Electroactive polymers (EAP) are an emerging class of materials with many new revolutionary properties. One of the main advantages of electroactive polymers is the possibility to electrically control and fine-tune their behavior and properties. Using Micromuscle EAP technology, a wide variety of small moving components can be constructed. The possibility to create moving structures and exert force enables new functionality for medical devices and other life science products. For more information, go to: Micromuscle.
clipped from www.micromuscle.com
clipped from www.micromuscle.comENABLING NEW FUNCTIONALITY FOR MEDICAL DEVICES
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MICROMUSCLEEAP technology
Using MICROMUSCLE
Electroactive polymers
Electroactive polymers are an emerging class of materials with many new revolutionary properties. One of the main advantages of electroactive polymers is the possibility to electrically control and fine-tune their behaviour and properties.
Volume change provides motion and force
clipped from www.micromuscle.comBioMEMS and Microfluidics
A microrobot is designed as an "arm" with an "elbow" joint, "wrist", and "hand with three fingers". The robot is 670 µm long and 250 µm wide and can be used to grab micrometer sized objects such as a 100 µm glass bead as shown below.
Videoclip: Robot 21Mb
A
photo sequence of the microrobot grabbing and lifting a 100 µm
glass bead.
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DRUG DELIVERY APPLICATIONS
The MICROMUSCLEelectroactive polymer technology can be used for electrically controlled release of substances contained within the polymer. This enables controlled drug delivery as pharmacological substances can be incorporated into the polymer film during production. The substances move out from the electro-active polymer film when a low voltage is applied. The voltage level is used for controlling the release profile of the substance.
Voltage controlled release of substance from EAP layer
Voltage controlled substance release of a sequence of different substances
Voltage controlled substance release from EAP stent coating
clipped from www.micromuscle.comVASCULAR APPLICATIONS
Application example-steerable guidewire
In many vascular applications, guide wires, leads and catheters are used to reach specific areas inside blood vessels. These tools are generally passive. Adding active control and steerability to them would make it simpler to reach a desired area.
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