter A ^[2]; Lee, Abraham P ^[3]; Northrup, Milton A ^[4]; Folta, James A ^[1]

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1. Livermore, CA
2. Los Altos, CA
3. Walnut Creek, CA
4. Berkeley, CA

A miniature plastic gripper actuated by inflation of a miniature balloon and method of fabricating same. The gripper is constructed of either heat-shrinkable or heat-expandable plastic tubing and is formed around a mandrel, then cut to form gripper prongs or jaws and the mandrel removed. The gripper is connected at one end with a catheter or tube having an actuating balloon at its tip, whereby the gripper is opened or closed by inflation or deflation of the balloon. The gripper is designed to removably retain a member to which is connected a quantity or medicine, plugs, or micro-components. The miniature plastic gripper is inexpensive to fabricate and can be used for various applications, such as gripping, sorting, or placing of micron-scale particles for analysis.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5609608
• OSTI ID: 870855
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

miniature
plastic
gripper
fabrication
method
actuated
inflation
balloon
fabricating
constructed
heat-shrinkable
heat-expandable
tubing
formed
mandrel
cut
form
prongs
jaws
removed
connected
catheter
tube
actuating
tip
whereby
closed
deflation
designed
removably
retain
quantity
medicine
plugs
micro-components
inexpensive
fabricate
various
applications
gripping
sorting
placing
micron-scale
particles
analysis
miniature plastic
plastic gripper
plastic tubing
fabrication method
various applications
miniature balloon
heat-expandable plastic
gripper actuated
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