Apparatus and method for adhesion

An adhesion device comprising:

• A. a plurality of element block assemblies with each element block assembly releasably secured to at least one adjacent element block assembly, each element block assembly comprising:
• (i) a plurality of engagement elements with each engagement element having an elongated element activation section which extends monolithically from an element activation sheet and an elongated element deployment section which extends monolithically from an element deployment sheet, each element activation section being fused to a respective element deployment section within a respective element tip segment;
• (ii) an element transition mechanism disposed between an element activation sheet upper surface and an element deployment sheet lower surface with the element transition mechanism being operatively coupled to each engagement element, the element transition mechanism being configured to reversibly transition between a neutral configuration wherein the activation sheet upper surface is substantially adjacent to the deployment sheet lower surface an expanded configuration wherein the activation sheet upper surface and the deployment sheet lower surface are separated by a transition gap;
• and
• B. an element support body having an engagement surface and engaging the plurality of element block assemblies constraining each engagement element in a deployment state which is suitable for insertion into (or removal from) a target material with the associated transition mechanism disposed in the neutral configuration, and the element support body constraining each engagement element in an engagement state which is configured to mechanically capture surrounding target material with the associated transition mechanism disposed in the expanded configuration;
• and
• C. a user operated control system which is operatively coupled to each element transition mechanism, the control system being configured to reversibly transition selected element transition mechanisms from the neutral configuration to the expanded configuration.