Basic Research on artificial muscle and artificial blood vessel using ion polymer metal compound

研制了一种离子聚合物金属化合物（IPMC）驱动器，用于呼吸机回路中的主动排痰操作。通过将IPMC用作流量传感器和主动致动器两者，来协调从呼吸机辅助患者中去除痰的特定需求。IPMC通常在水中工作，但我们已经确认它在饱和蒸汽中工作，如在通风机回路中。NafionR-1100树脂在185℃，20-30 MPa下热压。IPMC的厚度可以通过改变树脂量、压力和热压时间来调节。然后使用二甲基亚砜（DMSO）、氢氧化钾（KOH）和水的混合物将热压的盘形膜浸入水解溶液中。用[Au（phen）Cl_2]^+溶液对预处理后的膜进行渗透。浸渍后，用5%Na_2SO_3溶液还原膜进行镀金。为了提高IPMC产生的力的大小，通过改变热压工艺来检查制造过程; IPMC在经受热压之前被预热，随后用化学镀金。用等长测力传感器测量了IPMC在不同电压下的力产生能力。在预热时间较长的IPMC中产生的力更大，即，IPMC在热压之前预热。预热时间越长，IPMC产生的力越大。将制备的IPMC阵列固定在直径为22 mm的塑料管上，连接呼吸机回路，由呼吸机以容量控制通气（VCV）模式驱动。IPMC连接到感测单元和致动单元两者。

We have fabricated an ion polymer metal compound (IPMC) actuator for active phlegm removing operation in ventilator circuit. The specific need of removing phlegm from ventilator assisted patients is to be reconciled by using IPMC for both as a flow sensor and as an active actuator. Under normal circumstances, IPMC operates in water, but we have confirmed that it operates in saturated vapor such as in ventilator circuit.Nafion R-1100 resin was heat-pressed at 185℃ with 20-30 MPa. The thickness of IPMC can be adjusted by changing the amount of resin, pressure, and time to heat-press. Heat pressed disk-shaped membrane was then immersed to hydrolysis solution using a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), potassium hydroxide(KOH), and water. The pre-processed membrane was permeated in [Au(phen)C1_2]^+ solution. After the immersion, the membrane was reduced with 5% Na_2SO_3 solution to perform gold plating. The membrane was cut into a rectangular shape to fit into the respiratory circuit of a ventilator.To enhance the magnitude of force generation by IPMC, the fabrication process was examined by altering the heat press process ; IPMC was pre-heated before subjecting to heat press and subsequently to chemically plating with gold. Force generating capacity of IPMC was measured with isometric force transducer at various level of applied voltage. Generated force was greater in IPMC of longer pre heating time, i.e., IPMC pre-heated before it was heat pressed. The longer the pre-heating time was the greater IPMC generated its force. The result suggests that the generating force of IPMC depends on the molecular structure of Nafion.Prepared IPMC was fixed as an array on a plastic pipe of diameter 22 mm and was connected to a ventilator circuit and driven by a ventilator with a volume control ventilation (VCV) mode. IPMC was connected both to a sensing unit and an actuation unit.