Micromuscle AB - Electroactive Polymer Technology for Life Science.

	Applications
	Vascular Applications
	Drug Delivery
	New Functionality
	BioMEMS and Microfluidics

VASCULAR APPLICATIONS

The MICROMUSCLE EAP technology can be used in a number of vascular application areas, for example interventional procedures in the heart or in peripheral areas of the body, such as the brain and the legs. Micromuscle has especially focused on the segments for interventional cardiology and PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty), where procedures such as balloon expansion and stent placement are used to open blocked or clogged arteries to and from the heart.

The MICROMUSCLE

EAP technology is well suited for applications in small and restricted access vascular environments. Products for vascular applications in which the MICROMUSCLE

EAP technology can be applied typically involve guidewires, catheters, balloons and stents. Integration of the MICROMUSCLE

EAP technology into such devices offers new functionality, for example electrically controlled movement, which adds value to existing and new products (see also the New Functionality section).

Application example-steerable guidewire

In many vascular applications, guide wires, leads and catheters are used to reach specific areas inside blood vessels. These tools are generally passive. Adding active control and steerability to them would make it simpler to reach a desired area.

Micromuscle has made a bench-top prototype where a common guide wire is modified with an electro-active polymer coating in order to demonstrate active steering in a model of a vessel system. By applying a small potential to the guide wire, the position of the tip could be controlled. Time to move from one extreme position to the other was a few seconds.

Patent for the design and construction of these kinds of steerable tools have been submitted.

Maneuvering in “vessels” using an EAP steerable guidewire

Active components or coatings for medical devices

Conducting electroactive polymer can be applied on various devices used in PTCA and other vascular applications e.g. guidewires and stents to provide new functionality. The features of electroactive polymers can be used to enable movement and generate force as well as electrically control surface properties.

Guidewire before and after coating with electroactive polymer (black)

Muscle cells on electroactive polymer surface

Inside blood vessels these features can be used for controlling motion and positioning of device components from outside the body.

Click pictures to view film of motion in blood