Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : [in Japanese]
Date : June 08, 2016 - June 11, 2016
We propose a bio-robot driven by two cardiomyocyte-powered actuators which utilizes mechanical interaction of cardiomyocytes. The bio-robot can coordinate the movement by exploiting synchronization mechanism of cardiomyocytes based on mutual mechanical stimulation by contraction of actuators. The mechanical structure is consisting of a thin PDMS film, which is not a cell-adhesive material as a robot body, and two collagen sheets, which are cell substrates as cardiomyocyte-powered actuators. This bio-mechanical hybrid system allows the bio-robot mechanoelectric feedback in beating of cardiomyocytes via mechanical connection of actuators. As a result, two actuators on a bio-robot coordinated autonomously mean contraction intervals than isolated actuators.
