Publication
Inkjet printed dielectric elastomer actuators for facial reconstruction
2023
Student project
Student project
Abstract
The LAI-CAM lab is investigating dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) as artificial muscles for facial reconstruction. As a matter of fact, DEA and muscles both share a linear relation between applied current and elongation although muscles contract under a certain current while DEA elongate. The artificial muscles structure would be composed of a dielectric elastomer (DE) with on each side: a fiber layer to guide the movement in one preferential direction and an electrode layer. Inkjet printing is an additive manufacturing technique allowing to print inks at the micro scale. In this report we will investigate the use of inkjet printing for the specific case of DEA.
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Skeletal muscles (commonly referred to as muscles) are organs of the vertebrate muscular system and typically are attached by tendons to bones of a skeleton. The muscle cells of skeletal muscles are much longer than in the other types of muscle tissue, and are often known as muscle fibers. The muscle tissue of a skeletal muscle is striated – having a striped appearance due to the arrangement of the sarcomeres. Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles under the control of the somatic nervous system.
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Muscle is a soft tissue, one of the animal tissues that makes up the three different types of muscle. Muscle tissue gives skeletal muscles the ability to contract. Muscle is formed during embryonic development, in a process known as myogenesis. Muscle tissue contains special contractile proteins called actin and myosin which interact to cause movement. Among many other muscle proteins present are two regulatory proteins, troponin and tropomyosin. Muscle tissue varies with function and location in the body.
Smooth muscle
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