Soft Artificial Bladder Detrusor

Abstract

Developing soft devices for invasive procedures bears great importance for human health. The softness and large strain actuation of responsive hydrogels promise the potential to fabricate soft devices, which can attach on and assist to the function of organs. The key challenges lie in the fabrication of soft devices with robust actuating ability and biocompatibility to the attached organ. This paper presents a solution that integrates the thermoresponsive hydrogel membrane with flexible electronics and silk scaffold into a balloon-like soft device. As an example, the actuation assisting function of this soft device for shrinking an animal bladder is presented. The mechanical behaviors of the balloon-like soft device are experimentally and theoretically investigated. The concepts are applicable to other applications such as soft implants, soft robotics, and microfluidics.

A soft artificial bladder detrusor consisting of smart hydrogels, flexible electronic and silk scaffold is proposed. The artificial detrusor is fabricated to assist the shrinking of animal bladder. Experimental and theoretical investigations are conducted about the assisting behavior. The concept of muscle-like actuation by smart materials provides new solutions for assisting the functions of organs.

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