Abstract
This paper describes an in-air operable bio-actuator using dorsal vessel (tubular insect heart). The bio-actuators reported so far can work under wet condition i.e. in culture medium since it is necessary to keep cells alive and contracting. To overcome this problem, the bio-actuator was packed into a capsule with culture medium. The beating force of dorsal vessel tissue was measured using a force transducer. Based on the result, the micromanipulator and the capsule were designed and fabricated. The micromanipulator packed into the capsule was taken out from the culture medium after it was confirmed that the dorsal vessel deformed the micromanipulator. Surprisingly, the micromanipulator was deformed in air more vigorously than in the culture medium. The result shows the bio-actuator has applicability to not only wet condition but also in air.
