Patent ID: 7859168

Claim:
An actuator comprising a system of layered surfaces in a housing, comprising a first activated primary surface having a physical shape capable of change when activated by an electrical, chemical, magnetic, electromagnetic, hydrostatic, electrostatic, thermal, pressurized gas or light stimulus, to expand and exert force or pressure or contract and remove force or pressure, upon activation or deactivation, to move or keep matter within the housing by direct or indirect contact, and a second activated primary surface having a physical shape capable of change when activated by an electrical, chemical, magnetic, electromagnetic, hydrostatic, electrostatic, thermal, or light stimulus, to expand and exert force or pressure or contract and remove force or pressure, upon activation or deactivation, to move or keep matter within the housing by direct or indirect contact, wherein the stimulus that activates the first primary surface is different from the stimulus that activates the second primary surface.