Biocompatible Soft Material Actuator for Compliant Medical Robots

Robots from material-based actuators offer high potential for small-scale robots with abilities hardly achievable by classical methods like electric motors. Besides excellent scaling to minimally invasive systems, allowing for omission of metallic components, such robots can be applied in imaging mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current directions in biomedical engineering 2021-08, Vol.7 (1), p.58-62
Main Authors: Marzi, Christian, Fischer, Nikola, Mathis-Ullrich, Franziska
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actuator
Biocompatible
Light Actuation
Smart Materials
Soft Robot
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Robots from material-based actuators offer high potential for small-scale robots with abilities hardly achievable by classical methods like electric motors. Besides excellent scaling to minimally invasive systems, allowing for omission of metallic components, such robots can be applied in imaging modalities such as MRI or CT. To allow for higher accessibility in this field of research, a facile method for fabrication of such soft actuators was developed. It comprises only two materials: graphene oxide and silicone elastomer. The facile fabrication method does not require specialized equipment. The resulting actuator is biocompatible and controllable by light mediated heat. The bending motion can be controlled by the intensity of applied infrared light and the actuator was experimentally shown to move five times its own weight. Thus, providing capabilities for a medical soft robotic actuator.
ISSN:2364-5504
2364-5504
DOI:10.1515/cdbme-2021-1013