Design 7 -- NEIDL MRI Positioner
May. 2018
This machine is designed to help researchers at Boston University Medical Campus to scan small-size animals in the MRI system. The machine is powered by a pure non-metal pneumatic motor invented by the team, is able to provide a 360 degree rotation with a 30 degree increment, and a 8-inch linear motion with a 0.5-inch increment, and can be remotely controlled within the lab.
Pneumatic Motor:
This pneumatic motor is constructed with machined ABS plastic and 3D SLA resin to make the system completely MRI compatible. The motor is consisted of 4 air-powered pistons, which is programmed to be pushed down to join the teeth on the linear rack 1 at a time in order to achieve a linear motion. There are a total of 2 motors, in which one for linear motion, the other for rotary motion via a rack-n-pinion system. |
Final Prototype: