Artificial Urethral Valve Using SMA Actuators : Fundamental Principle of Valve and the Verification of Opening/Closing Functions

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the development of an artificial urethral valve for treating urinary incontinence, which is driven by shape memory alloy actuators. Two types of valves, one with handdrum form and the other with cylindrical configuration, are assembled and their opening and closing functions are examined experimentally by using the urethrae of male dogs. It is found that the cylindrical is better than the hand-drum form from the point of contact pressure with the urethra. A metallographical-mechanical model of the SMA plate is constructed and applied to the analysis of opening/closing functions of the valve. It is shown that the presented model well describes the motor functions of the artificial urethral valve.