Other

University of Colorado

Veloce Corporation

Christopher M Yakacki

Robert Niichel

John English

Kevin McWilliams

Amir H Torbati

Christopher Bowman

Kenneth A Gall

Devatha P Nair

Tao Gong

Eric J Losty

Sean McDonough

Aviva Abosch

Mohand Saed

Liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are described herein that include novel arrangements of bio-mimicking properties for use in surgery, therapy, and treatment of medical or comfort issues. Through the particular arrangements medical devices and portions of them may be adapted to have properties that dampen and dissipate vibrations such as shocks to body tissues during surgical recovery and/or during subsequent use. This dampening is attained by novel arrangements of LCP and processes for forming them that vary from prior attempts at synthesizing activated LCP elements. These novel arrangements include using LCP bodies that include thicknesses and properties that have not been demonstrated or achieved for medical or other purposes and that are achieved using distinct processes. These novel LCP arrangements and methods of creating them can produce medical devices that bio-mimic natural tissue or operation to provide better results for patients.

Liquid crystal polymer device and method

Various embodiments of the present disclosure include a consumable capsule containing an active ingredient in at least one compartment movably sealed by a stimuli responsive actuator, and an activation device configured to communicate with the consumable capsule. The activation device is configured to emit a wireless signal to activate the stimuli responsive actuator of the consumable capsule, and the consumable capsule is configured to release the active ingredient into an external environment based on the activation of the stimuli responsive actuator.

Wireless communications system integrating electronics into orally ingestible products for controlled release of active ingredients

An adapter to be used to position and restrain a patient's head movement during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, X-ray imaging or other imaging or medical procedures. The adapter has a high degree of adjustability and modularity. The adapter can be fitted to a patient quickly and comfortably by offering translational, rotational and height adjustment during the fitting procedure, thereby reducing the overall time for the MRI. The adapter includes a base, one or more attachment members to selectively affix the base to an imaging table, a pair of upwardly extending spaced-apart supports attached to the base, a stabilizer frame rotatably attached to the pair of supports, and a locking mechanism to selectively prevent rotation of the frame attached to the pair of supports.

Imaging table-to-head frame adapter

Provided herein are systems and methods for polymerizing and programming a liquid crystal polymer, including a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) with two-way shape-memory via a stepped or self-limiting reaction. In the described method, the reaction may be stepped to achieve different aspects of the two-way shape-memory effect in the produced LCE. In one embodiment, the method creates a polydomain LCE body with a completed thiol-acrylate Michael addition reaction polymerization. The method may further crosslink the polydomain LCE body under a stimulus, thereby locking a domain state in a portion of the polymer. A two-way shape-memory effect of the LCE may thereafter be programmed and locked into the LCE the second stage polymerization reaction. The self-limiting reaction allows for unprecedented control over LCE domain states and cross-linking densities, as well as the resultant mechanical and optical properties of the LCE formed.

Systems and methods of creating liquid crystal polymers using stepped reactions

A polymer is composed of a linear chain acrylate and a multi-functional acrylate cross-linker. The polymerized composition exhibits a transition at a temperature between about 34&#xb0; C. and about 50&#xb0; C. The polymerized composition exhibits shape memory effects. In one embodiment, the linear chain is tert-butyl acrylate and the crosslinker is polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The resultant shape memory polymers may be used in medical devices to provide devices with different shapes for pre and post implantation.

Shape memory polymer

Growing community of inventors

Denver, CO, United States of America

Christopher M Yakacki