Detection of Distributed Static and Dynamic Loads with Electrolyte-Enabled Distributed Transducers in a Polymer-Based Microfluidic Device

该奖项的目的是对基于聚合物的微流体设备的性能有一个基本的了解，该设备具有可以检测分布式负载的电解质启用分布式传感器（EEDTs）。这种EEDT器件的新奇在于其配置，一个单一的可变形聚合物微结构集成EEDT，它可以建立非常简单，并允许使用一个单一的设备的分布负载检测。一个标准的聚合物为基础的微加工工艺将采用，以确保其一次性和负担得起的。该技术方法包括1）根据其几何形状和电解质性质对设备性能进行实验研究; 2）开发用于量化设备性能的理论框架; 3）其针对超高空间分辨率和超高负载分辨率的优化;以及4）其适应于生物材料和生物组织研究。这项研究的结果将使生物医学，外科手术，机器人和制造应用的小型化分布负载传感器的发展。一次性、经济实惠的高性能EEDT设备将彻底改变依赖分布式负载检测功能的智能系统和仪器、制造设备和机器人。因此，包含EEDT设备的系统将用于早期诊断疾病，改善手术效果，缩短开发时间，提高粘弹性材料和生物材料的制造质量，实现工业自动化，并通过在危险环境中实现机器人操作来挽救生命。

This objective of this award is to develop a fundamental understanding of the performance of a polymer-based microfluidic device with Electrolyte-Enabled Distributed Transducers (EEDTs) that can detect distributed loads. The novelty of this EEDT device lies in its configuration, a single deformable polymer microstructure integrated with EEDTs, which can be built with great simplicity and allows the distributed-load detection using one single device. A standard polymer-based micro-fabrication process will be employed to ensure its disposability and affordability. The technical approach includes 1) experimental investigation of the device performance as a function of its geometry and electrolyte properties; 2) development of a theoretical framework for quantification of the device performance; 3) its optimization for ultra-high spatial resolution and ultra-high load resolution; and 4) its adaptation for biomaterial and biological tissue investigations. The results of this research will enable the development of miniaturized distributed-load sensors for biomedical, surgical, robotics, and manufacturing applications. Disposable, affordable, high-performance EEDT devices will revolutionize the intelligent systems and instruments, manufacturing equipment, and robots that rely on the functionality of distributed-load detection. Consequently, systems incorporating EEDT devices will be used to diagnose diseases at early stages, improve surgical outcomes, shorten development time, increase the manufacturing quality of viscoelastic materials and biomaterials, allow industrial automation, and save lives by enabling robotic operations in hazardous environments.