Electrically controlled contractile polymer composite
First Claim
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1. A contractile apparatus comprising:
- an electrical conductor;
a polymer composite in electrical communication with said conductor, said polymer composite comprising;
a nonionic polymer hydrogel containing a soluble ionic salt; and
an ionic polymer hydrogel in intimate contact with said nonionic polymer hydrogel;
means for passing a first electric current of predetermined polarity through said electrical conductor to said polymer composite to cause said soluble salt in said nonionic polymer hydrogel to pass ions to said ionic polymer hydrogel resulting in a contraction of said ionic polymer hydrogel; and
means for passing a second electrical current of predetermined and opposite polarity to the polarity of said first electrical current through said electrical conductor to said polymer composite to cause said ions from said ionic polymer hydrogel to pass to said soluble salt in said nonionic polymer hydrogel resulting in a relaxation of said ionic polymer hydrogel;
wherein both of said means result in two-way migration of said ions in said polymer composite.
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Abstract
An electrically controlled polymer composite which, when acted upon by an electric current, contracts or relaxes. It can also serve as a smart drug delivery device. The polymer composite is a series of hydrogel layers, each of which serve a particular purpose. A nonionic layer serves as a reservoir for an ionic salt while layers on either side can be anionic hydrogels and cationic gel. The invention can include an imbedded strain gauge by which the contractions or relaxations are monitored and controlled. The device is capable of being controlled by a computer with data acquisition and control capabilities.
112 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A contractile apparatus comprising:
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an electrical conductor; a polymer composite in electrical communication with said conductor, said polymer composite comprising; a nonionic polymer hydrogel containing a soluble ionic salt; and an ionic polymer hydrogel in intimate contact with said nonionic polymer hydrogel; means for passing a first electric current of predetermined polarity through said electrical conductor to said polymer composite to cause said soluble salt in said nonionic polymer hydrogel to pass ions to said ionic polymer hydrogel resulting in a contraction of said ionic polymer hydrogel; and
means for passing a second electrical current of predetermined and opposite polarity to the polarity of said first electrical current through said electrical conductor to said polymer composite to cause said ions from said ionic polymer hydrogel to pass to said soluble salt in said nonionic polymer hydrogel resulting in a relaxation of said ionic polymer hydrogel;
wherein both of said means result in two-way migration of said ions in said polymer composite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A contractile apparatus comprising:
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an electrical conductor; a polymer composite in electrical communication with said conductor, said polymer composite comprising; a nonionic polymer hydrogel containing a soluble ionic salt; and an ionic polymer hydrogel in intimate contact with said nonionic polymer hydrogel; a measuring device to measure the state of said polymer composite; means for passing a first electric current of predetermined polarity passed through said electrical conductor to said polymer composite to cause said soluble salt in said nonionic polymer hydrogel to pass ions to said ionic polymer hydrogel resulting in a contraction of said ionic polymer hydrogel; and
means for passing a second electric current of predetermined and opposite polarity to the polarity of said first electric current through said electrical conductor to said polymer composite to cause said ions from said ionic polymer hydrogel to pass to said soluble salt in said nonionic polymer hydrogel resulting in a relaxation of said ionic polymer hydrogel;
wherein both of said means result in two-way migration of said ions in said polymer composite. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification