Abstract: A novel ultra-thin neural implant (1) is provided that is based on a cellulose thin film (4) featuring an array (2) of electrodes (3). Due to the use of cellulose as the base material, the implant (1) can be safely handled during a micro-surgery, despite its high softness and conformability. Such an implant (1) may be useful in numerous applications ranging from electrical stimulation in neural prostheses, electro-stimulated regeneration of neural tissue to accurate recording of nerve signals. The robustness of the implant (1) results from a woven fabric (5) that is integrated in the cellulose carrier thin film (4). Several approaches for enhancing the tissue compatibility of the implant (1) are also provided.

Abstract: For improving the sensitivity, lifetime and energy consumption of a dielectric elastomer transducer (1) to be used as a sensor, it is suggested that a dielectric layer (3) enclosed by two electrodes (2) of the transducer (1) includes a nanoscale volume of a fluid (15) such that the dielectric layer (3) is rendered compressible and/or displaceable out of a volume enclosed by the two electrodes (2). The advantage of such a design is that, although the dielectric layer (3) and possible buffer layers (4) separating the electrodes (2) from the dielectric layer (3) may all have thicknesses in the order of a few ?m or even in the sub-?m range, the transducer (1) is rendered highly compliant due to the movability of the fluid (15). In consequence, a large nominal capacitance of the transducer (1) as well as a large relative capacitance change (up to twenty times that of the nominal capacitance) can be achieved in conjunction with a very high sensitivity.

Abstract: An artificial urinary sphincter can include a cuff configured to surround a portion of a length of a urethra. An actuator is configured to selectively apply a force to the cuff to thereby apply variable amount of pressure to the urethra. A controller is configured to adjust the application of the force by the actuator to cause the cuff to apply the variable amount of pressure to the urethra. A sensor can be in communication with the controller and configured to detect pressure applied against the cuff by the urethra. The controller is configured to cause the cuff to apply a first closing pressure to the urethra. In response to a detection of a threshold pressure increase by the sensor, the controller is configured to cause the cuff to apply a second closing pressure that is greater than the first closing pressure and that prevents urine from exiting the urethra.

Abstract: A liposome vesicle comprising a membrane consisting of 1,3-diheptadecanamidopropan-2-yl(2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl)phosphate surrounding a volume comprising a pharmaceutical drug or contrast agent. The vesicle is mechanosensitive at body temperature and at physiologically or pathophysiologically relevant shear stress.

Abstract: For exploiting novel use-cases, in particular sophisticated human-machine interaction, with an intraoral electronic tongue monitoring system designed to be worn by a user on the upper or lower jaw and featuring a support sheet bearing a number of intraoral sensors arranged in an array for recording tongue movement and/or tongue pressure, it is proposed that the system comprises at least one extraoral sensor located outside of the oral cavity delimited by the teeth when the system is in place, in particular such that extraoral and/or intraoral and/or interlabial movements of the tongue and/or lip pressure can be recorded with the system and/or such that the system may be used as an input device controlled through tongue movement using a human-machine-interface provided by the system.

Abstract: For improving the electroactivity and long-term stability of a neural interface, a novel neural probe (1) is proposed that is formed from a fiber (6), preferably by thermal imprinting, and wherein a polymer thin film (5) is employed for carrying a conducting thin film to be used as a recording or stimulation electrode (4). Due to this specific choice of materials and design, the electrode (4) is rendered compliant with respect to the fiber (6) on a nanometer to micrometer scale and offers a surface that is tailor-made for adhering to nervous tissue.

Abstract: For improving the sensitivity, lifetime and energy consumption of a dielectric elastomer transducer (1) to be used as a sensor, it is suggested that a dielectric layer (3) enclosed by two electrodes (2) of the transducer (1) includes a nanoscale volume of a fluid (15) such that the dielectric layer (3) is rendered compressible and/or displaceable out of a volume enclosed by the two electrodes (2). The advantage of such a design is that, although the dielectric layer (3) and possible buffer layers (4) separating the electrodes (2) from the dielectric layer (3) may all have thicknesses in the order of a few ?m or even in the sub-?m range, the transducer (1) is rendered highly compliant due to the movability of the fluid (15). In consequence, a large nominal capacitance of the transducer (1) as well as a large relative capacitance change (up to twenty times that of the nominal capacitance) can be achieved in conjunction with a very high sensitivity.

Abstract: A liposome vesicle comprising a membrane consisting of 1,3-diheptadecanamidopropan-2-yl(2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl)phosphate surrounding a volume comprising a pharmaceutical drug or contrast agent. The vesicle is mechanosensitive at body temperature and at physiologically or pathophysiologically relevant shear stress.

Abstract: An artificial urinary sphincter can include a cuff configured to surround a portion of a length of a urethra. An actuator is configured to selectively apply a force to the cuff to thereby apply variable amount of pressure to the urethra. A controller is configured to adjust the application of the force by the actuator to cause the cuff to apply the variable amount of pressure to the urethra. A sensor can be in communication with the controller and configured to detect pressure applied against the cuff by the urethra. The controller is configured to cause the cuff to apply a first closing pressure to the urethra. In response to a detection of a threshold pressure increase by the sensor, the controller is configured to cause the cuff to apply a second closing pressure that is greater than the first closing pressure and that prevents urine from exiting the urethra.