• Simple, reliable: The electromagnetic actuator has only one moving part, promising a long design life and minimizing contamination from wear particulates or lubricating agents.
  
  
• Small: The actuator motor can be as small as 0.5 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches long with a stroke of 0.1 to 0.15 inches.
  
  
• Precise: The actuator offers controllable displacement steps on the order of tenths of microns.
  
  
• Low power: This actuator is powered by a conventional battery and can consume as little as 2 or 3 watts.
  
  
• Low heat production: Because the actuator has a single moving part, production of heat is reduced.
  
  

This technology can benefit any application where a relatively small, long-life, precise actuator is needed:

• Biomedicine: Intracardial/Intrauterine pressure sensors, dialysis membrane sensors, miniature infusion and insulin pumps, ventricular assist devices (VADs), artificial hearts, mechanisms for expanding coronary stents
  
  
• Computers: Disk-eject mechanisms, disk drive read/write systems
  
  
• Industrial: Robotic assembly; in-line sampling for nuclear, biohazardous, or other dangerous environments
  
  
• Electronics: Semiconductor fabrication, optical communications
  
  
• Aerospace: Drag reduction, flight control surface actuation, active vibration/noise damping, long-life- electro-mechanical instruments
  
  
• Scientific instruments: Genomic sequencing instruments, interferometers, medical imaging systems, microscopes

The motors typically used to move space telescope mirrors precisely in many degrees of freedom are relatively large and consume large amounts of power. A researcher at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has developed an alternative technology that provides greater precision in a smaller, lighter package that uses less power and has only one moving part. This technology—an electromagnetic levitating linear motor—has been developed into probe and pump designs.

The electromagnetic actuator motor has one moving part: a magnetically levitated shaft. This design eliminates the need for bearings and promises a long design life. Furthermore, unlike a solenoid motor, which is typically limited to two positions, this motor achieves displacement steps of as small as a tenth of a micron. The frictionless design eliminates the need for bearings or lubricating agents and reduces heat production. The actuator design can be as small as 0.5 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches long with a stroke of 0.1 to 0.15 inches.

The Goddard inventor integrated the actuator into a probe design that can be used as a flow or pressure sensor for implantable biomedical pumps, such as a ventricular assist device (VAD) or an artificial heart. Yet the probe’s applications are not limited to biomedicine. The probe-actuator design could be useful in computers and scientific instruments as well as in industrial and aerospace applications.

The actuator also could be combined with a pump design to provide precise volume metering. A new pump design could be developed, or the actuator might be compatible with an existing pump design. This pump would be designed to provide a flow rate of 8 liters/minute with 20 pounds of force. The pump is powered by a conventional battery and can consume as little as 2 or 3 watts. The pump would be useful in any fluid delivery system that requires precise volume metering.

These devices are part of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program Office, the goal of which is to transfer technologies into and out of NASA to benefit both NASA space missions and the American public. NASA invites companies to consider licensing the Miniature Pump Actuator (GSC-14710-1) as a probe or pump for use in commercial applications.

For information and forms related to the technology licensing and partnering process, please visit the Licensing and Partnering page. (Link opens new browser window)

If you are interested in more information or want to pursue transfer of this technology, please contact:

Innovative Partnerships Program Office
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Phone: (301) 286-2198
E-mail: mini-actuator@gsfc.nasa.gov