Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The University of British Columbia

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Sunnybrook Research Institute

Ryerson University

John Madden

Ian W Hunter

Peter G Madden

Timothy Manning Swager

Bing Xu

Anthony Edward Pullen

Mirza Saquib Sarwar

Yuta Dobashi

Hsiao-Hua Yu

Patrick A Anquetil

Konrad Walus

Edmond Cretu

Shahriar Mirabbasi

Meisam Farajollahi

Jerry Ku

Ettore Glitz

Joel Ramjist

Christopher Pasarikovski

Victor Yang

Described herein are systems, devices and methods that enable dynamic modification of the physicochemical properties of a hydrogel during its in vivo formation and delivery by a catheter. In some example embodiments, an extended endoluminal hydrogel delivery device is employed for delivering a hydrogel within a given body cavity, such as within the lumen of a blood vessel. In some example embodiments, a hydrogel precursor, as a non-viscous liquid, is injected through an intravascular catheter and crosslinking of the hydrogel precursor is initiated within a distal region of the catheter. The crosslinking process is controlled, by a control means associated with a distal region of the catheter, to control or modify one or more properties of the hydrogel. The properties may be controlled such that a hydrogel is suitable to embolize the specific target or deliver drugs or other materials beneficial to the site.

Hydrogel co-injection and real-time opto-electromagnetic modification device for tunable in-vivo delivery

A method of sensing a pressure applied to a surface comprises monitoring an electrical signal generated by redistribution of mobile ions in a piezoionic layer under the surface. An externally applied local pressure at a portion of the layer induces redistribution of mobile ions in the piezoionic layer. It is determined that the surface is pressured based on detection of the electrical signal. A piezoionic sensor includes a sensing surface; a piezoionic layer disposed under the sensing surface such that an externally applied local pressure on a portion of the sensing surface causes detectable redistribution of mobile ions in the piezoionic layer; and electrodes in contact with the layer, configured to monitor electrical signal generated by the redistribution of mobile ions in the piezoionic layer.

Method and sensor for pressure sensing based on electrical signal generated by redistribution of mobile ions in piezoionic layer

Sensor arrays are provided for sensing pressure and/or moisture over a two-dimensional sensing surface. The sensor arrays comprise ionically conductive materials. Individual sensor elements in the sensor arrays may comprise piezoionic ionically conductive materials, piezoresistive ionically conductive materials and/or capacitive sensor elements having electrodes fabricated from ionically conductive materials. Two-dimensional pressure maps and/or moisture maps of the sensing surface may be obtained by implementing methods comprising scanning over individual sensor elements in the sensor arrays.

Surface sensor arrays using ionically conducting material

The synthesis of thiophene based conducting polymer molecular actuators, exhibiting electrically triggered molecular conformational transitions is reported. Actuation is believed to be the result of conformational rearrangement of the polymer backbone at the molecular level, not simply ion intercalation in the bulk polymer chain upon electrochemical activation. Molecular actuation results from &#x3c0;-&#x3c0; stacking of thiophene oligomers upon oxidation, producing a reversible molecular displacement that leads to surprising material properties, such as electrically controllable porosity and large strains. The existence of active molecular conformational changes is supported by in situ electrochemical data. Single molecule techniques have been used to characterize the molecular actuators.

Molecular actuators, and methods of use thereof

A method for driving an actuator. The method includes applying an electrical potential across an electrostrictive material relative to a counterelectrode disposed within an electrolyte, thereby creating a double layer potential across a region of enhanced ionic concentration. A current flowing between the electorostrictive material and the counterelectrode is measured. A portion of the applied potential appearing across the electrolyte and counterelectrode is calculated and subtracted from the applied potential to obtain an estimated double layer potential. The applied electrical potential is adjusted to obtain a specified double layer potential.

High power-to-mass ratio actuator

The synthesis of thiophene based conducting polymer molecular actuators, exhibiting electrically triggered molecular conformational transitions is reported. Actuation is believed to be the result of conformational rearrangement of the polymer backbone at the molecular level, not simply ion intercalation in the bulk polymer chain upon electrochemical activation. Molecular actuation results from &#x3c0;&#x2014;&#x3c0; stacking of thiophene oligomers upon oxidation, producing a reversible molecular displacement that leads to surprising material properties, such as electrically controllable porosity and large strains. The existence of active molecular conformational changes is supported by in situ electrochemical data. Single molecule techniques have been used to characterize the molecular actuators.

A method of manufacturing a polymer transistor having a controllable gap is provided in an embodiment. In the embodiment, a conducting tip is positioned proximate to a conducting surface so as to form a gap, an electrochemical medium is introduced in contact with the conducting tip and the conducting surface, and an electrical potential is applied across the electrochemical medium so as to deposit a conductive polymer that electrically bridges the formed gap. In another embodiment, a counter electrode is provided in the electrochemical solution, facilitating processing in which the electrochemical potential at the conducting tip and at the conducting surface are the same and there is a return path for electrical current through the counter electrode. Repositioning of the tip during and after polymer deposition provides, in a further embodiment, adds additional capability with respect to gap control and polymer properties.

Method of manufacture of polymer transistors with controllable gap

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Vancouver, Canada

John Madden