60秒科学:Artificial Muscle Brings Back Blink

Artificial Muscle Brings Back Blink
A study in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery reports the development of an artificial muscle system that could restore the ability to blink to stroke and injury patients. Cynthia Graber reports

Most of us blink without thinking. But people who’ve sustained strokes or combat injuries can lose their ability to blink. Which is important for lubricating and cleaning the eye. Surgery is an option—a small piece of muscle transplanted from the leg can sometimes work. But the operation takes 10 hours and has its own dangers. So scientists at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center are developing artificial muscles to help patients blink again, work discussed in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

The blink system starts with what researchers call an eyelid¹ sling², a small piece of muscle or fabric³ that holds the eyelid. The sling attaches to bone around the eye. It’s then linked to an electrostatic polymer—basically a piece of flexible plastic that expands or contracts via voltage change. A tiny battery hidden in a natural hollow in the temple powers the polymer. Electrical current keeps the muscles contracted and the eyes open. Kill the current and the lid closes.

Here’s the creepy part—the mechanism’s been tested on cadavers⁴, which are blinking away. But now that the principle is proven, in the next years real patients could be on the brink⁵ of a blink.—Cynthia Graber
 

1 eyelid   

n.眼睑，眼皮

参考例句：

• She lifted one eyelid to see what he was doing.她抬起一只眼皮看看他在做什么。
• My eyelid has been tumid since yesterday.从昨天起，我的眼皮就肿了。

2 sling   

vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓

参考例句：

• The boy discharged a stone from a sling.这个男孩用弹弓射石头。
• By using a hoist the movers were able to sling the piano to the third floor.搬运工人用吊车才把钢琴吊到3楼。

3 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

4 cadavers   

n.尸体( cadaver的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Human cadavers were the only known source of hGH, and demand was intense. 人类尸体是hGH已知的惟一来源，而且需求广泛。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 口蹄疫疯牛病
• Will there be enough cadavers for each group this term? 这个学期每一个组都有足够的尸体吗？ 来自电影对白

5 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。