The invention provides composite materials comprising a shape change element and an optical change element, which elements undergo a change in response to an applied stimulus. Also provided are objects that include the subject shape changing materials, as well as methods of making and using the same.

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes the steps of forming an inner layer of a first polymeric material, forming a plait matrix layer including a second polymeric material about the inner layer, and forming an outer layer of a third polymeric material about the plait matrix layer. The plait matrix layer includes a braided wire mesh partially or fully embedded within the second polymeric material, which is different from at least one of the first polymeric material forming the inner layer and the third polymeric material forming the outer layer. The second polymeric material has a higher yield strain and/or a lower hardness than at least the first polymeric material, and preferably both the first and the third polymeric materials. The first polymeric material and the third polymeric material may be different or the same. The catheter shaft may be formed by stepwise extrusion, co-extrusion, and/or reflow processes.

A method of installing a heat shrink cover around a component includes providing the heat shrink cover having an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the inner sleeve is a heat shrink sleeve, and attaching an electrical heating system to an outer surface of the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve and the outer sleeve are arranged around the component, with the outer sleeve at least partially encompassing the inner sleeve. The electrical heating system is energized to heat-recover the inner sleeve.

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes the steps of forming an inner layer of a first polymeric material, forming a plait matrix layer including a second polymeric material about the inner layer, and forming an outer layer of a third polymeric material about the plait matrix layer. The plait matrix layer includes a braided wire mesh partially or fully embedded within the second polymeric material, which is different from at least one of the first polymeric material forming the inner layer and the third polymeric material forming the outer layer. The second polymeric material has a higher yield strain and/or a lower hardness than at least the first polymeric material, and preferably both the first and the third polymeric materials. The first polymeric material and the third polymeric material may be different or the same. The catheter shaft may be formed by stepwise extrusion, co-extrusion, and/or reflow processes.

A method for fabricating a shape memory polymer into a three-dimensional object is provided. The method includes forming a film of crosslinked poly(amic acid) on a substrate to provide a laminated substrate; forming the laminated substrate into a first configuration that is in a three-dimensional form; curing the cross-linked poly(amic acid) to provide the shape memory polymer having a permanent shape corresponding to the first configuration; and removing the substrate from the laminated substrate to provide the three-dimensional object comprising the shape memory polymer. The formation of the laminated substrate into the three-dimensional object may be based on origami techniques.

The present invention relates to a photo-responsive shape-changing structure and a driving method thereof. The photo-responsive shape-changing structure (100) is characterized in that it includes a first body portion (200) including at least one polymer film that undergoes a bending deformation in response to light irradiation, a second body portion (300) including at least one polymer film that undergoes a bending deformation in response to light irradiation, and a connection portion (400) configured to allow the first body portion (200) and the second body portion (300) to be connected to each other, wherein adhesive support portions (500, 600) are formed at one ends of the first body portion (200) and the second body portion (300), which are in contact with the ground (20).

A method of forming an implant includes providing a preformed shell formed from at least one cured elastomeric layer. The preformed shell includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an opening for accessing an interior volume of the preformed shell. The method further includes expanding the preformed shell to an expanded state, in which the interior volume is greater than the interior volume of the preformed shell at a time of forming the preformed shell and forming an inner zone having at least one inner elastomeric layer on at least a portion of the inner surface of the preformed shell, while the shell is in the expanded state, thereby forming a multi-zone shell. The method further includes reducing the interior volume of the multi-zone shell, thereby contracting the at least one inner elastomeric layer of the inner zone and causing texturing of the at least one inner elastomeric layer.

The combination of 3D printing technology plus the additional dimension of transformation over time of the printed object is referred to herein as 4D printing technology. Particular arrangements of the additive manufacturing material(s) used in the 3D printing process can create a printed 3D object that transforms over time from a first, printed shape to a second, predetermined shape.

A heat shrink component includes a heat shrink layer and a heating unit in thermal contact with at least a part of the heat shrink layer and heating the heat shrink layer to a heat shrink temperature. The heat shrink component has a first dimension in an expanded state and a second dimension in a shrunk state after heating, the first dimension is larger than the second dimension. The heating unit includes an electrically conductive lead heated by an electrical current flowing through the electrically conductive lead and a heat spreading layer arranged in thermal contact with the electrically conductive lead and distributing a heat generated by the electrically conductive lead.

A system, apparatus and method for thermal treatment of surface bonding optical is provided. An optical patch cord is surface bonded via thermal treatment with a tracer optical fiber which provides patch cord tracing in a bonding apparatus. During the process, the optical patch cord is also thermally treated to have the mechanical stress contained in its jacket relieved by rollers in the bonding apparatus to solve the patch cord shrink-back problem.