The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2018
Filed:
Jun. 12, 2014
The Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, GB;
Nottingham University Hospitals Nhs Trust, Nottingham, GB;
THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY, Nottingham, GB;
NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST, Nottingham, GB;
Abstract
The invention relates to actuators based on electroactive polymeric materials for use in pumping fluids or in other applications where a contractile actuation is required, in particular, although not necessarily exclusively, for use in vascular pulsation devices such as a variable aortic tension device. Embodiments disclosed include an actuator comprising: an inner tubular structure; an outer tubular structure surrounding the inner tubular structure and comprising a plurality of layers of a dielectric elastomeric material and a tubular elastic support structure, the elastic support structure configured to maintain a pre-stress in the layers of the dielectric elastomeric material, wherein the outer tubular structure is configured to contract in a radial direction around the inner tubular structure upon application of an actuation voltage signal across the dielectric elastomeric material layers.