Biomedical Applications of Electroactive Polymers

Abstract

We are investigating applications of mechanically electroactive polymers (EAPs) with the intent of applying them to design of new and improved medical devices. Our initial emphasis in this work is on blood pumps and robotic instruments for minimally invasive surgery. In blood pumps. EAPs have potential to permit design of more tightly integrated and biomimetic devices. In surgical instruments, the flexibility and high energy density of EAPs have potential for enabling replacement of limited dexterity mechanically activated instruments with electronically mediated instruments having multiple degree of freedom effectors. This paper provides an overview of our efforts to date with field-activated ferroelectrics and dielectric elastomers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 17, 2003
Accession Number
ADA429656

Entities

People

  • A. J. Snyder
  • A. M. Tews
  • J. P. Runt
  • M. I. Frecker
  • Qing Zhang

Organizations

  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Composite Materials
  • Dielectric Permittivity
  • Dielectric Strength
  • Dielectrics
  • Electric Fields
  • Energy
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Films
  • Geometric Forms
  • Geometry
  • High Voltage
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanical Working
  • Mechanics
  • Polymers

Readers

  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Trauma or Military Medicine

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Bayesian Inference
  • Autonomy
  • Biotechnology
  • Microelectronics