Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) have made a groundbreaking discovery that could forever change the lives of those with impaired muscle function. By developing artificial muscle fibers from rubber threads, they’ve paved the way for a revolutionary ‘support suit’ that can enhance the strength and mobility of the wearer. This innovative technology has the potential to not only assist the elderly but also empower women to take on physically demanding workplaces, breaking down barriers and promoting greater accessibility.
But What About The Muscles?
The key to the novel technology is the artificial muscle fibres, which are developed by researchers at DTU. The fibers are made up of silicone elastomers to imitate the structure and what we call muscle mimetics, that is the function of real human muscles.
Its innovation comes in the form of a cavity inside a silicone thread, which a conductive liquid can be pumped through. When a burst of current is sent through these artificial fibers, just like the brain does when it sends and electrical signal to our muscles on the body to move, the contract — or which means they create in this way are able to lift up to 200 times their own weight also as shown here. The ability to make powerful muscles from non-muscle cells might repair movement and independence not only for the 250,000 patients born yearly with muscular dystrophy (1) but also for other hundreds of millions worldwide that lose muscle strength during critical care illnesses.
Knitting the Fabric of Strength
The end product is designed to be a “training suit,” a pair of anorak or jacket, that could integrate into people’s every day lives. In some ways, the weaving and knitting patterns along with the fabric selected is where the real designing effort goes into creating the perfect product as each could have substantial effects on how well or efficient the artificial muscles work.
To address this problem, the group has spent a significant amount of time working with weaving and knitting research, not only making different layerings and structures but also combination in order to give freedom to these artificial muscles as they require substantial movements during activation. It does not get any better than this from a practicality perspective— (before going to the more established universities), and this attention to detail is required in bringing the laboratory success into a real-world, wearable solution which helps people.
Because we are Breaking Barriers and Empowering the Future.
But it has many more applications than mere geriatric convenience. Among other effects, the researchers tout the ‘support suit’ as a game-changer in allowing women to participate in heavy physical casings such as construction job sites when muscle strength has been previously cited as a limiting factor.
The inclusion of advanced clothing which only offer a bit more muscle and suppleness might be one great way to allow even more females to achieve what they admire and make their essential abilities accessible for so many different specialized areas. The benefits resonate to society as the technology has the potential to help improve quality of life, drive inclusion, and pave the way to a future where people are treated equal.
