Hyperelastic Membrane Actuators: Analysis of Toroidal and Helical Multifunctional Configurations.

ABSTRACT: Technologies that provide mechanical assistance are required in the medical field, such as implants that regenerate tissue through elongation and stimulation. One of the challenges is to develop actuators that combine the benefits of high axial extension at low pressures, modularity, multifunction, and load-bearing capabilities into one design while maintaining their shape and softness. Overcoming such a challenge will provide implants with enhanced capacity for mechanical assistance to induce tissue regeneration. We introduce two novel actuators (M2H) built of stacked Hyperelastic Ballooning Membrane Actuators (HBMAs) that can be realized using helical and toroidal configurations. By restraining the HBMA expansion deterministically using a semisoft exoskeleton, the actuators are endowed w

SUBMITTER: Perez-Guagnelli E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9494722 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature