Artificial muscle for reanimation of the paralyzed face: durability and biocompatibility in a gerbil model.

Background: Current management of permanent facial paralysis centers on nerve grafting and muscle transfer; however, limitations of those procedures call for other options.

Objectives: To determine the durability and biocompatibility of implanted artificial muscle in a gerbil model and the degree of inflammation and fibrosis at the host tissue-artificial muscle interface.

Methods: Electroactive polymer artificial muscle (EPAM) devices engineered in medical-grade silicone were implanted subcutaneously in 13 gerbils.

Force requirements for artificial muscle to create an eyelid blink with eyelid sling.

Objective: To determine the force requirements, optimal vector, and appropriate materials of a novel eyelid sling device that will be used to rehabilitate eyelid closure (blink) in congenital or acquired permanent facial paralysis with an artificial muscle.

Methods: The force required to close the eyelids in human cadavers (n = 6) were measured using a load cell system. The eyelid sling using either expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) or temporalis muscle fascia was implanted.

Laser-polarized (129)Xe NMR and MRI at ultralow magnetic fields.

Laser-polarized (129)Xe and a high-T(c)superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) are used to obtain magnetic resonance images in porous materials at a magnetic field of 2.3 mT, corresponding to a Larmor frequency of 27 kHz. Image resolution of 1 mm is obtained with gradients of only 1 mT/m.