Smart valves based on active soft materials

Valter Carvelli (Principal Investigator), Alessandra Zanelli, Giulia Fava, Carol Monticelli, Vito Diana

ASSIST responded to the need for new technologies to improve the effectiveness and management of home healthcare. The project focused on technologies based on the use of complex fluidic circuits (such as infusion pumps), multi-solenoid sensors and electronics, with the aim of developing a new technology to combine controlled, fine fluid management with cost-effective miniaturisation of portable biomedical devices. The technology is based on the direct integration of strain sensors in valves, based on active polymer nanocomposites. The use of the integrated measurement capability of the nanocomposite membrane eliminates the use of external sensors, providing pressure measurements at the time of operation directly in the fluidic core of the valve, while accurate control of fluid infusion is established by a closed-loop connection, providing an innovative solution at competitive costs.

Contribution to SDGs: 9