Patent ID: 8056827

Claim:
A jet dispenser comprising: a giant magnetostrictive actuator operable to expand or contract responsive to electric currents, the giant magnetostrictive actuator comprising a giant magnetostrictive rod with a first and a second end, the giant magnetostrictive actuator further comprising at least two clamping plates, each clamping plate connected to one of the first and second ends of the giant magnetostrictive rod and clamping the giant magnetostrictive rod therebetween; a set of flexural elements disposed between the clamping plates, each flexural element having a connection portion connected to the clamping plates to couple the flexural elements to the first and second ends of the giant magnetostrictive rod such that expansion or contraction of the giant magnetostrictive rod flexes the connection portions of the flexural elements in a first direction; a chamber containing fluid; a nozzle positioned in communication with the chamber and configured to dispense the fluid; a piston slidably located in a chamber, the piston being attached to the flexural elements and coupled to the giant magnetostrictive rod through the flexural elements, the piston being actuable by the flexion of the flexural elements to slide in a second direction so as to apply a dispensing force against the fluid to dispense fluid through the nozzle, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and the set of flexural elements being configured to amplify a change in length of the giant magnetostrictive rod due to the expansion or contraction of the giant magnetostrictive rod so as to slide the piston in the second direction through a distance greater than that change in length of the giant magnetostrictive rod.