Abstract: A catheter includes an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator disposed in a steerable tip at the distal end of the catheter. When activated, the EMP actuator deflects the steerable tip through an angle between 0 and 270 degrees, thus permitting the operator to steer the steerable tip through the vasculature. The steerable tip also has at least a first relatively stiff region and a second relatively flexible region, and the EMP actuator is provided next to the first relatively stiff region so that the steerable tip may toward the flexible region when activated. In one implementation, an external interface allows a user to select by name one of many sets of control signals, with each set of control signals being signals calibrated for configuring the catheter to mimic a known catheter.

Abstract: A speed and angle adjustable dip-coating film forming device includes: a base; two swing rods, where the two swing rods are disposed opposite to each other, separately movably connected to the base, and capable of swinging relative to the base; two angle fixing racks, separately disposed on two sides of the base and capable of fixing positions of the swing rods; a power element, disposed on the swing rods; and a lifting rack, movably disposed on the swing rods, and capable of swinging with the swing rods and being driven by the power element to move vertically along the swing rods. A lifting angle can be changed by swinging the swing rods and fixing the swing rods by using the angle fixing racks, and a lifting speed can be changed by changing a moving speed of the lifting rack by using the power element.

Abstract: A catheter includes an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator disposed in a steerable tip at the distal end of the catheter. When activated, the EMP actuator deflects the steerable tip through an angle between 0 and 270 degrees, thus permitting the operator to steer the steerable tip through the vasculature. The steerable tip also has at least a first relatively stiff region and a second relatively flexible region, and the EMP actuator is provided next to the first relatively stiff region so that the steerable tip may toward the flexible region when activated. In one implementation, an external interface allows a user to select by name one of many sets of control signals, with each set of control signals being signals calibrated for configuring the catheter to mimic a known catheter.

Abstract: An electromechanical polymer (EMP) sensor includes (a) a first set of EMP layers provided between a first electrode and a second electrode forming a capacitor, the first set of EMP layers having one or more EMP layers capable of being activated by application of a voltage across the first and second electrodes; and (b) a sensing circuit coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for detecting a change in capacitance or a change in voltage across the first and second electrodes. The EMP sensor may further include means for disconnecting the second electrode from a ground reference after the pre-determined voltage is applied, such that the sensing circuit senses a change in capacitance. The sensing circuit may be capable of detecting a noise portion of a voltage across the first and second electrode.

Abstract: A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.

Abstract: A pneumatic continuous impact pulverizer includes an outer tube, an inner tube located in the outer tube, an air intake material feeding port located at a front end of the outer tube, an air pump located at the air intake material feeding port, and a plurality of impact tubes. The impact tubes respectively run through the tubular wall of the inner tube, and each has an airflow passage which includes a bell-shaped opening communicating with the outer tube, a middle branch opening located at one side of the airflow passage close to the air intake material feeding port and communicating with the inner tube, and an outlet communicating with the inner tube. High pressure gas and powders enter through the air intake material feeding port. The high pressure gas carries the powders to pass through the impact tubes where the powders collide with each other to become nano powders.

Abstract: A highly effective and cost-effective method and apparatus for manufacturing soft contact lenses by physically forming the lenses form sheet (or other solid) material in a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: Micro-streerable catheters for use in delivering therapeutic treatment in the body, such as ablation and cauterization, and which exhibit precise movement are disclosed. Embodiments include electrical micro-catheters that comprise of electroactive polymers. A preferred embodiment includes a programmable catheter.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention include high electric energy density polymer film capacitors with high dielectric constant, low dielectric dissipation tangent, and low leakage current in a broad temperature range. More particularly, examples include a polymer film capacitor in which the dielectric layer comprise a copolymer of a first monomer (such as tetrafluoroethylene) and a second polar monomer. The second monomer component may be selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene or their mixtures, and optionally other monomers may be included to adjust the mechanical performance. The capacitors can be made by winding metallized films, plain films with metal foils, or hybrid construction where the films comprise the new compositions. The capacitors can be used in DC bus capacitors and energy storage capacitors in pulsed power systems.

Abstract: An adaptive lens comprises an actuator and a lens, the lens being mechanically coupled to the actuator so that energization of the actuator adjusts a focal point of the lens. The actuator may comprise a multilayer stack of electromechanical polymer (EMP) layers, having electrodes configured to apply an electric field across each EMP layer. The actuator may be operable to move and/or deform a lens, so as to adjust the focus properties of the lens. In some examples, the actuator has an annular shape, supporting a lens within the inner radius of the annulus. The lens position may be adjusted in an axial direction. In other examples, the actuator may be mechanically coupled a surface of a deformable lens, either directly or through another element of a lens structure. A strain applied to the lens modifies a curved surface of the lens, hence modifying the focal length of the lens.

Abstract: A highly effective and cost-effective method and apparatus for manufacturing soft contact lenses by physically forming the lenses form sheet (or other solid) material in a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: A particulate polymeric blend for use in the formation of molded products formed in the absence of a compounding and/or extruding step prior to molding. A quantity of reactor flake is blended with an effective amount of foaming agent and optional additives to form a particulate foamable polymeric blend at a temperature below the melting temperature of the reactor flake. A wide variety of polymeric reactor flake can be used to produce foamed products. Additionally, a plurality of particulate blends can be blended to provide multiple layer molded products such as foamed-skin products. Molded products produced using these particulate polymeric blends exhibit superior physical properties. Molding processes utilizing such particulate polymeric blends can avoid the use of expensive compounding and pelletizing steps which degrade the quality of the molded polymer.

Abstract: A particulate polymeric blend for use in the formation of molded products formed in the absence of a compounding and/or extruding step prior to molding. A quantity of reactor flake is blended with at least one additive at a temperature below the melting temperature of the reactor flake to form a particulate polymeric blend. A wide variety of polymeric reactor flake can be used to produce molded products. Molded products produced using these particulate polymeric blends exhibit superior physical properties. Molding processes utilizing such particulate polymeric blends can avoid the use of expensive compounding and pelletizing steps which degrade the quality of the molded polymer.

Abstract: A new roofing composition provides for the application of an acrylic polymer to a hot or cold asphaltic layer. The acrylic polymer is provided with barrier characteristics that resist the movement of mobile phases into the shield layer. The barrier characteristics are provided by ensuring that the polymer include a minor (preferably less than 5%) amount of metal complexes. The polymer should be present in an amount sufficient to ensure that it can form a continuous film on application to the base asphaltic layer. Pigment volume concentration should not be present in an amount that would interfere with the barrier characteristics, with the pigment volume concentration being less than 35%.

Abstract: An improved mechanical donut and donut assembly in which donuts made of plastic materials are formed in segments that facilitate installation, removal and/or replacement for manufacture and maintenance. The donuts of the preferred embodiments are made of urethanes, especially polyurethane, while fastening members such as threaded bolts are made of nylon. The relative characteristics of the urethanes and nylon are such as to facilitate a self-tapping feature for the nylon bolt.

Abstract: An improved particulate handler that includes one or more elastic sheets that are particularly effective in facilitating the easy and complete removal of particulate from transporters or containers such as railroad cars, dump trucks, chutes and the like. The combination of the elastic sheets and supporting walls overcomes the problem with sticking of particulates to the interior surfaces and facilitates smooth and easy movement and/or removal under the influence of gravity and changes in tensile stresses and stretch that develop in the sheets during loading, unloading and conveying.

Abstract: Biphenylene end-capped low molecular weight thermally stable aromatic polymers and the process for their preparation. The invention is further directed to crosslinked biphenylene end-capped aromatic polymers and to the process for their preparation. The process for preparing the biphenylene end-capped low molecular weight thermally stable aromatic polymers comprises carrying out a misbalanced polymerization reaction of a suitable aromatic aminoketone compound and a suitable aromatic ketomethylene compound and thereafter adding a monofunctional biphenylene compound.

Abstract: Two new optically active pyrrolidinephosphine monomers prepared by the reaction of 2(S), 4(S)-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine and 2(R), 4(R)-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine with acryloyl-chloride to give N-acryloyl-2(S), 4(S)-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine (1) and N-acryloyl-2(R), 4(R)-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine (2). Copolymerization of 1 and 2 with hydrophilic comonomers and a divinyl monomer provided crosslinked insoluble polymers containing about 3-5% of 1 or 2 that would swell in polar solvents. Exchange of rhodium(I) onto the polymer gave catalysts which were active for the asymmetric hydrogenation of N-acyl-amino acids in high optical yields, the phosphine derived from the enantiomer of the naturally occurring 4-hydroxyproline giving S-amino acids.

Abstract: Conjugated diolefins (e.g., 1,3-butadiene) are carbonylated by the palladium-catalyzed addition of carbon monoxide and an alcohol of the formula ROH (e.g., benzyl alcohol) whereby polycarboxylic esters are formed in which the pair of double bonds of the conjugated diolefin has been transformed into a moiety having the formula: ##STR1## In the process, the olefin, carbon monoxide, and alcohol are reacted in the presence of a palladium(II) salt, a copper(II) salt, and a base, at certain concentrations and at a pressure and temperature sufficient to effect the carbonylation. The resulting unsaturated diester can be hydrolyzed and hydrogenated or vice versa to obtain the corresponding linear diacid (e.g., adipic acid).

Abstract: Compounds capable of functioning as membrane mobility agents in plant and animal cells are described. These compounds have a structure represented by the formula ##STR1## in which A represents a hydrophilic chain; Z represents either an ester linkage ##STR2## an amide linkage ##STR3## or an ether linkage (--O--); R.sub.1 represents either a straight-chain alkyl group or a straight-chain alkyl group interrupted by one or more cyclopropyl groups; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represent either hydrogen, lower alkyl, or a halogen group; and x represents an integer from 2 to 10.The membrane mobility agents of the invention promote the lateral mobility through cell membranes of molecules ranging in size from phospholipids to surface antigens. They represent a new class of biologically active molecules which may be used to alter the mobility of membrane components in animal and plant cells to alter such cells in their response to external stimuli.