公开(公告)号：US20190160206A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-30

申请号：US16200824

申请日：2018-11-27

Applicant: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Inventor： Steven Lathers ,  Jeffrey LaBelle

IPC: A61L27/50 ,  F03G7/06 ,  A61F2/68 ,  A61L27/26

Abstract: A thermally responsive shape memory polymer (SMP) actuator includes a body having at least one non-linear segment arranged between first and second ends, with the body comprising a plurality of dots, rods, or layers of SMP material. The SMP material my include a linear aliphatic thermoplastic polyester and at least one other polymer. The non-linear segment may have a substantially flat zig-zag shape arranged between first and second substantially straight segments. A prosthetic device may include multiple thermally responsive shape memory actuators and a movable joint arranged between structural members having anchors associated therewith. A first group of SMP actuators provides pivotal movement in a first direction, and a second group of SMP actuators provides pivotal movement in a second direction. Methods for forming SMP actuators include body formation by additive manufacturing, heating the body to a glass transition temperature range while applying tension, and cooling the body.