Electroactive polymer based artificial sphincters and artificial muscle patches
First Claim
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1. An artificial sphincter, comprising:
- a cuff that is adapted for placement around a body lumen, said cuff comprising an electroactive polymer actuators; and
a control unit electrically controlling said electroactive polymer actuator to expand or contract said cuff, wherein said cuff comprises a substrate layer, an electroactive polymer active region that comprises a conductive polymer deposited on said substrate layer, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between said electroactive polymer active region and said counter electrode.
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Abstract
Provided are artificial muscle patches, which are adapted to be implanted adjacent a patient'"'"'s heart, and artificial sphincter cuffs, which are adapted to be implanted around a body lumen, such as the urethra, the anal canal, or the lower esophagus. The devices of the present invention comprise: (a) one or more electroactive polymer actuators; and (b) a control unit for electrically controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract the devices.
111 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An artificial sphincter, comprising:
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a cuff that is adapted for placement around a body lumen, said cuff comprising an electroactive polymer actuators; and
a control unit electrically controlling said electroactive polymer actuator to expand or contract said cuff, wherein said cuff comprises a substrate layer, an electroactive polymer active region that comprises a conductive polymer deposited on said substrate layer, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between said electroactive polymer active region and said counter electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An artificial muscle patch, comprising:
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an electroactive polymer actuator; and
a control unit electrically controlling said electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said artificial muscle patch, wherein said patch comprises a substrate layer an, electroactive polymer active region that comprises a conductive polymer deposited on said substrate layer, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between said electroactive polymer active region and said counter electrode, and wherein said patch is adapted for placement adjacent a patient'"'"'s heart. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification