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IBM has secured a new patent in the United States for an innovative 4D printing technology designed to transport microparticles using smart materials. According to documentation from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), these materials consist of shape-memory alloys or polymers that can respond to external stimuli such as temperature, light, magnetism, or electrical currents.
This technological advancement allows smart materials, after being deformed, to return to their original state, facilitating their mobility to transport tiny particles that are impossible to handle with traditional methods.
How IBM’s 4D Printing Technology Works
The process begins when the user sets the transport route and defines the environmental conditions, along with the characteristics of the object to be moved, such as size, shape, weight, and composition. Subsequently, a machine learning algorithm applies the appropriate stimulus to generate movement in the smart material.
Depending on the situation, this stimulus can be heat, light, or another external factor that activates different sections of the 4D material, triggering a chain reaction that propels the movement of the microparticles.
Throughout the journey, the artificial intelligence system monitors the material for deviations or blockages in the established path. If an obstacle is detected, it adjusts the route without the need for human intervention. Once the microparticle reaches its destination, the external stimulus is deactivated and the cargo is released.
Applications in Medicine and Industry
This technology is capable of transporting particles with a diameter of between 1 and 100 microns, opening up new possibilities across various sectors. In medicine, it could be used to deliver drugs directly to specific cells through the bloodstream or gastrointestinal tract, improving treatment accuracy and reducing side effects.
In the industrial sector, 4D printing could revolutionize microelectronics manufacturing, facilitating the manipulation of components on a microscopic scale and even optimizing production processes in the semiconductor industry.
The Evolution of 4D Printing
4D printing is an evolution of 3D printing, where the material used is not only shaped into a three-dimensional structure but also actively reacts to external stimuli. This concept recalls the behavior of single-celled organisms that manage to move using chemical reactions in their cell membrane.
With this new patent, IBM takes an important step in the convergence of advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology, paving the way for innovations in medicine, microengineering, and other fields that require precise manipulation of microscopic particles.
Source: Tom’s Hardware and Patents.