MSGID: 1:317/3 6274a4a0   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Wearable, inexpensive robotic sleeve for lymphedema treatment    
    Microfluidic chip inflates and deflates balloons in a sleeve to promote   
   fluid flow in the lymphatic system    
      
     Date:   
         May 5, 2022   
     Source:   
         American Institute of Physics   
     Summary:   
         Researchers have developed a soft robotic sleeve controlled with a   
         microfluidic chip that reduces cost, weight, and power consumption   
         for treatment of lymphedema. The prototype is more portable   
         than previous devices, and the underlying mechanisms can extend   
         to other treatments, such as prosthetics. The microfluidic chip   
         has 16 channels, each with a different resistance. The differing   
         resistances create a time delay between the flow through each   
         channel, causing balloons in the sleeve to sequentially inflate   
         and push fluid upwards, out of the arm.   
      
      
      
   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Lymphedema often occurs in survivors of breast cancer, because they are at   
   high risk for lymph node damage or removal during surgical procedures. The   
   locations of these nodes often make fluid and proteins collect in the   
   arm, so treatment consists of compression sleeves that seek to restore   
   normal flow. However, current techniques are expensive and inconvenient.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   In Biomicrofluidics, by AIP Publishing, researchers from the University of   
   Waterloo's Microfluidics Laboratory and DIESEL Biomechanics Laboratory,   
   Breast Rehab, and Myant, Inc. developed a soft robotic sleeve controlled   
   with a microfluidic chip that reduces treatment cost, weight, and power   
   consumption.   
      
   The prototype is more portable than previous devices, and the underlying   
   mechanisms can extend to other treatments, such as prosthetics.   
      
   The microfluidic chip has 16 channels, each acting as a sort of   
   pipeline. Just as pipelines with different diameters create different   
   flow speeds, the channels each have a different resistance. The differing   
   resistances create a time delay between the flow through each channel,   
   causing balloons in the sleeve to sequentially inflate and push fluid   
   upwards, out of the arm.   
      
   The design requires only two miniature valves, which take the place of   
   eight bulky, energy-consuming valves. As a result, the cost is cut from   
   thousands to hundreds of dollars. It operates using a 3.7-volt lithium-ion   
   battery within a control box weighing less than an iPhone 13, in contrast   
   to previous technology that required a wall outlet.   
      
   "My definition of wearable is you can wear it and do whatever you want,   
   and not be plugged into a wall," said author Carolyn Ren. "Bringing in   
   the microfluidics field, we wanted to make the system battery-powered   
   but without compromising the performance."  By placing a sensor between   
   the sleeve prototype and the arm, the team measured and optimized the   
   sleeve pressure to encourage fluid flow.   
      
   The researchers are currently recruiting for patient testing. They intend   
   to use their device patent to develop a commercially viable product.   
      
   Microfluidic chips could also be incorporated into prosthetics for lower   
   leg amputees.   
      
   Pressure is unevenly distributed around the leg during walking, and the   
   leg swells to change sizes throughout the day, but traditional prosthetic   
   sockets cannot adjust accordingly. A balloon system like the lymphedema   
   sleeve could apply the correct amount of pressure to the leg dynamically   
   and inflate or deflate to change size on demand.   
      
   "We look at these problems from different angle, but I think there are   
   a lot more things microfluidics can contribute to these areas," said Ren.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by American_Institute_of_Physics. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Related Multimedia:   
       * Images_of_the_lymphedema_sleeve   
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Run Ze Gao, Vivian Ngoc Tram Mai, Nicholas Levinski, Jacqueline Mary   
         Kormylo, Robin Ward Murdock, Clark R. Dickerson, Carolyn L. Ren. A   
         novel air microfluidics-enabled soft robotic sleeve: Toward   
         realizing innovative lymphedema treatment. Biomicrofluidics, 2022;   
         16 (3): 034101 DOI: 10.1063/5.0079898   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220505114635.htm   
      
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