Patent ID: 9216237
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: A61F,A61L,H04R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A device comprising: a core; a membrane; at least one first electrode connected to the core; at least one second electrode connected to the membrane; a collapsible electroactive polymer element configured to extend from or extend around at least a portion of the core, wherein the element is in an expanded configuration without application of a voltage and is in a collapsed configuration with the application of the voltage or in a collapsed configuration without application of a voltage and in an expanded configuration with the application of the voltage, the voltage being applied via the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode; and a first electroactive polymer sub element, a second electroactive polymer sub element, a first sub electrode operatively coupled to the first electoactive polymer sub element, a second sub electrode operatively coupled to the first and second electroactive polymer sub elements, a third sub electrode operatively coupled to the second electroactive polymer sub element, wherein a first voltage difference between the first sub electrode and the second sub electrode and a second voltage difference between the second sub electrode and third sub electrode results in movement of a portion of the first and second electroactive polymer sub elements in the same direction.