Cantilever Actuator Module for on-Command Drug Deployment from Ingestible Capsules

This manuscript demonstrates the first cantilever actuator for highly targeted and directionally specific delivery of drug-eluting microneedles to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from ingestible devices. The actuator achieves the following advantages over current technology: on-command deployment in under 500 ms, low power consumption, spatial conservation, and prolonged deployment shelf life. These advancements enable integration of multiple actuators per device for multidirectional deployment. These attributes are achieved by the optimization of heater design and use of low-profile and highly relaxation resistant PEEK polymers. In all, these features enable higher delivery precision in both longitudinal and polar directions, potentiating site targeting in the GI tract.