Amine Benouhiba

Dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) pumps generate fluid displacement through smooth, distributed deformation of compliant polymer membranes and are promising soft pumping modules for controlled extracorporeal circulatory platforms, such as mock circulatory loops and ex vivo organ‐perfusion systems. However, their hydraulic performance and electromechanically feasible operating space depend on strongly coupled material properties, structural parameters, loading conditions, and driving voltage. Here, we present a constraint‐based analytical framework for design‐space analysis and material screening of tubular multilayer DEA pumps under combined internal bias pressure and applied voltage. The framework enforces minimum elastic strain energy (for pressure head), minimum stroke volume (for flow rate), electromechanical coupling, maximum strain, and dielectric breakdown limits. It is benchmarked against quasi‐static finite‐element simulations, with a mean deviation below 0.05. With device‐specific empirical corrections, it also captures the observed resonance and the flow‐rate and pressure‐head trends in experiments. For a specified pump geometry and performance targets, the framework quickly narrows the design‐space and screens candidate DEs with feasible solutions. This framework as a specific example exhibits a practical design methodology by using a simplified analytical approach to narrow down the design‐space and the material‐selection space in tubular DEA pumps for extracorporeal circulatory applications.

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are vital for patients with severe heart failure but often face limitations in energy efficiency and adaptability. To address these challenges, the dielectric elastomer‐based electropneumatic device (DE‐EPD) is introduced, a novel cardiac assist device utilizing dielectric elastomers (DEAs) for soft, pulsatile motion. The DE‐EPD incorporates a tubular multilayer DEA within a vacuum chamber, optimized with axial prestretch and radial biasing to improve performance while minimizing energy consumption. With a weight of less than 200 g and an energy consumption of only 1.6 W, the DE‐EPD achieves a flow rate of 6.8 L min ⁻¹ , equal to a head pressure of 85 mmHg at 5 Hz, effectively mimicking physiological heart dynamics. Its lightweight and portable design offers significant advantages over conventional motor‐ and pneumatic‐driven VADs. The DE‐EPD sets a new standard for the next generation of VADs, offering a sophisticated and effective alternative in heart failure management.

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are a recent type of smart materials that show impressive performances as soft actuators, making them a promising technology for the development of implantable artificial muscles and soft robotic devices. Notably, they are explored as implants for the restoration of facial movements post paralysis. However, implementing DEAs that mimic natural muscles has been proven difficult, as DEAs provide in-plane expansion when actuated, while natural muscles contract upon stimulation. Multiple solutions can be found in literature, namely stack DEAs and fiber-reinforced DEAs. The fibers used for DEAs to achieve contractile motion rely on a fishnet design, where the angle between the fibers, the spacing, mechanical properties as well as the fiber dimensions can be set by establishing a fiber analytical model. Contraction has only been achieved with DEAs based on acrylic elastomer and pre-stretched with rigid frames, thus making them unsuitable as soft implants. This work introduces the first silicone-based, non-pre-stretched DEAs presenting in-plane contractile behavior by embedding such soft structured fiber sheets in the actuators. Fiber-reinforced DEAs were shown to achieve modest contractile strains, particularly with optimal fiber angles between 55^∘ and 65^∘, enhancing their ability to mimic muscle-like behavior. A peak occurs at approximately 60^∘, where the maximum contraction of −0.6% was achieved, resulting in a 3% error from the model. The low contractile strains of silicone-based DEAs indicate that further optimization is needed for real-world applications.

This review presents a detailed survey of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) and their emerging role in medical applications. DEAs are distinguished by their flexibility, low weight, and excellent biocompatibility, making them well-suited for a wide range of medical devices. The review explores the fundamental electro-mechanical principles behind DEA operation, which enable their remarkable ability to replicate natural muscle movements. Key applications discussed include biomedical devices, rehabilitation systems, in-vivo implants, and wearable health monitors, where DEAs offer dynamic, lifelike movements and precise control. Their ability to provide highly flexible and responsive actuation is a major advantage in medical technologies. However, challenges persist, particularly in terms of material durability, the need for high-voltage activation, and the integration of DEAs with existing medical technologies. By synthesizing recent research and highlighting ongoing hurdles, this review emphasizes the transformative potential of DEAs, offering a comprehensive look at their current state and future impact on next-generation medical devices.

Pumps play a crucial role in sustaining life by facilitating fluid circulation within the human body. This article presents the design and characterization of a high‐performance tubular dielectric elastomer pump. The study investigates three distinct pump designs tailored for operation under varying internal pressures of 15, 70, and 120 mmHg. Each pump design is meticulously tested, and the results reveal significant variations in their performance characteristics. The optimal outcomes are achieved with a flow rate of 6.5 L min⁻¹, demonstrating the pump's efficiency in maintaining fluid circulation. Additionally, a pressure head of 27.5 mmHg highlights the pump's capability to generate the necessary force for overcoming physiological resistance within the targeted pressure range. These findings underscore the potential of the proposed high‐performance dielectric elastomer actuators‐based pump for medical applications, offering a promising avenue for advancements in fluidic systems crucial for sustaining life and improving patient care.

Helmholtz resonators have long been essential for acoustic control, enhancing or nullifying sound at specific frequencies. Traditionally, these resonators are effective for fixed-frequency applications, but lose efficacy if the excitation frequency changes. This paper presents the first tunable broadband origami-based Helmholtz resonator, featuring a compliant origami design with auxetic properties for optimal volume variation. Multiphysics simulations determined the adaptive cavity geometry, and experimental tests validated the models, showing high tunability (up to 25% around a central frequency of 461 Hz with a 95% absorption rate) and broad bandwidth (up to 13% around the central frequency with a 95% absorption rate) with minimal geometry variation (8 mm in diameter). This work marks a significant advancement over traditional Helmholtz resonators.

Impedance pumps are simple designs that allow the generation or amplification of flow. They are fluid-filled systems based on flexible tubing connected to tubing with different impedances. A periodic off-center compression of the flexible tubing causes the fluid to move and generate flow. Wave reflection at the impedance mismatch is the primary driving mechanism of the flow. In addition to their straightforward design, impedance pumps are bladeless, valveless, and pulsatile. These properties are highly sought after by demanding and challenging applications, such as the biomedical field, as they present less risk of damage, disruption, and obstruction when handling viscous and delicate fluids/matter. In this study, we propose a high-performance impedance-driven pumping concept with embedded actuation based on a multilayered tubular dielectric elastomer. This pumping system is made of three parts, a dielectric elastomer actuator tube, a passive tube, and a rigid ring that binds and decouples the two subsystems. The system is able to generate net fluid flow rates up to 1.35 L/min with an internal pressure of 125 mmHg. The soft simplistic design, self-contained concept, and high performances of these pumping systems could make them disruptive in many challenging meso- and macroscale applications in general and in the biomedical field in particular.