Methods of fabricating multi-degree of freedom shaped electroactive polymer actuators/sensors for catheters

• US 9,147,825 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Inventors: Kim, Kwang J., Kim, Seong Jun, Wong, Johnson
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/787,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 310/309, 310/311, 310/328, 310365-367, 310/800, 29/253.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0058 having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/00 Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/06 Forming electrodes or interconnections, e.g. leads or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/87 Electrodes or interconnections, e.g. leads or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of fabricating a multiple degree of freedom actuator with inter-digitated electrodes including molding an electroactive polymer membrane so that a plurality of projections are formed around a cross section of an outer surface of the polymer membrane; depositing a metal electrode layer onto the outer surface of the molded membrane; and removing the plurality of projections on the outer surface on the molded membrane, thereby forming a multiple degree of freedom actuator with a plurality of inter-digitated electrodes. Also provided are actuators as well as devices (such as catheters) including such actuators formed by the disclosed methods of fabricating an actuator with multiple DOF.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a multiple degree of freedom actuator with inter-digitated electrodes, comprising:

molding an electroactive polymer membrane so that a plurality of projections are formed around a cross section of an outer surface of the polymer membrane;

depositing a metal electrode layer onto the outer surface of the molded membrane; and

removing the plurality of projections on the outer surface on the molded membrane, thereby forming a multiple degree of freedom actuator with a plurality of inter-digitated electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections are approximately 0.2 mm in width and are position at approximately 90°

of each other.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each projection extends longitudinally along the molded membrane.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing the plurality of projections is by use of a cutting tool.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer comprises an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used to form an actuator with 4 inter-digitated electrodes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator is for a catheter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method does not comprise mechanical or laser machining.

9. An actuator formed by the method of claim 1.

10. The actuator of claim 9, wherein the actuator is cylindrical in shape.

11. The actuator of claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) and 4 inter-digitated electrodes.

12. The actuator of claim 11, wherein the actuator has actuation capability in 4 directions.

13. The actuator of claim 12, wherein the actuator has capability of bending to angles up to 50°

.

14. The actuator of claim 13, wherein the actuator has a cross section of about 1 mm.

15. The actuator of claim 14, wherein the actuator is about 20 mm length.

16. The actuator of claim 10, wherein the actuator further comprises a contact electrode.

17. The actuator of claim 16, wherein the contact electrode is connected to the inter-digitated electrodes by a composition comprising silicone rubber.

18. A catheter comprising one or more actuators of claim 17.