The United States Government As Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Wayne State University

University of Basel

Universitat Basel Vizerektorat Forschung

Bottneuro Ag

Bottmedical Ag

Bussmedical Ag

Bekim Osmani

Steven Majerus

Tino Topper

Tino Toepper

Jeremy Rickli

Nivedita Dhar

Bert Mueller

Bert Müller

Mahyar Joodaki

Elise Dard

Tino Töpper

Raphael Guzman

Julius Klaas

Alois Hopf

Carina Luchsinger Salinas

For improving the sensitivity, lifetime and energy consumption of a dielectric elastomer transducer () to be used as a sensor, it is suggested that a dielectric layer () enclosed by two electrodes () of the transducer () includes a nanoscale volume of a fluid () such that the dielectric layer () is rendered compressible and/or displaceable out of a volume enclosed by the two electrodes (). The advantage of such a design is that, although the dielectric layer () and possible buffer layers () separating the electrodes () from the dielectric layer () may all have thicknesses in the order of a few μm or even in the sub-μm range, the transducer () is rendered highly compliant due to the movability of the fluid (). In consequence, a large nominal capacitance of the transducer () as well as a large relative capacitance change (up to twenty times that of the nominal capacitance) can be achieved in conjunction with a very high sensitivity.

Dielectric elastomer transducer and corresponding fabrication process

An artificial urinary sphincter can include a cuff configured to surround a portion of a length of a urethra. An actuator is configured to selectively apply a force to the cuff to thereby apply variable amount of pressure to the urethra. A controller is configured to adjust the application of the force by the actuator to cause the cuff to apply the variable amount of pressure to the urethra. A sensor can be in communication with the controller and configured to detect pressure applied against the cuff by the urethra. The controller is configured to cause the cuff to apply a first closing pressure to the urethra. In response to a detection of a threshold pressure increase by the sensor, the controller is configured to cause the cuff to apply a second closing pressure that is greater than the first closing pressure and that prevents urine from exiting the urethra.

Devices and systems for treatment of urinary incontinence, and methods of making and using same

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Basel, Switzerland

Bekim Osmani