Abstract: A microfluidic system for monitoring or detecting a change in a parameter of an input substance, which includes a microfluidic device having a tissue chamber and a tissue analog placed in the tissue chamber, wherein the tissue analog has a vessel structure mimicking naturally occurring vessel network incorporated in the tissue analog.

Abstract: An artificial tissue including an internal mass transport network having a plurality of channels, wherein the channels are designed to substantially mimic naturally occurring vascular network and a method for creating an internal transport system within a tissue scaffold to improve circulation, diffusion, and mass transport properties by utilizing computer-aided tissue engineering (CATE). The artificial tissue has the internal mass transport network of channels embedded, deposited, or molded within a scaffold, wherein the channels are made from a biodegradable transporting material and the scaffold is made from a scaffold material. The artificial tissue of the invention includes a basic circulatory system embedded within the tissue scaffold. This system provides mass transport throughout the entire scaffold and degrades after the new circulatory system develops.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for manufacturing complex parts and devices which utilize a CAD environment to design a part or device to be created (FIG. 1); Boolean, scaling, smoothing, mirroring, or other operations to modify the CAD design; a software interface to convert the CAD designed part (Data Process System) or device into a heterogeneous material and multi-part assembly model (Design Input Model) which can be used for multi-nozzle printing; and a multi-nozzle system to print the designed part or device using different, specialized nozzles (Tissue substitutes).

Abstract: The present invention provides an electroactive solid-state actuator, including a solid polymer electrolyte film having first and second main surfaces facing each other, and first and second conductive polymer layers infiltrated into the first and second main surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte film. Further, a method of manufacturing the electroactive solid-state actuator is provided, the method including preparing a solid polymer film having first and second main surfaces facing each other, infiltrating a monomer of a conductive polymer into the first and second main surfaces of the solid polymer film, followed by polymerization, to form first and second conductive polymer layers, and immersing the solid polymer film into an ionic liquid or liquid electrolyte to be converted to an electrically conductive polymer.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer capacitor includes forming a first electrode on a surface of a first ion exchange resin solid and coating a mixture of an ion exchange resin solution and a salt on the other surface of the first resin; putting a second ion exchange resin solid which has a second electrode formed on a surface thereof on the coated layer, and conducting lamination of the resulting structure to produce a composite; dissolving the salt to form pores; and filling the pores with an electrolytic solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dielectric polymer actuator and an inchworm robot using the same. The dielectric polymer actuator comprises a laminate-type actuating part and a frame. The laminate-type actuating part is provided with at least one dielectric polymer film which has first and second surfaces positioned opposite to each other and a side interposed between the first and second surfaces and which includes an incompressible dielectric polymer. First and second compliant electrodes are connected to the first and second surfaces. The frame is formed along the side of the dielectric polymer film so that prestrain applied to the dielectric polymer film is about zero. When a voltage is applied through the first and second compliant electrodes to the dielectric polymer film, the laminate-type actuating part is warped in any one direction of first and second surface directions.