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Shape-Controlled Flexible Microelectronics Facilitated by Integrated Sensors and Conductive Polymer Actuators
2021, Rivkin, Boris, Becker, Christian, Akbar, Farzin, Ravishankar, Rachappa, Karnaushenko, Dmitriy, Naumann, Ronald, Mirhajivarzaneh, Aaleh, Medina-Sánchez, Mariana, Karnaushenko, Daniil, Schmidt, Oliver G.
The next generation of biomedical tools requires reshapeable electronics to closely interface with biological tissues. This will offer unique mechanical properties and the ability to conform to irregular geometries while being robust and lightweight. Such devices can be achieved with soft materials and thin-film structures that are able to reshape on demand. However, reshaping at the submillimeter scale remains a challenging task. Herein, shape-controlled microscale devices are demonstrated that integrate electronic sensors and electroactive polymer actuators. The fast and biocompatible actuators are capable of actively reshaping the device into flat or curved geometries. The curvature and position of the devices are monitored with strain or magnetic sensors. The sensor signals are used in a closed feedback loop to control the actuators. The devices are wafer-scale microfabricated resulting in multiple functional units capable of grasping, holding, and releasing biological tissues, as demonstrated with a neuronal bundle.
Electronically integrated microcatheters based on self-assembling polymer films
2021, Rivkin, Boris, Becker, Christian, Singh, Balram, Aziz, Azaam, Akbar, Farzin, Egunov, Aleksandr, Karnaushenko, Dmitriy D, Naumann, Ronald, Schäfer, Rudolf, Medina-Sánchez, Mariana, Karnaushenko, Daniil, Schmidt, Oliver G
Existing electronically integrated catheters rely on the manual assembly of separate components to integrate sensing and actuation capabilities. This strongly impedes their miniaturization and further integration. Here, we report an electronically integrated self-assembled microcatheter. Electronic components for sensing and actuation are embedded into the catheter wall through the self-assembly of photolithographically processed polymer thin films. With a diameter of only about 0.1 mm, the catheter integrates actuated digits for manipulation and a magnetic sensor for navigation and is capable of targeted delivery of liquids. Fundamental functionalities are demonstrated and evaluated with artificial model environments and ex vivo tissue. Using the integrated magnetic sensor, we develop a strategy for the magnetic tracking of medical tools that facilitates basic navigation with a high resolution below 0.1 mm. These highly flexible and microsized integrated catheters might expand the boundary of minimally invasive surgery and lead to new biomedical applications. Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved.
Self-sufficient self-oscillating microsystem driven by low power at low Reynolds numbers
2021, Akbar, Farzin, Rivkin, Boris, Aziz, Azaam, Becker, Christian, Karnaushenko, Dmitriy D., Medina-Sánchez, Mariana, Karnaushenko, Daniil, Schmidt, Oliver G.
Oscillations at several hertz are a key feature of dynamic behavior of various biological entities, such as the pulsating heart, firing neurons, or the sperm-beating flagellum. Inspired by nature’s fundamental self-oscillations, we use electroactive polymer microactuators and three-dimensional microswitches to create a synthetic electromechanical parametric relaxation oscillator (EMPRO) that relies on the shape change of micropatterned polypyrrole and generates a rhythmic motion at biologically relevant stroke frequencies of up to ~95 Hz. We incorporate an Ag-Mg electrochemical battery into the EMPRO for autonomous operation in a nontoxic environment. Such a self-sufficient self-oscillating microsystem offers new opportunities for artificial life at low Reynolds numbers by, for instance, mimicking and replacing nature’s propulsion and pumping units.