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US 6,755,621 B2Granted
Stimuli-responsive hybrid materials containing molecular actuators and their applications
AssigneeScience & Technology Corporation @ University of New Mexico
InventorsGabriel 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.
Claims16
A peristaltic pump comprising:
- at least one channel;
- at least two actuators mounted in said channel, each of said at least two actuators comprising at least one stimuli responsive polymer;
- said at least two actuators that has a first conformation in a first environment and a second conformation in a second environment;
- a porous framework material for supporting said at least two actuators, wherein said at least one stimuli responsive polymer is dispersed throughout said porous framework material;
- and
- means for actuating each of said at least two actuators to pump a liquid present in said at least one channel through said at least one channel.
3 more elements
A method for forming a peristaltic pump comprising:
- providing at least one channel;
- and
- forming a hybrid material in said channel, wherein said forming step comprises providing at least two actuators, said at least two actuators comprising at least one stimuli responsive polymer that has a first conformation in a first environment and a second conformation in a second environment;
- and
- immobilizing said actuator on a porous framework material, wherein said at least one stimuli responsive polymer is dispersed throughout said porous framework material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.