@article {2896, title = {A bioreactor with an electro-responsive elastomeric membrane for mimicking intestinal peristalsis}, journal = {Bioinspiration \& Biomimetics}, volume = {12}, year = {2016}, abstract = {

This study describes an actuated bioreactor which mimics the pulsatile contractile motion of the intestinal barrier using electro-responsive elastomers as smart materials that undergo deformation upon electrical stimulation. The device consists of an annular dielectric elastomer actuator working as a radial artificial muscle able to rhythmically contract and relax a central cell culture well. The bioreactor maintained up to 4 h of actuation at a frequency of 0.15 Hz and a strain of 8\%{\textendash}10\%, to those of the cyclic contraction and relaxation of the small intestine. In vitro tests demonstrated that the device was biocompatible and cell-adhesive for Caco-2 cells, which formed a confluent monolayer following 21 days of culture in the central well. In addition, cellular adhesion and cohesion were maintained after 4 h of continuous cyclic strain. These preliminary results encourage further investigations on the use of dielectric elastomer actuation as a versatile technology that might overcome the limitations of commercially available pneumatic driving systems to obtain bioreactors that can cyclically deform cell cultures in a biomimetic fashion.

}, url = {http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-3190/12/1/016001/pdf}, author = {D. Cei and J. Costa and G. Gori and G. Frediani and C. Domenici and F. Carpi and A. Ahluwalia} } @article {2242, title = {Enabling variable-stiffness hand rehabilitation orthoses with dielectric elastomer transducers}, journal = {Medical Engineering and Physics}, volume = {36}, year = {2014}, pages = {205{\textendash}211}, abstract = {

Patients affected by motor disorders of the hand and having residual voluntary movements of fingers or wrist can benefit from self-rehabilitation exercises performed with so-called dynamic hand splints. These systems consist of orthoses equipped with elastic cords or springs, which either provide a sustained stretch or resist voluntary movements of fingers or wrist. These simple systems are limited by the impossibility of modulating the mechanical stiffness. This limitation does not allow for customizations and real-time control of the training exercise, which would improve the rehabilitation efficacy. To overcome this limitation, {\textquoteright}active{\textquoteright} orthoses equipped with devices that allow for electrical control of the mechanical stiffness are needed. Here, we report on a solution that relies on compact and light-weight electroactive elastic transducers that replace the passive elastic components. We developed a variable-stiffness transducer made of dielectric elastomers, as the most performing types of electromechanically active polymers. The transducer was manufactured with a silicone film and tested with a purposely-developed stiffness control strategy that allowed for electrical modulations of the force-elongation response. Results showed that the proposed new technology is a promising and viable solution to develop electrically controllable dynamic hand orthoses for hand rehabilitation. ? 2013 IPEM.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.medengphy.2013.10.015}, author = {F. Carpi and G. Frediani and C. Gerboni and J. Gemignani and D. De Rossi} } @article {2241, title = {Wearable Wireless Tactile Display for Virtual Interactions with Soft Bodies}, journal = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology}, volume = {2}, year = {2014}, abstract = {

We describe here a wearable, wireless, compact, and lightweight tactile display, able to mechanically stimulate the fingertip of users, so as to simulate contact with soft bodies in virtual environments. The device was based on dielectric elastomer actuators, as high-performance electromechanically active polymers. The actuator was arranged at the user{\textquoteright}s fingertip, integrated within a plastic case, which also hosted a compact high-voltage circuitry. A custom-made wireless control unit was arranged on the forearm and connected to the display via low-voltage leads. We present the structure of the device and a characterization of it, in terms of electromechanical response and stress relaxation. Furthermore, we present results of a psychophysical test aimed at assessing the ability of the system to generate different levels of force that can be perceived by users.

}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, doi = {10.3389/fbioe.2014.00031}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4150388/}, author = {G. Frediani and D. Mazzei and D. De Rossi and F. Carpi} } @article {1491, title = {Small-Strain Modeling of Helical Dielectric Elastomer Actuators}, journal = {IEEE/ASME TRANSACTIONS ON MECHATRONICS}, volume = {17}, year = {2012}, pages = {318{\textendash}325}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, issn = {1083-4435}, author = {F. Carpi and D. De Rossi} } @conference {2012, title = {Electroactive polymer patches for wearable haptic interfaces}, booktitle = {Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society EMBC{\textquoteright}11}, year = {2011}, pages = {8369{\textendash}8372}, doi = {10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6092064}, url = {http://dx.medra.org/10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6092064}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Carpi and N. Carbonaro and A. Tognetti and E. P. Scilingo} } @article {1540, title = {Polyurethane unimorph bender microfabricated with Pressure Assisted Microsyringe (PAM) for biomedical applications}, journal = {MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. C}, volume = {29}, year = {2009}, pages = {1835{\textendash}1841}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, issn = {0928-4931}, author = {Tartarisco, G. and G. GALLONE and F. Carpi and G. Vozzi} } @conference {2030, title = {Wearable Kinesthetic Systems and Emerging Technologies in Actuation for Upperlimb Neurorehabilitation}, booktitle = {Proc. of the IEEE EMBC 2009}, year = {2009}, month = {02/09/ - 06/09/}, pages = {6830{\textendash}6833}, doi = {10.1109/IEMBS.2009.5334481}, url = {http://dx.medra.org/10.1109/IEMBS.2009.5334481}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Carpi and F. Lorussi and E. P. Scilingo and A. Tognetti} } @conference {1649, title = {Composite polyurethane and carbon black bimorph bender microfabricated with pressure assisted microsyringe (PAM) for biomedical applications}, year = {2008}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {Tartarisco, G. and G. GALLONE and F. Carpi and G. Vozzi} } @inbook {DLMS01, title = {Wearable Mechanosensing and Emerging Technologies in Fabric-based Actuation}, booktitle = {Intelligent Textiles for Personal Protection and Safety}, volume = {3}, year = {2006}, pages = {55-64}, publisher = {IOS Press}, organization = {IOS Press}, edition = { }, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Carpi and F. Lorussi and E. P. Scilingo and A. Tognetti} } @inbook {DCLPST05, title = {Electroactive fabrics and wearable man-machine interfaces}, booktitle = {Wearable Electronics and Photonics}, year = {2005}, pages = {59-80}, publisher = {Woodhead Publishing Ltd}, organization = {Woodhead Publishing Ltd}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Carpi and F. Lorussi and R. Paradiso and E. P. Scilingo and A. Tognetti} } @article {DCS05, title = {Polymers based interfaces as bioninspired {\textquoteright}smart skins{\textquoteright}}, journal = {Advances in Colloids and Interface Science}, volume = {116}, year = {2005}, month = {August}, pages = {165-178}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Carpi and E. P. Scilingo} } @conference {DLSCTTO-04, title = {An Upper Limb Kinesthetic-Like System For Tele-Rehabilitation}, booktitle = {Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering}, year = {2004}, month = {August}, address = {Island of Ischia, Italy}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Lorussi and E. P. Scilingo and F. Carpi and M. Tesconi and A. Tognetti and P. Orsini} } @article {DCLMPS03, title = {Electroactive Fabrics And Wearable Biomonitoring Devices}, journal = {AUTEX Research Journal}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, year = {2003}, month = {December}, pages = {180-185}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Carpi and F. Lorussi and A. Mazzoldi and R. Paradiso and E. P. Scilingo and A. Tognetti} } @conference {TCLMOSTD-03, title = {Wearable Sensory-Motor Orthoses for Tele-Rehabilitation}, booktitle = {25th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society}, year = {2003}, month = {September}, pages = {3724-3727}, address = {Cancun,Mexico}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {A. Tognetti and F. Carpi and F. Lorussi and A. Mazzoldi and P. Orsini and E. P. Scilingo and M. Tesconi and D. De Rossi} } @conference {DCLMST-02, title = {Electroactive Fabrics for Distributed, Conformable and Interactive Systems}, booktitle = {The first IEEE International Conference on Sensors}, year = {2002}, month = {June}, pages = {1608-1613}, address = {Orlando, Florida}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Carpi and F. Lorussi and A. Mazzoldi and E. P. Scilingo and A. Tognetti} } @conference {DCLMST-02, title = {Electroactive Fibers and Fabrics for Distributed, Conformable and Interactive Systems}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the First European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring}, year = {2002}, month = {July}, address = {Cachan, France}, keywords = {Bioengineering}, author = {D. De Rossi and F. Carpi and F. Lorussi and A. Mazzoldi and E. P. Scilingo and A. Tognetti} } @conference {CLMPS-01, title = {Electroactive polymer based skin and muscles for man machine interfaces}, booktitle = {MRS Fall Meeting}, year = {2001}, month = {December}, address = {Boston, USA}, keywords = {Man-machine Interface}, author = {F. Carpi and F. Lorussi and A. Mazzoldi and G. Pioggia and E. P. Scilingo} }