A tentacle-like doubule section curvature tunable actuator with light guiding/drug delivery ability for biomecial applications

This paper presents an electroactive polymer driven tentacle-like biocompatible flexible actuator with double section curvature controllability (Fig. 1). This novel actuator, possessing embedded electrical and liquid transmission ability to mimic the nerve and blood capillary within skeleton muscle, allows implementing versatile functions inside the device. A light-emitting diode (LED) and a cotton swab are integrated to the actuator to demonstrate electrical power and liquid drug transmission ability while the actuator performs a snake-like motion. The light emitted from an LED can be guided arbitrarily to a specific location and the drug-absorbed-swab can be applied to the difficultly reached wound to supply drug through electrically manipulation of the actuator.