Thermally Drawn Shape and Stiffness Programmable Fibers for Medical Devices

作者：Jiwoo Choi, Qindong Zheng, Mohamed E. M. K. Abdelaziz, Thomas Dysli, Daniel Bautista‐Salinas, Andreas Leber, Shan Jiang, Jianan Zhang, Ali Anıl Demirçalı, Jinshi Zhao, Yue Liu, Nick Linton, Fabien Sorin, Xiaoting Jia, Eric M. Yeatman, Guang‐Zhong Yang, Burak Temelkuran · 发表于：Advanced Healthcare Materials · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1002/adhm.202403235 · 被引用次数：16 · 研究领域：Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials、Advanced Materials and Mechanics、Polymer composites and self-healing

Despite the significant advantages of Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs), material processing and production challenges have limited their applications. Recent advances in fiber manufacturing offer a novel approach to processing polymers, broadening the functions of fibers beyond optical applications. In this study, a thermal drawing technique for SMPs to fabricate Shape Memory Polymer Fibers (SMPFs) tailored for medical applications, featuring programmable stiffness and shape control is developed. Rheological and differential scanning calorimetry analyses are conducted to assess SMP's compatibility with the proposed thermal drawing process and applications, leading to the production of multilumen, multimaterial SMPFs activated at body temperature. Different properties of SMPFs are investigated in three medical devices: stiffness-adjustable catheters, softening neural interface, and shape-programmable cochlear implants. Comprehensive characterization of these devices demonstrates the potential of thermally drawn SMPs to be employed in a wide range of applications demanding programmable mechanical properties.