Patent ID: 6117296
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: F03G,H02N

Abstract:
A contractile apparatus comprising:an electrical conductor;a polymer composite in electrical communication with said conductor, said polymer composite comprising;a nonionic polymer hydrogel containing a soluble ionic salt; andan ionic polymer hydrogel in intimate contact with said nonionic polymer hydrogel;means for passing a first electric current of predetermined polarity through said electrical conductor to said polymer composite to cause said soluble salt in said nonionic polymer hydrogel to pass ions to said ionic polymer hydrogel resulting in a contraction of said ionic polymer hydrogel; and means for passing a second electrical current of predetermined and opposite polarity to the polarity of said first electrical current through said electrical conductor to said polymer composite to cause said ions from said ionic polymer hydrogel to pass to said soluble salt in said nonionic polymer hydrogel resulting in a relaxation of said ionic polymer hydrogel; wherein both of said means result in two-way migration of said ions in said polymer composite.