Abstract
This paper describes a small and powerful actuator driven by gas-liquid phase-change and its application to a forceps of endoscopic surgery. Recently a video-endoscope has been remarkably enhanced using a CCD which has a higher number of pixels, and used to early check of cancer or endoscopic operation. Necessarily it needs to use a high precision and powerful forceps for fine operation. This powerful actuator consists of 3.45 ml of perfluorocarbon (C5F11NO), a coiled heater, a thermistor and a housing of metal bellows which is made of welded stainless steel disks. This small bellows has an 18 mm of diameter and a 26 mm of length. A power generation process of this actuator is made clear and confirmed for keeping axial force of 20 N by supplying energy of about 3 W. This actuator is applied to a fabricated clamping forceps and confirmed its usability.
