Abstract: A hand-operated device for enabling a patient to control a level of sedation. The device includes: an elongate arcuate portion arranged to fit around a wrist of a patient; and a switch arranged to activate upon compression across a width of the elongate arcuate portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to actuators based on electroactive polymeric materials for use in pumping fluids or in other applications where a contractile actuation is required, in particular, although not necessarily exclusively, for use in vascular pulsation devices such as a variable aortic tension device. Embodiments disclosed include an actuator comprising: an inner tubular structure; an outer tubular structure surrounding the inner tubular structure and comprising a plurality of layers of a dielectric elastomeric material and a tubular elastic support structure, the elastic support structure configured to maintain a pre-stress in the layers of the dielectric elastomeric material, wherein the outer tubular structure is configured to contract in a radial direction around the inner tubular structure upon application of an actuation voltage signal across the dielectric elastomeric material layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to actuators based on electroactive polymeric materials for use in pumping fluids or in other applications where a contractile actuation is required, in particular although not necessarily exclusively for use in vascular pulsation devices such as a variable aortic tension device. Embodiments disclosed include an actuator (10) comprising: an inner tubular structure (15, 12); an outer tubular structure (13, 14) surrounding the inner tubular structure (15, 12) and comprising a plurality of layers of a dielectric elastomeric material (13) and a tubular elastic support structure (14), the elastic support structure (14) configured to maintain a pre-stress in the layers of the dielectric elastomeric material (13), wherein the outer tubular structure (13, 14) is configured to contract in a radial direction around the inner tubular structure (12, 15) upon application of an actuation voltage signal across the dielectric elastomeric material layers (13).