Thermally Responsive Structures for Gastric Pacing and Other Applications

We report on the development of a polymeric layer consisting of an embedded channel network. The channels are filled with a thermally responsive polymer. The embedded thermally responsive polymer is in solid phase in room ambient, but changes to liquid at physiological body temperature (∼37 °C). This phase change results in the polymer structure changing to a more flexible state. An important application of this polymer layer is its use as a thermally regulated support structure for a gastric pacing electrode, to give some rigidity to the electrode body preferable during implantation surgery, while changing to a more flexible state inside the body as the embedded polymer subsequently melts at physiological temperature. The latter is expected to reduce complications caused by a rigid device.