Mechanical actuation via resorbable materials

Resorbable materials - or materials which diffuse into their surroundings - present a promising means of actuating mechanical systems. In current practice, such as in the realm of in vivo surgical devices, resorbable materials are intended to perform a temporary function and completely dissolve when that function is completed (e.g., resorbable sutures). In this paper, resorbable materials are proposed for use in a different way: as a means for actuation. We propose an approach and physical prototypes to demonstrate that resorbable materials, combined with stored energy, can be used to actuate mechanical systems under several loading conditions and in various applications. Rotary and linear actuation methods, as well as gradual and delayed instantaneous actuations, are demonstrated. Using the principles illustrated here, resorbable materials offer unique, customizable ways to actuate a variety of mechanisms in a wide range of domains.