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US 2003/0210997 A1Published application
Stimuli-responsive hybrid materials containing molecular actuators and their applications
AssigneeScience & Technology Corporation @ University of New Mexico
InventorsGabriel P. Lopez, Ashutosh Chilkoti, Plamen Atanassov, Venkata R. Goparaju
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Abstract
The present invention provides a hybrid material and a method for forming a hybrid material comprising actuator made from a stimuli responsive polymer mounted in a porous framework. The present invention also provides devices employing the actuator of the present invention.
Claims52
A hybrid material comprising:
- at least one actuator, said at least one actuator comprising a stimuli responsive polymer that has first conformation in a first environment and a second conformation in a second environment;
- and
- a porous framework material for supporting said at least one actuator.
A method for forming a hybrid material comprising:
- providing at least one actuator, said at least one actuator comprising an stimuli responsive polymer that has first conformation in a first environment and a second conformation in a second environment;
- and
- immobilizing said actuator on a porous framework material.
A valve comprising:
- at least one channel;
- and
- a hybrid material located in said channel comprising:
- at least one actuator, said at least one actuator comprising a stimuli responsive polymer that has first conformation in a first environment and a second conformation in a second environment;
- and
- a porous framework material for supporting said at least one actuator.
3 more elements
A differential sieve comprising:
- at least one channel;
- at least two actuators mounted in sequence in said channel, each of said actuators comprising different stimuli responsive polymer:
- and
- means for actuating each of said at least two actuators to form at least two different sized passageways through said channel.
1 more element
A peristaltic pump comprising:
- at least one channel;
- at least two actuators mounted in sequence in said channel, each of said actuators comprising at least one stimuli responsive polymer;
- and
- means for actuating each of said at least two actuators in sequence to pump a liquid present in said channel through said channel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.