Artificial tissues muscles

Calcium phosphate with an apatitic structure occurs naturally in the human body and can be described as a calcium deficient carbonate-hydroxylapatite. The chemical similarity of hydroxylapatite to the bone mineral suggests an intrinsic biocompatibility. Implantation of solid blocks of hydroxylapatite has revealed direct bonding to soft tissue (Jansen et al. 1985, Aoki et al. 1987), muscle tissue (Negami 1988) and bone tissue. This aspect of being able to create an artificial material, that provokes excellent tissue response, has provided the impetus for development of hydroxylapatite and other apatites for applications in the body. 

The Artificial Muscle Project draws people from a variety of disciplines. Indeed, the field of electroactivity is extremely interdisciplinary. Case in point for my first patent in this area, the examiner from the USPTO called me. Evidently, they had several meetings trying to decide which patent classification code it came under—chemistry or electrical engineering So they resolved the matter by putting the question to me. We chatted and I agreed that it was on the fence between the two areas, but since my background was stronger in chemistry, the main classification was placed in class 523/113, synthetic resins, subclass composition suitable for use as tissue or body member replacement, restorative, or implant. 

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