An implantable medical device may include a plurality of electrical components connected to form operational circuitry, a canister shaped for housing the operational circuitry, and a dampening layer configured to reduce internal motion between the operational circuitry and at least one of a plurality of additional component within the canister, the dampening layer selectively disposed over the operational circuitry but not over the at least one additional component, the dampening layer providing electrical isolation to the operational circuitry, the dampening layer comprising a moldable material in direct contact with an inner surface of the canister. Methods of manufacturing such a medical device are also disclosed.

The present invention is directed to flux compositions and uses thereof. One composition comprises an activator and a solvent being a glycerol ethoxylate with a molecular weight of 200-500. Another composition comprises an activator, a solvent being a glycerol ethoxylate with a molecular weight of 200-500 and an amine. A soldering method for joining objects is also provided, comprising the steps of applying a flux composition to at least a portion of one or more of the objects, and joining the objects.

Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a ceramic heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The ceramic heater has resistive traces that heat up hair during use upon being connected to a power source. On a side of the ceramic heater opposite the resistive traces, a layer of metal is formed to spread out during use the heat from the resistive traces. The metal may be formed as a single or multiple layers. The composition of the metal can be, representatively, pure or alloys of silver, copper, or aluminum with platinum or palladium. The shape of the metal varies as does its coverage on a surface area of the ceramic heater.

Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a ceramic heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The ceramic heater has resistive traces that heat up hair during use upon being connected to a power source. On a side of the ceramic heater opposite the resistive traces, a layer of metal is formed to spread out during use the heat from the resistive traces. The metal may be formed as a single or multiple layers. The composition of the metal can be, representatively, pure or alloys of silver, copper, or aluminum with platinum or palladium. The shape of the metal varies as does its coverage on a surface area of the ceramic heater.

In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to an actuator which includes at least the following: a pre-stretched electro-active polymer film being pre-stretched in a single or biaxial planar directions; at least one first semi-stiff conductor attached to a first surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the first surface is parallel to the single or biaxial planar stretch directions; at least one second semi-stiff conductor attached to a second surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; where the semi-stiff conductors are configured to: fix the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state and allow the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to expand; a pair of mechanical connectors coupled to each end of an active region of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film.

Provided are methods of forming thermally conductive flexible bonds for use in electronic boards of unmanned spacecraft and other types of aircraft. Also provided are methods of preparing adhesive materials to form these bonds including methods of preparing treated filler particles. In some aspects, an adhesive material includes filler particles having organofunctional groups, such as boron nitride particles treated in silane. These particles may be combined with a urethane modified epoxy to form the adhesive material. The weight ratio of the particles in the adhesive material may be about 40-60%. The adhesive material may be thermally cured using a temperature of less than 110° C. to prevent damage to bonded electronic components. The cured adhesive may have a thermal conductivity of at least about 2 W/m K measured in vacuum and may have a glass transition temperature if less than −40° C.

In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to an actuator which includes at least the following: a pre-stretched electro-active polymer film being pre-stretched in a single or biaxial planar directions; at least one first semi-stiff conductor attached to a first surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the first surface is parallel to the single or biaxial planar stretch directions; at least one second semi-stiff conductor attached to a second surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; where the semi-stiff conductors are configured to: fix the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state and allow the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to expand; a pair of mechanical connectors coupled to each end of an active region of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film.

Conductive adhesive compositions, jettable ink adhesive compositions, printed electronics incorporating the conductive adhesive compositions, and methods for preparing the same are provided. The conductive adhesive composition may include a eutectic metal alloy, an amine, and a solvent, and the eutectic metal alloy may include gallium, indium, and optionally tin.

Conductive adhesive compositions, jettable ink adhesive compositions, printed electronics incorporating the conductive adhesive compositions, and methods for preparing the same are provided. The conductive adhesive composition may include a eutectic metal alloy, an amine, and a solvent, and the eutectic metal alloy may include gallium, indium, and optionally tin.

In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to an actuator which includes at least the following: a pre-stretched electro-active polymer film being pre-stretched in a single or biaxial planar directions; at least one first semi-stiff conductor attached to a first surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the first surface is parallel to the single or biaxial planar stretch directions; at least one second semi-stiff conductor attached to a second surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; where the semi-stiff conductors are configured to: fix the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state and allow the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to expand; a pair of mechanical connectors coupled to each end of an active region of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film.