Research (please also visit the Japanse page)

Reserch Outline

Research and education on functional units for the future intelligent mechanical systems from micro and nano-scale. System integration based on MEMS and nanotechnology as well as AI (Ex: machine learning). The system design is based on physical and chemical phenomena in micro and nano domain and bio-mimetic approach. Our objective is to improve the QOL (Quality of Life) by the application of robotics and micro-nano technologies to biomedicine.

Graduate School Admissions (Please check Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering.)

Reserch Areas

  1. Medical Robotics, Medical Devices
  2. On-chip Robotics (Magneticall Driven Type) and Biomedical Applications
  3. On-chip Robotics (Laser Driven Type) and Biomedical Applications
  4. Micro-nano Fluidic Systems, Micro-nano Devices, Bio-machine
  5. Micro-nano Sensors & Actuators

Research Topics (Examples)

  • Micro-Nano Robotics
  • Application of Micro-Nano Mechatronics to Biomedicine
  • Microfluidic chips and Micro-Nano Manipulation at Three-Dimensional Scales
  • Exoskeletal Microarm for Minimum Invasive Surgery
  • Tailored Artificial Blood Vessels
  • Sensors and Actuators using New Principles (Wide measurement range, high resolution and miniature size)
  • Intelligent Robot Systems and Intellectual Interface

Research Videos

(Click the pictures to enlarge.)

Arai Lab　 Integration of Microfluidics and Robotics　 on-chip Robot

OCIAN: On-chip Impedance Analyzer　 High-speed Holographic Optical Tweezers　 Circulation Type Blood Vessel Model


Introduction of Arai Laboratory (Old video, until March 2020): Introduction video.wmv

2007 Tohoku University Global COE Program Global Nano-Biomedical Engineering Education and Research Network Center

Abstract of our commitment
"System Integration Based on Micro-Nanotechnology and Biomedical Applications"
pdf 886 kB (PDF file can be downloaded by click the left)

On-chip Robotics

Robot-on-a-Chip (Robochip)
We define Robochip as a microfluidic chip in which micro-nano robots are installed, and which is targeting the single-cell based measurement, analysis, cloning and anatomical manipulation to contribute to on-chip micromanipulation such as cell sorting.