title: Shape memory alloy microactuation of tf-lIFes: preliminary results.
abstract: In this paper, a new approach aimed at improving the performance of intraneural longitudinal interfaces (tf-LIFEs) with the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is presented. Our goal is to develop a movable interface by embedding microactuators into the flexible tf-LIFEs structure. In this way, the optimal position of the electrical contacts can be searched inside the PNS and lost connections with neural cells could be replaced. For this purpose a thin film of shape memory alloy (tf-SMA) was selected. A multisegmented SMA was realized and embedded between two polyimide thin films in order to simulate the tf-LIFE structure. Thermal evaluation, fabrication procedure, the first characterization and preliminary experimental results of the new movable interface are described in the manuscript. A total controllable stroke of about 10 microm was obtained for the presented prototype.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Studies on Biorobotic Engineering, IMT, 55100 Lucca, Italy. silvia.bossi@imtlucca.it
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bossi
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menciassi
authors.forename: Klaus Peter
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Klaus-Peter
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dario
authors.forename: Silvestro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Micera
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008839:Microelectrodes; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011474:Prosthesis Design
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys