Bar-Cohen Yoseph
JPL/Caltech, (MS 67-119), 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099, USA.
Expert Rev Med Devices. 2005 Nov;2(6):731-40. doi: 10.1586/17434440.2.6.731.
For decades, electroactive polymers received relatively little attention due to their limited actuation capability. However, in the last 15 years, a series of electroactive polymer materials have emerged that produce a significant shape or size change in response to electrical stimulation. These materials have the closest functional similarity to biologic muscles, enabling the engineering of novel capabilities that were, up until recently, impossible to achieve. Efforts are underway to address the many challenges that are hampering the practical application of these materials, and recent progress has already led to dramatic capability improvements. Various novel mechanisms and devices were demonstrated including robotic fish, catheter steering elements, robotic arms, miniature grippers, loudspeakers, active diaphragms, Braille display and dust-wipers. For developers of future medical devices, these materials are offering numerous advantages for their flexibility, fracture toughness and controllability, as well as low mass and low power requirements. This article provides a review of the current status, challenges and potential near-future applications of these materials.
几十年来，由于其有限的驱动能力，电活性聚合物受到的关注相对较少。然而，在过去15年里，出现了一系列电活性聚合物材料，它们在电刺激下会产生显著的形状或尺寸变化。这些材料在功能上与生物肌肉最为相似，能够实现直到最近都无法实现的新型功能。人们正在努力应对阻碍这些材料实际应用的诸多挑战，最近的进展已经带来了显著的性能提升。已经展示了各种新颖的机制和装置，包括机器鱼、导管转向元件、机器人手臂、微型夹具、扬声器、有源隔膜、盲文显示器和除尘刷。对于未来医疗设备的开发者来说，这些材料因其灵活性、断裂韧性和可控性，以及低质量和低功耗要求而具有诸多优势。本文对这些材料的现状、挑战和近期潜在应用进行了综述。
