VRUTSKRIFT
Design and printing of magnetic soft untethered devices with re-programmability and self-maintainable shapes.
Background
Conventionally, an untethered device is fed into an enclosure using a cable/catheter whose end is attached to the device (i.e., in a tethered manner) before it can work wirelessly. However, some tethered feeding processes have to be kept short since the entrance for an untethered device into an enclosure is not allowed to be left open for a long time. Meanwhile the low steering ability and controllability of the cable/catheter limits the accessibility of the cable/catheter into a deep and damageable part (e.g., a blood vessel or a digestive tract). Magnetic actuation has been proved to be a feasible and reliable solution for untethered devices.
Project description
Untethered devices can operate in an enclosure without any cable/catheter connecting to external power sources. However, there is a lack of the capability of morphing between desired complex self-maintainable shapes for existing soft untethered devices. In this project, magnetic soft materials together with magnetic programming/re-programming scheme are studied to enable the morphing between desired self-maintainable shapes. In addition, possible shapes that can be generated by programming magnetic soft untethered devices as well as their applications will be explored. The outcomes of the project have the potential to simplify the implanting and extraction of medical sensors or tools and pave the way for research on smart magnetic materials and precise remote operation of smart micro/nano devices.
Aim and objectives
This project aims at the design and printing of magnetic soft untethered devices with in situ shape adjustability based on programmable magnetic soft materials. The objectives include:
- Guidelines for the programming of magnetic soft materials
- Magnetic field optimization strategy for magnetization and deformation control of magnetic soft untethered devices
- Exploration of possible shapes that can be generated by programming magnetic soft untethered devices as well as their applications
Outcomes
The main outcomes of the project can be summarized as follow:
- Platform for programming and re-programming of magnetic soft materials
- Material design and programming strategy for self-maintainable shapes
