Abstract:
An implantable blood flow control system has an open passageway defined inside a radially inner wall, behind which is a closed passageway. The radially inner wall comprises electroactive polymer actuator members for providing a variable flow restriction. The flow restriction has an undulating shape so that the volume of the closed passageway may remain constant during actuation of the electroactive polymer actuator members. In this way, the chamber behind the actuator members does not impede free movement of the actuator members. The undulating pattern presents no sharp edges, where blood coagulation could otherwise occur.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an electrostatic transducer for Kinetic Energy Harvesting or mechanical sensing comprising: 1) at least one compressible porous fibrous electret film (5a, 5b, 5c), said electret film (5a, 5b, 5c) being permanently charged with electrical charges of a first sign load, said electret film comprising a layer of coated tangled micro/nanofibers (12), which comprises : tangled micro/nanofibers (2) coated with a dielectric conformal coating (3), the tangled micro/nanofibers forming an ordered or disordered mass of fibers, said conformal coating (3) conforming the shape of the tangled micro/nanofibers, said conformal coating (3) being adapted to store electrical charges, and being permanently charged with a quantity of electrical charges, 2) at least two electrodes (A, B) fitted each on an individual support (7), said electrodes A, B having electrical charges of a second sign load opposite to the first sign load electrostatically induced by the charges of the electret film (5a, 5b, 5c), - at least one electrode being displaceable relative to the other electrode, thereby modifying the capacitance for collecting electrical power, - the electret film (5a, 5b, 5c) being adapted between the two electrodes (A, B).
Abstract:
An apparatus is provided which comprises: a ferromagnetic (FM) region with magnetostrictive (MS) property; a piezo-electric (PZe) region adjacent to the FM region; and a magnetoelectric region adjacent to the FM region. An apparatus is provided which comprises: a FM region with MS property; a PZe region adjacent to the FM region; and a magnetoelectric region, wherein the FM region is at least partially adjacent to the magnetoelectric region. An apparatus is provided which comprises: a FM region with MS property; a PZe region adjacent to the FM region; a magnetoelectric region being adjacent to the FM and PZe regions; a first electrode adjacent to the FM and PZe regions; a second electrode adjacent to the magnetoelectric region; a spin orbit coupling (SOC) region adjacent to the magnetoelectric region; and a third electrode adjacent to the SOC region.
Abstract:
A sensor (103) for load measurement is disclosed, which comprises at least one sensing portion (200) which includes a piezoelectric sensor and at least one sliding layer arranged to at least partially encapsulate the piezoelectric sensor; and at least one non-sensing portion (104) arranged adjacent to the sensing portion, wherein in use, a force applied on the sensor causes the sensing portion to be actuated to generate a voltage corresponding to the applied force, and wherein the sliding layer is configured to enable lateral movement of the piezoelectric sensor when the force is applied to protect the piezoelectric sensor against lateral stretching, and the non-sensing portion is configured to transmit horizontal force component of the applied force to a support structure on which the sensor is to be arranged. An associated sensor device is also disclosed.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to an actuator which includes at least the following: a pre-stretched electro-active polymer film being pre-stretched in a single or biaxial planar directions; at least one first semi-stiff conductor attached to a first surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the first surface is parallel to the single or biaxial planar stretch directions; at least one second semi-stiff conductor attached to a second surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; where the semi-stiff conductors are configured to: fix the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state and allow the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to expand; a pair of mechanical connectors coupled to each end of an active region of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film.
Abstract:
An actuator device comprises an electroactive or photoactive polymer arrangement having an effective length over which expansion or contraction is induced by actuation. The effective length is greater than the maximum linear physical dimension of the space occupied by the polymer arrangement. In this way, a compact design is provided which can support a large actuation displacement.