Abstract: An electrode pair is provided including a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode have an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, and a lead extending outwardly from the first end. The lead has a first width at the first end. The second end of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode have a recess formed therein having a first terminus and a second terminus. A second width extends between the first terminus and the second terminus of the recess. The recess is defined by a saw-tooth pattern. When the first electrode is positioned on the second electrode, the recess of the at least one of the first electrode is adjacent the lead of the other electrode.

Abstract: An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region, the electrode pair having a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The first and second electrodes each have two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. Each of the two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions and at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a central opening positioned between the two or more tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. A dielectric fluid is housed within the housing and the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated to actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

Abstract: A variable stiffening device that include a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure. The first electrode structure includes an electrode extension that extends into a cavity defined between an electrode of the first electrode structure and an opposing electrode of the second electrode structure. The first and second electrode structures may be arranged in a load-bearing state by applying a voltage thereto to electrostatically attract the electrode to the opposing electrode to press the electrode extension within the cavity. Friction between the electrode extension and engaging surfaces defining the cavity prevent the electrode extension from slipping within the cavity, thereby maintaining a structural relationship among the components of the first and second electrode structures in response to an application of a load to the variable stiffening device.

Abstract: A layered actuation structure includes one or more actuation platforms interleaved with one or more mounting platforms to form one or more actuation cavities between platform pairs, each platform pair having an individual mounting platform and an individual actuation platform. The layered actuation structure also includes a support arm coupled to the one or more mounting platforms, an actuation arm coupled to the one or more actuation platforms, and one or more artificial muscles disposed in each of the one or more actuation cavities. The one or more artificial muscles each include an electrode pair that is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state to direct a dielectric fluid into an expandable fluid region of a housing of the artificial muscle, expanding the expandable fluid region thereby applying pressure to the one or more actuation platforms, generating translational motion of the one or more actuation platforms.

Abstract: Bulk copper solder is highly desired as a solder compound because it is very electrically conductive and has a high melting point relative to other solders. A composition for a copper solder includes copper(II) oxide powder in the range of 37-53% by mass, silicon carbide (SiC) powder in the range of 8-14% by mass, and a flux in the range of 35%-53% by mass. Energy in the form of microwave energy can be applied to the copper solder to convert the Cu(II)O to Cu, for a Cu product conversion of >93%.

Abstract: A variable stiffening device that include a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure. The first electrode structure includes an electrode extension that extends into a cavity defined between an electrode of the first electrode structure and an opposing electrode of the second electrode structure. The first and second electrode structures may be arranged in a load-bearing state by applying a voltage thereto to electrostatically attract the electrode to the opposing electrode to press the electrode extension within the cavity. Friction between the electrode extension and engaging surfaces defining the cavity prevent the electrode extension from slipping within the cavity, thereby maintaining a structural relationship among the components of the first and second electrode structures in response to an application of a load to the variable stiffening device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly includes positioning a layer stack comprising an electrode positioned between an electrode insulator and a support polymer in a vacuum bag, removing air from the vacuum bag thereby vacuum coupling the electrode to the electrode insulator, and removing the layer stack from the vacuum bag, where upon removal of the layer stack from the vacuum bag, the electrode remains vacuum coupled to the electrode insulator and the electrode insulator is in direct contact with the electrode, thereby forming an electrode assembly.

Abstract: An actuating pillow includes a pillow body and a plurality of artificial muscles arranged within the pillow body. Each of the artificial muscles includes a housing having an electrode region and an adjacent expandable fluid region, an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, and a dielectric fluid housed within the housing. The plurality of artificial muscles are configured to actuate from a non-actuated state to an actuated state, actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region and increases a height of the pillow body.

Abstract: An appendage pressurization device includes an appendage strap and one or more artificial muscles disposed in the appendage strap and communicatively coupled to a controller. Each artificial muscle includes a housing comprising an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair comprising a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing, wherein the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region.

Abstract: A temporary cast that includes an exterior shell, a lining body including an inner layer, one or more integrated pressure sensors communicatively coupled to a controller, and a plurality of artificial muscles disposed between the inner layer and the exterior shell. Each of the plurality of artificial muscles is communicatively coupled to the controller and includes a housing including an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing, where the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and actated states such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region.

Abstract: A therapeutic motion device includes a support structure including a first support portion and a second support portion. The first support portion rotatably coupled to the second support portion and at least one of the first support portion and the second support portion is movable relative to the other of the first support potion and the second support portion. First and second actuation arms extend from the first and second support portions, respectively. An artificial muscle drive unit couples the first actuation arm to the second actuation arm, the artificial muscle drive unit including one or more artificial muscles expandable in a movement direction to provide a movement force to at least one of the first support portion and the second support portion.

Abstract: An artificial muscle actuator that includes a housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode each include a metal film. The first electrode includes an insulation bilayer disposed on the metal film of the first electrode in an orientation facing the second electrode. In addition, the insulation bilayer includes an acryl-based polymer layer disposed on the metal film and a biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) layer disposed on the acryl-based polymer layer.

Abstract: A support cushion liner includes a liner body having a cavity disposed between an outer layer and an inner layer and a plurality of artificial muscles disposed in the cavity of the liner body. Each of the plurality of artificial muscles include a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region thereby applying pressure to the outer layer of the liner body.

Abstract: A variable stiffening device that includes a flexible envelope having a fluid chamber, a dielectric fluid housed within the fluid chamber, and an electrode stack that includes a plurality of electrodes and one or more abrasive strips. The electrode stack is housed within the fluid chamber and is configured to receive voltage. In addition, the one or more abrasive strips are each positioned between adjacent electrodes, such that when voltage is applied to the electrode stack thereby electrostatically drawing adjacent electrodes together, the one or more abrasive strips generate frictional engagement between adjacent electrodes to actuate the variable stiffening device from a relaxed state to a rigid state.

Abstract: A variable stiffening device that include a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure. The first electrode structure includes an electrode extension that extends into a cavity defined between an electrode of the first electrode structure and an opposing electrode of the second electrode structure. The first and second electrode structures may be arranged in a load-bearing state by applying a voltage thereto to electrostatically attract the electrode to the opposing electrode to press the electrode extension within the cavity. Friction between the electrode extension and engaging surfaces defining the cavity prevent the electrode extension from slipping within the cavity, thereby maintaining a structural relationship among the components of the first and second electrode structures in response to an application of a load to the variable stiffening device.

Abstract: An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region, the electrode pair having a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The first and second electrodes each have two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. Each of the two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions and at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a central opening positioned between the two or more tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. A dielectric fluid is housed within the housing and the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated to actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

Abstract: An appendage massaging device that includes an appendage wrap having an inner band and an outer layer and one or more artificial muscles disposed between the inner band and the outer layer of the appendage wrap. Each of the one or more artificial muscles include a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region thereby applying pressure to the inner band of the appendage wrap.

Abstract: A variable stiffening device that includes a flexible envelope having a fluid chamber, a dielectric fluid housed within the fluid chamber, and an electrode stack that includes a plurality of electrodes and one or more abrasive strips. The electrode stack is housed within the fluid chamber and is configured to receive voltage. In addition, the one or more abrasive strips are each positioned between adjacent electrodes, such that when voltage is applied to the electrode stack thereby electrostatically drawing adjacent electrodes together, the one or more abrasive strips generate frictional engagement between adjacent electrodes to actuate the variable stiffening device from a relaxed state to a rigid state.

Abstract: An artificial muscle that includes a first end plate opposite a second end plate, a flexible enclosure extending from the first end plate to the second end plate and housing a dielectric fluid, and a reciprocating electrode stack housed within the flexible enclosure and coupled to and extending between the first end plate and the second end plate. The reciprocating electrode stack includes one or more electrode pairs, each electrode pair having a positive electrode and a negative electrode physically coupled to one another along a first edge portion of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The artificial muscle also includes a plurality of electrode leads electrically coupled to the reciprocating electrode stack. Each individual electrode lead of the plurality of electrode leads extends from an individual electrode of the reciprocating electrode stack to the first end plate or the second end plate.

Abstract: A suction device including a casing having a central post extending through the casing. A flexible member is provided across a free end of the central post. One or more artificial muscles are housed within the casing and encircle the central post, each artificial muscle including a housing having a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall. The housing having an electrode region adjacent an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair housed within the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode coupled to the first wall and a second electrode coupled to the second wall. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region and deforms the flexible member to form a suction area at the free end of the central post.