Note: Experimental study on feasibility of a flexural traveling wave piezoelectric device for biomedical micro-electromechanical system

The aim of this paper is to experimentally show that polyvinylidene fluoride biaxially oriented in bimorph configuration is a suitable flexural traveling wave device. Piezoelectric ceramic is promising, however the lack biocompatibility is the main drawback for biomedical micro-electromechanical system. A prototype of 20 mm diameter was designed, constructed, and tested via an optical method. A first investigation was performed on two standing waves which were excited to generate the traveling wave. The findings of amplitude and phase have revealed a B-31 vibration mode at 7.2 kHz and a maximum amplitude of roughly 40 nm. The flexural traveling wave was confirmed experimentally. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.