Electroactive polymer based artificial sphincters and artificial muscle patches
Provided are artificial muscle patches, which are adapted to be implanted adjacent a patient's heart, and artificial sphincter cuffs, which are adapted to be implanted around a body lumen, such as the urethra, the anal canal, or the lower esophagus. The devices of the present invention comprise: (a) one or more electroactive polymer actuators; and (b) a control unit for electrically controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract the devices.
1. An artificial sphincter, comprising:
a cuff that is adapted for placement around a body lumen, said cuff comprising an electroactive polymer actuators; and
a control unit electrically controlling said electroactive polymer actuator to expand or contract said cuff,
wherein said cuff comprises a substrate layer, an electroactive polymer active region that comprises a conductive polymer deposited on said substrate layer, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between said electroactive polymer active region and said counter electrode.
2. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said cuff comprises a plurality of said electroactive polymer active members.
3. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said electroactive polymer active region is electrodeposited on said substrate layer.
4. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , further comprising at least one barrier layer.
5. The artificial sphincter of claim 4 , further comprising an exterior mesh layer.
6. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said active member is provided in a non-linear configuration.
7. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said cuff comprises a plurality of said substrate layers comprising a deposited electroactive polymer active region.
8. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said substrate layer is an electrically insulating layer.
9. The artificial sphincter of claim 8 , wherein conductive lines are provided on said substrate layer to allow electrical communication between said active members and said power source.
10. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said substrate layer is an electrically conductive layer.
11. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein opposing ends of said cuff are provided with fasteners for securing said cuff around said body lumen.
12. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said control unit comprises a power source and a switch.
13. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said cuff is adapted for placement around the urethra.
14. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said cuff is adapted for placement around the anal canal.
15. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said cuff is adapted for placement around the lower esophagus.
16. The artificial sphincter of claim 15 , further comprising a sensing system in communication with said control unit for detecting when food or beverage enters said esophagus.
17. The artificial sphincter of claim 15 , further comprising a sensing system in communication with said control unit for detecting when the stomach is attempting to regurgitate its contents.
18. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said electroactive polymer actuators comprise an electroactive polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polyacetylene.
19. The artificial sphincter of claim 18 , wherein said electroactive polymer is polypyrrole.
20. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said cuff is provided with a restoring force to bring it into an expanded or contracted state.
21. The artificial sphincter of claim 20 , further comprising at least one elastic structural element, wherein said restoring force is provided by the structural element.
22. The artificial sphincter of claim 21 , wherein said at least one elastic structural element is an elastic annular tube structure whose length increases upon a decrease in its cross-sectional diameter.
23. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , further comprising a sensing system in communication with said control unit for sensing the degree of contraction of said electroactive polymer actuators.
24. The artificial sphincter of claim 23 , wherein said sensing system comprises a plurality of strain gauges in communication with said control unit.
25. A method of treating fecal incontinence comprising implanting into a patient the artificial sphincter of claim 14 .
26. A method of treating urinary incontinence comprising implanting into a patient the artificial sphincter of claim 13 .
27. A method of treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease comprising implanting into a patient the artificial sphincter of claim 15 .
28. The artificial sphincter of claim 1 , wherein said control unit comprises a power source and a computer.
29. An artificial muscle patch, comprising:
an electroactive polymer actuator; and
a control unit electrically controlling said electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract said artificial muscle patch, wherein said patch comprises a substrate layer an, electroactive polymer active region that comprises a conductive polymer deposited on said substrate layer, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between said electroactive polymer active region and said counter electrode, and wherein said patch is adapted for placement adjacent a patient's heart.
30. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said patch comprises a plurality of active members.
31. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said electroactive polymer active region is electrodeposited on said substrate layer.
32. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , which further comprises at least one barrier layer.
33. The artificial muscle patch of claim 32 , further comprising an exterior mesh layer.
34. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said active members is provided in a nonlinear configuration.
35. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said patch comprises a plurality of said substrate layers comprising a deposited electroactive polymer active region.
36. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said substrate layer is an electrically insulating layer.
37. The artificial muscle patch of claim 36 , wherein conductive lines are provided on said substrate layer to allow electrical communication between said active members and said power source.
38. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said substrate layer is an electrically conductive layer.
39. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said control unit comprises a power source and a switch.
40. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said control unit comprises a power source and a computer.
41. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , further comprising a sensing system in communication with said control unit for detecting a patient's heartbeat, wherein said control unit paces the contraction and expansion of said electroactive polymer actuators with said heartbeat.
42. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said control unit paces the heart as well as the contraction and expansion of said electroactive polymer actuators.
43. The artificial muscle patch of claim 29 , wherein said electroactive polymer comprises polypyrrole.
44. A method of treating congestive heart failure, comprising implanting the artificial muscle patch of claim 29 adjacent a patient's heart.