Device design and optimization

The size and shape of the polymer actuators are as important as their electrochemomecha-nical properties when it comes to providing enough actuation power for practical applications. The actuation power depends on (i) force output, (ii) displacement output and (iii) speed of response. In this section, a practical approach is presented to link device design requirements to the performance parameters and to offer guidelines for the device design and optimization based on electroactive PPy bending-type actuators. The actuator considered is a one-end fixed and the other end-free bender. 

1 How to Tailor Actuator Performance to Meet Design Requirements 

The force and displacement outputs are created due to internal bending moment induced during the conversion of electrochemical energy into mechanical energy. The force (blocking force), F, can be estimated using a quantitative relationship based on the strain created as a function of the input voltage [61]  

The experimental and theoretical results provided here suggest that, depending on the force, displacement and speed requirements of a practical device, the geometric parameters and shape of the actuator can be optimized suitably to satisfy the device requirements. As a case study, a swimming device propelled with the bending type actuators is presented next to demonstrate the influence of the actuator geometry on a functional system. 

---

Research and development for dry powder inhalers have two main focuses the optimization of the powder formulation for use in these inhalers and investigations of novel DPI device designs and technology. An enormous literature now exists in each of these areas for more extensive reviews readers should consult refs. 33,167, or 168. 

Future developments will see the optimization of device design and the investigation of alternative materials for microchip, electrode, and membrane fabrication. It is envisioned that further advances in fabrication and integration procedures will allow the development of implantable/wearable micro-dialysis/microchip systems for personal or on-animal monitoring. Integration of the separation-based systems with powerful detection techniques such as MS will further improve the detection capability of these systems for biological, pharmaceutical, and environmental monitoring. 

This section introduced characterization of inertial microfiuidic separation using microparticles. The visualization of separation using pPSV and the analysis of efficiency and purity provide both qualitative and quantitative results supporting the characterization of separation in inertial microfluidics. This section offers a simple guide for characterizing separations, as well as in the design and optimization of inertial microfiuidic devices. 

---