Microfluidic-based artificial muscles and method of formation
AssigneesCalifornia Institute of Technology, The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsEmil P. Kartalov, Axel Scherer
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Abstract
Artificial muscles comprising a body of dielectric elastomer, wherein the body contains a pair of microfluidic networks are presented. Each microfluidic network includes a plurality of channels fluidically coupled via a manifold. The channels of the microfluidic networks are interdigitated and filled with conductive fluid such that each set of adjacent channels functions as the electrodes of an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator. By using the manifolds as compliant wiring to energize the electrodes, artificial muscles in accordance with the present disclosure mitigate some or all of the reliability problems associated with prior-art artificial muscles.
Claims13
A method for forming an artificial muscle, the method comprising:
- forming a body that comprises a first material that is a dielectric elastomer, wherein the body includes (1) a first microfluidic network that includes a first plurality of channels and a first manifold that is fluidically coupled with each channel of the first plurality thereof and (2) a second microfluidic network that includes a second plurality of channels and a second manifold that is fluidically coupled with each channel of the second plurality thereof, wherein the first microfluidic network and second microfluidic network are arranged such that the channels of the first plurality thereof and the channels of the second plurality thereof are interdigitated and spaced apart;
- filling the first microfluidic network with a second material that is electrically conductive, wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of a liquid and a gel;
- and
- filling the second microfluidic network with the second material.
A method for forming an artificial muscle, the method comprising:
- forming a first sacrificial element having a first shape that is based on a first microfluidic network, the first sacrificial element comprising a first material;
- forming a second sacrificial element having a second shape that is based on a second microfluidic network, the second sacrificial element comprising the first material;
- forming a body such that it encases a portion of each of the first and second sacrificial elements, the body comprising a second material that is resilient;
- removing the first material to define the first and second microfluidic networks within the body;
- and
- filling each of the first and second microfluidic networks with a third material that is electrically conductive, wherein the third material is selected from the group consisting of a liquid and a gel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.