Elastomeric device

Ion conductive hydrogels are relevant components in wearable, biocompatible and biodegradable electronics. Polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) homopolymer is often the favoured choice for integration into supercapacitors and energy harvesters as in sustainable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, to further improve hydrogel-based TENGs, a deeper understanding of the impact of their composition and structure on devices performance is necessary. We show ionic hydrogels based on an amorphous-PVA (a-PVA) allowing to fabricate TENGs that outperform the one based on the homopolymer...

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of elastomers enables the fabrication of many technologically important structures and devices. However, there remains a critical need for the development of reprocessable, solvent-free, soft elastomers that can be printed without the need for post-treatment. Herein, we report modular soft elastomers suitable for direct ink writing (DIW) printing by physically cross-linking associative polymers with a high fraction of reversible bonds. We designed and synthesized linear-associative-linear (LAL) triblock copolymers; the middle block is an associative polymer carrying amide groups that form double hydrogen bonding, and the end blocks aggregate to hard glassy domains that effectively act as physical cross-links...

Nanophase mixtures, leveraging the complementary strengths of each component, are vital for composites to overcome limitations posed by single elemental materials. Among these, metal-elastomer nanophases are particularly important, holding various practical applications for stretchable electronics. However, the methodology and understanding of nanophase mixing metals and elastomers are limited due to difficulties in blending caused by thermodynamic incompatibility. Here, we present a controlled method using kinetics to mix metal atoms with elastomeric chains on the nanoscale...

BACKGROUND: Reusable elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMR) are an alternative to address shortages of disposable respirators. While respirator discomfort has been noted as a barrier to adherence to wearing an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) among health care personnel (HCP), few have examined EHMR comfort while providing patient care, which was the purpose of this study. METHOD: Among a cohort of 183 HCP, we prospectively examined how HCP rated EHMR tolerability using the Respirator Comfort, Wearing Experience, and Function Instrument (R-COMFI) questionnaire at Study Week 2 and Week 10...

Thin cell culture membranes in organ-on-a-chip (OOC) devices are used to model a wide range of thin tissues. While early and most current platforms use micro-porous or fibrous elastomeric or thermoplastic membranes, there is an emerging class of devices using extra-cellular matrix (ECM) protein-based membranes to improve their biological relevance. These ECM-based membranes present physiologically relevant properties, but they are difficult to integrate into OOC devices due to their relative fragility. Additionally, the specialized fabrication methods developed to date make comparison between methods difficult...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the stability of ceftazidime/avibactam in elastomeric infusers, utilizing the UK's Yellow Cover Document (YCD) stability testing framework, in conditions representative of OPAT practice. METHODS: Ceftazidime/avibactam was reconstituted with sodium chloride 0.9% (w/v) in two elastomeric infusers at concentrations (dose) levels of 1500/375, 3000/750 and 6000 mg/1500 mg in 240 mL. The infusers were exposed to a fridge storage (2°C-8°C) for 14 days followed by 24 h in-use temperature (32°C)...

This study investigates the characteristics of a novel origami-based, elastomeric actuator and a soft gripper, which are controlled by hand gestures that are recognized through machine learning algorithms. The lightweight paper-elastomer structure employed in this research exhibits distinct actuation features in four key areas: (1) It requires approximately 20% less pressure for the same bending amplitude compared to pneumatic network actuators (Pneu-Net) of equivalent weight, and even less pressure compared to other actuators with non-linear bending behavior; (2) The control of the device is examined by validating the relationship between pressure and the bending angle, as well as the interaction force and pressure at a fixed bending angle; (3) A soft robotic gripper comprising three actuators is designed...

Controllable synthesis of homochiral nano/micromaterials has been a constant challenge for fabricating various stimuli-responsive chiral sensors. To provide an avenue to this goal, we report electrospinning as a simple and economical strategy to form continuous homochiral microfibers with strain-sensitive chiroptical properties. First, electrospun homochiral microfibers from self-assembled cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dot magic-sized clusters (MSCs) are produced. Highly sensitive and reversible strain sensors are then fabricated by embedding these chiroptically active fibers into elastomeric films...

Wearable mechatronics for powered orthoses, exoskeletons and prostheses require improved soft actuation systems acting as 'artificial muscles' that are capable of large strains, high stresses, fast response and self-sensing and that show electrically safe operation, low specific weight and large compliance. Among the diversity of soft actuation technologies under investigation, pneumatic devices have been the focus, during the last couple of decades, of renewed interest as an intrinsically soft artificial muscle technology, due to technological advances stimulated by applications in soft robotics...

Soft robots that incorporate elastomeric matrices and flexible materials have gained attention for their unique capabilities, surpassing those of rigid robots, with increased degrees of freedom and movement. Research has highlighted the adaptability, agility, and sensitivity of soft robotic actuators in various applications, including industrial grippers, locomotive robots, wearable assistive devices, and more. It has been demonstrated that bellow-shaped actuators exhibit greater efficiency compared to uniformly shaped fiber-reinforced actuators as they require less input pressure to achieve a comparable range of motion (ROM)...

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of full-arch conventional implant impressions using two different materials (A-silicone and polyether) to full-arch digital implant impressions produced from two intraoral scanning devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A master model was fabricated representing an edentulous mandible with four implants with internal connection placed at the sites of canines and first molars. The anterior implants were parallel to the residual ridge, while the two posterior implants had an angulation of 15° to the distal and 15° to the lingual respectively...

Due to advances in elastomeric pump technology, there are now devices available that can be filled with intravenous (IV) therapy at the bed or chair side. These devices are safe, reliable and enable the patient to be mobile when having their infusion. The Surefuser™+ elastomeric infusion pump is available in multiple configurations and allows patients to remain independent and receive IV therapy infusions in their own homes. The pump can also be used in the acute healthcare setting where traditional electronic infusion pumps may not be available...

BACKGROUND: The use of continuous subcutaneous infusion of drugs using the repeated filling of elastomeric infuser pumps (EIP) has gained clinical recognition for palliative care at home. However, to date, there has been a notable absence of research examining the cost implications associated with the repeated EIP filling procedure. We aimed to evaluate the cost associated to the repeated filling of EIP used in a home-based palliative care team. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of the cost associated to the repeated filling of 240 EIP (1-day, n = 136; 2-day, n = 102; 7-day, n = 2) (110 patients)...

The availability of stability data for the use of continuous intravenous flucloxacillin in an elastomeric device has enabled the treatment of serious Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) setting. This service review aimed to evaluate current standard of care to establish the clinical effectiveness and complication rates associated with its use since its introduction at our institution. A retrospective review of clinical outcomes and adverse events/complications, was undertaken for all patients who received continuous infusion flucloxacillin for complicated MSSA infection between January 2019 and July 2022 via our OPAT service...

The fluid nature of liquid metals combined with their ability to form a solid native oxide skin enables them to be patterned in ways that would be challenging for solid metals. The present work shows a unique way of patterning liquid metals by injecting liquid metals into a mold. The mold contains a nonstick coating that enables the removal of the mold, thereby leaving just the liquid metal on the target substrate. This approach offers the simplicity and structural control of molding but without having the mold become part of the device...

Substrates or encapsulants in soft and stretchable formats are key components for transient, bioresorbable electronic systems; however, elastomeric polymers with desired mechanical and biochemical properties are very limited compared to non-transient counterparts. Here, we introduce a bioresorbable elastomer, poly(glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PGCL), that contains excellent material properties including high elongation-at-break (< 1300%), resilience and toughness, and tunable dissolution behaviors...

The prompt visual response is considered to be a highly intuitive tenet among sensors. Therefore, plasmomechanical strain sensors, which exhibit dynamic structural color changes, have recently been developed by using mechanical stimulus-based elastomeric substrates for wearable sensors. However, the reported plasmomechanical strain sensors either lack directional sensitivity or require complex signal processing and device design strategies to ensure anisotropic optical responses. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports on utilizing anisotropic mechanical substrates to obtain directional optical responses...

We report on the enhancement of the light-emitting and mechanical performance of multifunctional dielectric elastomeric actuators by combining liquid eutectic gallium indium metal with a stretchable and transparent hybrid electrode composed of silver nanowires (AgNWs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The device shows improved optical properties, electrical conductivity, and stability for electroluminescent dielectric elastomer actuators compared with previous works. Combining single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) with AgNWs impeded the chemical reaction between the liquid metal and AgNWs, resulting in a more stable operation of the device...

Although outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy can be a good approach to treating infections, a lack of data regarding antibiotic stability in portable elastomeric infusion devices restricts its safe and effective use. Actually, meropenem is used for prolonged periods above 24 h, and it is not physicochemically stable, which can compromise efficacy and toxicity. This work is of high importance to show the clinicians the real shelf life of meropenem when administered in portable elastomeric infusion devices...

In this research, new injectable and in situ photocurable elastomeric nanohybrids have been fabricated from polyalphaolefin (PAO) resins and halloysite nanofiller. In this regard, the co-oligomerization of long α-olefin monomers (C6, C8 and C10) with alkenol counterparts was carried out via a simple cationic route to provide OH-functionalized PAOs. The newly formed PAO type copolymer resins as well as halloysite nanoclay were then equipped with photocurable CC bonds containing an acrylate moiety. After the characterization of the final chemical substances and also of the intermediate structures, experimentally and computationally by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, the neat treated PAO and PAO/halloysite nanohybrids were subjected to a curing process by visible light irradiation (λ ∼ 475 nm, blue light)...