Abstract: The invention relates generally to electroactive material actuators (and combined sensor-actuators) having embedded magnetic particles (42) for facilitating enhanced actuation and/or sensing effects.

Abstract: The invention provides a shape change device (20) utilising a plurality of particles (28) of electroactive polymer material embedded within a compliant material matrix (24) and adapted to deform in response to application of an electrical stimulus. A resultant shape-change of the compliant matrix enables realisation of a particular deformation profile across a surface of the compliant material. Particles are stimulated in plural groups by one or more arrangements of electrodes (34). Shapes, sizes, dimensionalities and locations of stimulated EAP particle regions may be selectively chosen to initiate a particular response in the material, and produce a particular desired deformation profile across the material surface.

Abstract: The present application relates to a device for the electroporation of bacterial cells in or on a surface of the Stratum corneum layer of a person's skin. It comprises electrodes positionable in the vicinity of said surface; a generator to supply a voltage to the electrodes to generate an electrical field having a strength in the order of 25 to 35 KV/cm at said surface of the Stratum corneum layer to inactivate bacterial cells in or on said surface. The electrodes are configured so that the strength of the electrical field reduces as a function of the depth of penetration into the skin from 25 to 35 KV/cm at said surface to 3 KV/cm or less at a depth of penetration that does not exceed 15 microns.

Abstract: The invention provides a surface analysis device for application to a receiving surface to enable analysis of at least one measure of an elasticity of said surface across multiple different linear stretches or sections of the surface. The device includes a two-dimensional arrangement of actuators and sensors, comprising at least one actuating element, at least one sensing element, and at least one further sensing or actuating element. Selected sets of two or more of these elements are activated together by a controller, each set including at least one actuator and one sensor, to thereby obtain a measure of elasticity between each actuator and sensor pair in the set. Elasticity measures are obtained based on stimulating a deformation in the receiving surface at the actuator site, and measuring a resultant pressure and/or force exerted by the receiving surface at a further displaced point. Sensors may monitor a change in the exerted pressure and/or force for example.

Abstract: The present application relates to a cold plasma device (1) for treating skin (5). The cold plasma device (1) comprises a cold plasma generator (3) adapted to generate cold plasma that produces reactive species for treating said skin (5), and a manipulator (10) adapted to manipulate said skin (5) to increase exposure of bacteria on said skin to said reactive species during use of the device.

Abstract: The present application relates to a cold plasma device (13) for treating a surface (6) with cold plasma. The device (13) has a cold plasma generator (14) adapted to generate cold plasma that produces reactive species for treating the surface (6). The device (13) also includes a treatment head (5) that is positionable relative to the surface (6) such that the reactive species are imparted toward the surface (6) during treatment. The device (13) is also provided with an air flow generator (8) to generate an air flow over the surface (6) and a controller (9) configured to control operation of the air flow generator (8) to generate an air flow over the surface (6) after the treatment has been completed such that remaining by-products of the cold plasma are dissipated.

Abstract: An actuator device (21) comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) and a driver (20) for generating a electrical drive signals which give opposite polarity voltages and thus electrical field within the electroactive polymer at different times. In this way, charge build-up can be reduced or avoided, while prolonged activation times are still possible. This improves the performance and/or lifetime of the device.

Abstract: An actuator or sensor device comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) arrangement which extends between fixed opposite ends. The electroactive polymer arrangement comprises a passive carrier layer and an active electroactive polymer layer, wherein at or adjacent the ends, the passive carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted with one over the other in a first order, and at a middle area between the ends, the carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted in an opposite order. This enables internal stresses and moments within the electroactive polymer arrangement to be used more effectively to contribute to displacement or actuation force.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an electroactive or photoactive polymer arrangement having an effective length over which expansion or contraction is induced by actuation. The effective length is greater than the maximum linear physical dimension of the space occupied by the polymer arrangement. In this way, a compact design is provided which can support a large actuation displacement.

Abstract: An actuation device comprises at least one electroactive polymer (EAP) layer (52) attached to a carrier (50) and a mechanical structure (56, 58) which defines at least two stable states. The EAP layer is adapted, when driven, to interact with the mechanical structure to switch between the at least two stable states, wherein the mechanical structure retains the electroactive polymer layer in the selected stable state in a non-driven state. In this way, two or more stable states for the device are defined, which can be retained when the EAP is no longer driven.

Abstract: An oral cleaning device comprises a body which carries a set of projections. An actuator device is associated with one or more of the projections in the form of an electroactive polymer structure for adjusting a position of the associated one or more projections. This enables dynamic control of the cleaning function.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a sensor for measuring a physiological parameter of a subject, wherein the physiological parameter sensor is adapted to be worn by the subject; an actuator comprising an electro-active polymer material, EAP, portion for adjusting the position of the physiological parameter sensor relative to the subject; a feedback sensor for measuring movement of the physiological parameter sensor and/or the subject; a controller configured to process the measurements of the feedback sensor and to adjust the position of the actuator based on information from the feedback sensor.

Abstract: A system and method wherein components of a reagent such as labeled antibodies are separated from a biologically active sensor surface by depositing the reagent on a carrier surface distinct from a sensor surface in a detection region. The present device provides a short, well-defined and controlled, pre-incubation time between the particles of interest in the sample fluid and the reagent, thereby increasing the reproducibility by providing all components in one detection region such as a detection chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for detecting drugs of abuse or other compounds in saliva. The invention thus provides a device for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in a saliva sample, comprising: (a) One or more pre-treatment regions for specifically or non-specifically removing at least a part of the fraction of the saliva sample interfering with detection of the one or more analytes; and (b) A detection region comprising a biosensor surface, the surface comprising: molecules capable of specifically binding the one or more analytes; or the one or more analytes and/or analyte analogues.

Abstract: The present application relates to a device for the electroporation of bacterial cells in or on a surface of the Stratum corneum layer of a person's skin. It comprises electrodes positionable in the vicinity of said surface; a generator to supply a voltage to the electrodes to generate an electrical field having a strength in the order of 25 to 35 KV/cm at said surface of the Stratum corneum layer to inactivate bacterial cells in or on said surface. The electrodes are configured so that the strength of the electrical field reduces as a function of the depth of penetration into the skin from 25 to 35 KV/cm at said surface to 3 KV/cm or less at a depth of penetration that does not exceed 15 microns.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for detecting drugs of abuse or other compounds in saliva. The invention thus provides a device for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in a saliva sample, comprising: (a) One or more pre-treatment regions for specifically or non-specifically removing at least a part of the fraction of the saliva sample interfering with detection of the one or more analytes; and (b) A detection region comprising a biosensor surface, the surface comprising: molecules capable of specifically binding the one or more analytes; or the one or more analytes and/or analyte analogs.

Abstract: A device, system and method for sampling sample material for an analyte including a receiving swab, wherein at least a portion of the receiving swab is compressible; a sensor for sensing the analyte; and a casing, wherein the casing at least partially encloses the receiving swab and the sensor and allows for a transfer of sample material received by the receiving swab to the sensor along a transfer path inside of the casing. The compressible portion of the receiving swab is located inside the casing, wherein by compressing the compressible portion, the transfer path is closable towards the outside of the device.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for detecting drugs of abuse or other compounds in saliva. The invention thus provides a device for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in a saliva sample, comprising: (a) One or more pre-treatment regions for specifically or non-specifically removing at least a part of the fraction of the saliva sample interfering with detection of the one or more analytes; and (b) A detection region comprising a biosensor surface, the surface comprising: molecules capable of specifically binding the one or more analytes; or the one or more analytes and/or analyte analogues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10, 110, 210) for sampling sample material for an analyte, comprising: a receiving swab (15, 115, 215, 315), wherein at least a portion (20, 120, 220) of the receiving swab is compressible; a sensor (25, 125, 225) for sensing the analyte; and a casing (30, 130, 230), wherein the casing at least partially encloses the receiving swab and the sensor and allows for a transfer of sample material received by the receiving swab to the sensor along a transfer path (35, 135, 235) inside of the casing; wherein the compressible portion (20, 120, 220) of the receiving swab is located inside the casing, wherein by compressing the compressible portion the transfer path is closable towards the outside of the device. The present invention further relates to a corresponding system and a corresponding method.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for detecting drugs of abuse or other compounds in saliva. The invention thus provides a device for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in a saliva sample, comprising: (a) One or more pre-treatment regions for specifically or non-specifically removing at least a part of the fraction of the saliva sample interfering with detection of the one or more analytes; and (b) A detection region comprising a biosensor surface, the surface comprising: molecules capable of specifically binding the one or more analytes; or the one or more analytes and/or analyte analogues.