3-DoF Biohybrid Actuator with Multiple Skeletal Muscle Tissues

Abstract

We proposed a biohybrid actuator powered by a bundle of multiple skeletal muscle tissues. This actuator can contract partially depending on the position of stimulating electrodes, which makes it possible to achieve 3-DoF (Degree of Freedom) motions with a single biohybrid actuator. The multiple muscle tissue actuator was constructed by a pair of rollable devices on the sides of tissues; the devices were flat during culture to make an equal culture condition for each muscle tissue, and were rolled up to obtain an actuator after tissue maturation. We believe that this biohybrid actuator with 3-DoF will be a useful tool in biohybrid robotics to mimic motions of living animals.