Medical Device Applications Research Articles

Heating of metallic orthodontic devices during anti-aging treatment with vacuum and electromagnetic fields: In vitro study.

The physical appearance of an individual plays a primary role as it influences the opinion of the viewer. For this reason, orthodontic therapy to improve perceived aesthetics is in high demand among patients. This factor, combined with the increase in the number of non-invasive facial aesthetic treatments, has led to the need to understand potential risk factors in the application of medical devices to the perioral skin in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro heating of the orthodontic bracket following electromagnetic fields and negative pressure (V-EMF) used as an anti-aging treatment. Two different types of titanium alloy wires, one made of "beta-Titanium" alloy and the other "Ni-Ti" (DW Lingual Systems GmbH-Bad Essen-Germany) were used. The orthodontic wires and brackets mounted on a resin mouth were covered with porcine muscle tissue, then subjected to anti-aging therapy with a Bi-one LifeTouchTherapy medical device (Expo Italia Srl-Florence-Italy) which generates a combination of vacuum and electromagnetic fields (V-EMF) already adopted for antiaging therapy. During administration of the therapy, the orthodontic brackets and porcine tissue were thermally monitored using a Wavetek Materman TMD90 thermal probe (Willtek Communications GmbH-Germany). In total 20 orthodontic mouths were used, 10 with Beta Titanium wires and 10 with Nickel Titanium wires. A temperature increase of about 1°C was recorded in each group. The outcome of the present research shows that the absolute temperatures measured on orthodontic appliances, which, despite having a slightly different curve, both show an increase in temperature of 1.1°C at the end of the session, thus falling well within the safety range of 2°C as specified by the standard CENELEC EN 45502-1. Therefore, V-EMF therapy can be considered safe for the entire dental system and for metal prostheses, which tend to heat up at most as much as biological tissue (+0.9°C/1.1°C vs. 1.1°C/1.1°C). In conclusion, anti-aging therapy with V-EMF causes a thermal increase on orthodontic brackets that is not harmful to pulp health.

Supplier selection using the integrated MEREC – CoCoSo methods in a medical device company

The medical device industry is a rapidly developing industry that includes various dynamics. Developed technologies show continuous improvement depending on diagnosis and treatment applications in health services. To keep up with this change and survive in an increasingly competitive environment, medical device manufacturers must be engaged in continuous improvement activities. This situation, necessary for many companies producing in the industrial field, gains even more importance in the medical device sector when the direct impact of product safety and quality on human life is considered. In companies producing medical devices, the legal requirements of the product being a medical device are followed by the notified bodies and authorized authorities within the framework of standards and regulations within the scope of quality processes. Increasing costs and liabilities with MDR 2017/45 have pushed medical device manufacturers to question their methods. In this study, it was determined that customer requests could not be met in a company producing medical devices, and it was observed that delivery times increased. In evaluating the reasons for the increase in delivery time, it was determined that supplier selection could have been carried out more effectively. For this purpose, six suppliers and six criteria were selected because of the company's sector knowledge and the evaluations of the company managers. The Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) method, one of the new generation multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, is proposed for ranking the suppliers in the supplier selection problem. Method The removal effects of criteria (MEREC) weighting method was used to weight supplier selection criteria. In this study, a new generation supplier selection method application in medical devices has been carried out. Considering the inadequacy of the studies on supplier selection in medical devices, the relevant research will contribute to the literature.

Discussion on Medical Device Adverse Event Surveillance

With the continuous development of medical technology and the wide application of medical devices, the risk of medical device adverse events is gradually increasing. In order to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical devices, timely detection and treatment of adverse events of medical devices, and to protect the safety and rights of patients, the state continuously strengthens the monitoring of adverse events of medical devices. This paper firstly introduces the domestic and foreign medical device adverse event related regulations, it introduces the form of medical device adverse event monitoring work in China, compares and analyzes the data of medical device adverse events in recent years, and puts forward some problems in medical device adverse event monitoring work, in order to continuously improve the control and management of the risk level of medical devices, and ensure the clinical use of medical devices and patient safety.

Shot Peening Effect on Sliding Wear in 0.9% NaCl of Additively Manufactured 17-4PH Steel.

The growing demand for modern steels showing corrosion and tribological resistance has led to their increased use in the production of medical devices. This study analyzed the effect of shot peening on wear resistance in 0.9% NaCl solution of 17-4PH steel produced by direct laser metal sintering (DMLS) technology. The study's novelty relies on revealing the effect of shot peening (SP) surface treatment on the wet sliding wear resistance of 17-4PH steel produced with DMLS. Moreover, in the context of 17-4PH steel application for medical devices, the 0.9% NaCl tribological environment were selected, and SP processes were conducted using steel CrNi shot and ceramic (ZrO2) beads. The up-to-date scientific literature has not identified these gaps in the research. DMLS technology makes it possible to obtain products with complex architectures, but it also faces various challenges, including imperfections in the surface layer of products due to the use of 3D printing technology itself. The chemical and phase composition of the materials obtained, Vickers hardness, surface roughness, and microscopic and SEM imaging were investigated. Tribological tests were carried out using the ball-on-disc method, and the surfaces that showed traces of abrasion to identify wear mechanisms were subjected to SEM analysis. The XRD phase analysis indicates that austenite and martensite were found in the post-production state, while a higher martensitic phase content was found in peened samples due to phase transformations. The surface hardness of the peened samples increased by more than double, and the post-treatment roughness increased by 12.8% after peening CrNi steels and decreased by 7.8% after peening ZrO2 relative to the reference surfaces. Roughness has an identifiable effect on sliding wear resistance. Higher roughness promotes material loss. After the SP process, the coefficient of friction increased by 15.5% and 20.7%, while the wear factor (K) decreased by 25.9% and 32.7% for the samples peened with CrNi steels and ZrO2, respectively. Abrasive and adhesive mechanisms were dominant, featured with slight fatigue. The investigation showed a positive effect of SP on the tribological properties of DMSL 17-4PH.

A flexible wearable phase change composite with electro-/photo-thermal heating for personal thermal management and human body motion detection

There is an urgent need to develop flexible materials with electrothermal/photothermal conversion and energy storage/release capabilities to meet the requirement of wearable personal thermal management (PTM) and health monitoring. Here, sandwich-structured phase change composites (SSPCCs) with PTM and health monitoring were prepared through film-forming and pressing process, in which a poly (ethylene vinyl acetate) (EVA)/poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) composite was the middle layer, and waterborne polyurethane (WPU)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) films were the top and bottom layers. The electrical conductivity and tensile strength of the two outer layers with 3 phr CNTs can achieve 2.83 S/m and 12.96 MPa, respectively. Due to the multiple synergistic effects of sandwich structure, the SSPCCs exhibit excellent flexibility with an elongation at break of approximately 1173 %, good stability and durability of 500 cycles and admirable electro-/photo-thermal heating performance (∼40 °C at 7 V or NIR light power of 50 mW/cm2). In addition, the inner layer, where the flexible EVA hold PEG well, has a melting latent heat of 71.45 J/g and freezing latent heat of 65.79 J/g in the phase change process as the mass ratio of PEG reached 50 wt%. The prepared composites show good abilities of information encryption and motions monitoring, which turns out great promising applications in wearable personal thermal management and medical devices.

Establishing finite element model credibility of a pedicle screw system under compression-bending: An end-to-end example of the ASME V&V 40 standard

Computational modeling and simulation (CM&S) is a key tool in medical device design, development, and regulatory approval. For example, finite element analysis (FEA) is widely used to understand the mechanical integrity and durability of orthopaedic implants. The ASME V&V 40 standard and supporting FDA guidance provide a framework for establishing model credibility, enabling deeper reliance on CM&S throughout the total product lifecycle. Examples of how to apply the principles outlined in the ASME V&V 40 standard are important to facilitating greater adoption by the medical device community, but few published examples are available that demonstrate best practices. Therefore, this paper outlines an end-to-end (E2E) example of the ASME V&V 40 standard applied to an orthopaedic implant. The objective of this study was to illustrate how to establish the credibility of a computational model intended for use as part of regulatory evaluation. In particular, this study focused on whether a design change to a spinal pedicle screw construct (specifically, the addition of a cannulation to an existing non-cannulated pedicle screw) would compromise the rod-screw construct mechanical performance. This question of interest (?OI) was addressed by establishing model credibility requirements according to the ASME V&V 40 standard. Experimental testing to support model validation was performed using spinal rods and non-cannulated pedicle screw constructs made with medical grade titanium (Ti-6Al-4V ELI). FEA replicating the experimental tests was performed by three independent modelers and validated through comparisons of common mechanical properties such as stiffness and yield force. The validated model was then used to simulate F1717 compression-bending testing on the new cannulated pedicle screw design to answer the ?OI, without performing any additional experimental testing. This E2E example provides a realistic scenario for the application of the ASME V&V 40 standard to orthopedic medical device applications.

Bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces with silver and nitric oxide-releasing capabilities to prevent device-associated infections and thrombosis

Bacteria-associated infections and thrombus formation are the two major complications plaguing the application of blood-contacting medical devices. Therefore, functionalized surfaces and drug delivery for passive and active antifouling strategies have been employed. Herein, we report the novel integration of bio-inspired superhydrophobicity with nitric oxide release to obtain a functional polymeric material with anti-thrombogenic and antimicrobial characteristics. The nitric oxide release acts as an antimicrobial agent and platelet inhibitor, while the superhydrophobic components prevent non-specific biofouling. Widely used medical-grade silicone rubber (SR) substrates that are known to be susceptible to biofilm and thrombus formation were dip-coated with fluorinated silicon dioxide (SiO2) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) using an adhesive polymer as a binder. Thereafter, the resulting superhydrophobic (SH) SR substrates were impregnated with S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP, an NO donor) to obtain a superhydrophobic, Ag-bound, NO-releasing (SH-SiAgNO) surface. The SH-SiAgNO surfaces had the lowest amount of viable adhered E. coli (> 99.9 % reduction), S. aureus (> 99.8 % reduction), and platelets (> 96.1 % reduction) as compared to controls while demonstrating no cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells. Thus, this innovative approach is the first to combine SNAP with an antifouling SH polymer surface that possesses the immense potential to minimize medical device-associated complications without using conventional systemic anticoagulation and antibiotic treatments.

QRS Detector Performance Evaluation Aware of Temporal Accuracy and Presence of Noise.

Algorithms for QRS detection are fundamental in the ECG interpretive processing chain. They must meet several challenges, such as high reliability, high temporal accuracy, high immunity to noise, and low computational complexity. Unfortunately, the accuracy expressed by missed or redundant events statistics is often the only parameter used to evaluate the detector's performance. In this paper, we first notice that statistics of true positive detections rely on researchers' arbitrary selection of time tolerance between QRS detector output and the database reference. Next, we propose a multidimensional algorithm evaluation method and present its use on four example QRS detectors. The dimensions are (a) influence of detection temporal tolerance, tested for values between 8.33 and 164 ms; (b) noise immunity, tested with an ECG signal with an added muscular noise pattern and signal-to-noise ratio to the effect of "no added noise", 15, 7, 3 dB; and (c) influence of QRS morphology, tested on the six most frequently represented morphology types in the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database. The multidimensional evaluation, as proposed in this paper, allows an in-depth comparison of QRS detection algorithms removing the limitations of existing one-dimensional methods. The method enables the assessment of the QRS detection algorithms according to the medical device application area and corresponding requirements of temporal accuracy, immunity to noise, and QRS morphology types. The analysis shows also that, for some algorithms, adding muscular noise to the ECG signal improves algorithm accuracy results.

Anti-Microbial Activities of Mussel-Derived Recombinant Proteins against Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Many anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) and pro-apoptotic peptides are considered as novel anti-microbial agents, distinguished by their different characteristics. Nevertheless, AMPs exhibit certain limitations, including poor stability and potential toxicity, which hinder their suitability for applications in pharmaceutics and medical devices. In this study, we used recombinant mussel adhesive protein (MAP) as a robust scaffold to overcome these limitations associated with AMPs. Mussel adhesive protein fused with functional peptides (MAP-FPs) was used to evaluate anti-microbial activities, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), and time-kill kinetics (TKK) assays against six of bacteria strains. MAP and MAP-FPs were proved to have an anti-microbial effect with MIC of 4 or 8 µM against only Gram-negative bacteria strains. All tested MAP-FPs killed four different Gram-negative bacteria strains within 180 min. Especially, MAP-FP-2 and -5 killed three Gram-negative bacteria strain, including E. coli, S. typhimurium, and K. pneumoniae, within 10 min. A cytotoxicity study using Vero and HEK293T cells indicated the safety of MAP and MAP-FP-2 and -3. Thermal stability of MAP-FP-2 was also validated by HPLC analysis at an accelerated condition for 4 weeks. This study identified that MAP-FPs have novel anti-microbial activity, inhibiting the growth and rapidly killing Gram-negative bacteria strains with high thermal stability and safety.

Assessing the application of barbed sutures in comparison to conventional sutures for surgical applications: a global systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical animal studies.

Following an initiative published by Lancet in 2002 and an IDEAL-D framework, the value of preclinical animal studies has garnered increasing attention in recent research. Numerous preclinical animal experiments tried to generate evidence to guide the development of barbed sutures. However, discernible drawbacks and incongruities in outcomes have emerged between clinical and preclinical animal studies. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to review the preclinical animal experiments comparing barbed sutures with conventional sutures. The authors hope to facilitate clinical translation of barbed sutures by evaluating effectiveness, safety, and physical properties/reliability. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted to identify controlled preclinical animal experiments comparing barbed sutures with conventional sutures. The risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE. GRADE approach was used to evaluate evidence quality. Revman was applied to analyze all the data. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were also performed. A total of 62 articles were eligible with low to moderate quality, including 2158 samples from 10 different animal species across 27 surgical procedures. Barbed suture exhibited a significant reduction in suture time, limited change in Cross-Sectional Area (CSA), and decreased instances of tissue disruption (all P <0.05). Subgroup analyses, considering both clinical and research significance, indicated that barbed sutures might cause more specific adverse events and demonstrate suboptimal performance of physical properties/reliability. Meta-regression suggested that heterogeneity resulted from variations in studies and animal models. Although barbed suture demonstrated superiority in numerous surgeries for time efficiency, its safety and physical properties/reliability might be influenced by diverse preclinical models, sutures' brand, surgeries, and anatomical sites. Further evaluation, based on standardized and well-designed animal experiments, is essential for medical device development and applications in human beings.

Biocompatibility and sub-chronic toxicity studies of phlorotannin/polycaprolactone coated trachea tube for advancing medical device applications

The phlorotannin-polycaprolactone-coated endotracheal tube (PP tube) has been developed with the aim of preventing tracheal stenosis that can result from endotracheal intubation, a factor that can lead to a serious airway obstruction. Its preventive efficacy has been assessed through both in vitro and in vivo investigations. However, there is a lack of studies concerning its biocompatibility and sub-chronic toxicity in animal models, a crucial factor to ensure the safety of its usage as a functional endotracheal tube. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility and sub-chronic (13 weeks) toxicity of the PP tube through L929 cell line and diverse in vivo models. The cytotoxicity testing was performed using the extracts of PP tube on L929 cells for 72 h. Furthermore, other tests conducted on animal models, including ICR mice (acute systemic toxicity), New Zealand white rabbit (intradermal reactivity and pyrogen tests), guinea pig (maximization sensitization), and Sprague Dawley rats (sub-chronic toxicity). In both biocompatibility and sub-chronic toxicity analyses, no significant adverse effects are observed in the groups exposed to the PP tube, when compared to control group. Altogether, the findings suggested that the PP tube exhibits relative non-toxic and safety, supporting its suitability for clinical usage. However, extended periods of intubation may produce mild irritant responses, highlighting the clinical caution of limiting intubation duration to less than 13 weeks.

Frontiers in biomedical research

With continuous breakthroughs in basic research and technological innovation in the field of biomedicine, we have a much deeper understanding of the nature of life and disease pathogenesis. New medical technologies, medicines and medical instruments are emerging, which greatly promote diagnosis, treatment, prevention and healthy lifestyle. Focusing on international engagement together with the development needs of individual businesses is a major task for China's biomedical community in order to achieve high-quality outcomes. This paper emphasizes the need to further strengthen the cross-integration and development of medical science in China, realize the paradigm change of medical research, and promote the development and application of revolutionary medical technologies, diagnostics, drugs and medical devices. Eighteen frontier hot spots and common issues are highlighted for the field of biomedicine.

A Review on Smart Materials in Biomedical Applications: Current Trends and Future Challenges

Smart materials have been revolutionizing the field of biomedical engineering due to their unique properties and capabilities. They are able to respond to various external stimuli such as temperature, pH, light, and magnetic fields, among others. In this review, we will discuss the current trends and future challenges in the use of smart materials in biomedical applications. We will focus on the different types of smart materials and their properties, as well as their potential applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensors, and medical devices. We will also discuss the challenges and limitations associated with the use of smart materials, such as biocompatibility, stability, and scalability. Finally, we will provide an outlook on the future of smart materials in biomedical applications and the potential impact on healthcare.

Adhesion Reduction Agent Guardix-SG® Versus MegaShield® for Postoperative Swallowing Function Analysis in Thyroidectomy Patients.

Antiadhesion products are essential for postoperative care in patients after thyroidectomy by providing a physical barrier to cover the exposed tissue and thus preventing abnormal adhesion of adjacent tissues. Since thyroidectomy may result in swallowing difficulties arising from damage or inflammation of the surrounding tissues, the use of antiadhesion agents such as MegaShield® or Guardix-SG® will help reduce scar formation. This may thus improve postoperative swallowing function in patients. Patients were enrolled and followed up between October 4, 2018, and March 26, 2020. Patients during the postoperative follow-up sessions were randomly allocated to the standard care with Guardix-SG® and clinical trial medical device application group with MegaShield® (test group) in a 1:1 ratio by the permuted block randomization method. Patient performance on penetration aspiration scale (PAS), National Institutes of Health-Swallow Safety Scale (NIH-SSS), videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS), Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) based on Videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were collected. Nonadhesion-reducing agent patient data were used as a control group. No statistical significance was shown (P > .05) between the 2 groups of MegaShield® and Guardix-SG® in various phases from thick semisolid, thin semisolid to liquid for both PAS and NIH-SSS. Several statistical significances were reported in the results comparing various criteria of PAS, NIH-SSS, VDS at different oral and pharyngeal phases, and DIGEST in all 3 stages among MegaShield®, Guardix-SG®, and nonadhesion-reducing agent group. These results prove the noninferiority of MegaShield® compared with Guardix-SG® as an antiadhesion agent in postthyroidectomy care.

The effect of polyaniline composition on the polyurethane/polyaniline composite properties: The enhancement of electrical and mechanical properties for medical tissue engineering

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;This study addresses the urgent need for the preparation and characterization of conductive polyurethane/polyaniline (PU/PANI) polymers for medical device applications, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 situation. Composite films of PU/PANI were synthesized using the solution casting method. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) results confirmed the presence of PANI, as indicated by absorption bands at 1597 and 1531 cm&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; corresponding to C = C and C–N stretching, respectively. Microscopic analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated a homogeneous distribution of PANI in the PU matrix up to approximately 3 wt.%, with inhomogeneity observed at 5 wt.%. The dielectric constants at 1 Hz for PANI contents of 1, 3, and 5 wt.% in the PU matrix were 12.5, 18.5, and 35.0, respectively. The conductivity exhibited a decreasing trend with an increasing driving frequency. Conversely, for comparative purposes, the dielectric and conductivity values increased with higher PANI contents. The elastic modulus slightly increased from 20.3, 20.8, and 21.2 for 1, 3, and 5 wt.%, respectively. The experimental results emphasize the superior mechanical-to-electrical conversion performance of PU/PANI composites compared to neat PU, thus indicating potential applications in medical tissue engineering that utilize conductive PU/PANI polymers.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

An Overview of Wearable Medical Device Applications

An Overview of Wearable Medical Device Applications

PENGARUH PROSES PENGERINGAN TERHADAP NILAI PLASTISITAS RETENSI KARET REMAH

The crumb rubber SIR 20 originating from the processing of natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plays a crucial role as a primary export commodity in the Indonesian economy. Due to its diverse applications in consumer products and medical devices, natural rubber possesses unique properties such as resilience, elasticity, and wear resistance. The drying process of natural rubber at high temperatures significantly affects its plasticity and strength. This research explores the influence of temperature (130-155°C) and drying time (77-110 minutes) on the plasticity of crumb rubber SIR 20. The results indicate that the PRI (Plasticity Retention Index) values still meet quality standards within certain ranges. The optimal PRI value of 75-76% is obtained at a temperature of 130-135°C for 77 minutes. Increasing the operating temperature and drying time leads to a significant decrease in PRI values due to thermal oxidation occurring in the molecular structure of rubber, thereby affecting the quality of crumb rubber. The findings from this study on the impact of temperature and drying time can provide technical information for the rubber industry to maintain product quality while minimizing environmental impact.

A Customizable Proteinic Bioadhesive Patch with Water-Switchable Underwater Adhesiveness, Adjustable Biodegradability, and Modifiable Stretchability for Healing Diverse Internal Wounds.

Customizable bioadhesives for individual organ requirements, including tissue type and motion, are essential, especially given the rise in implantable medical device applications demanding adequate underwater adhesion. While synthetic bioadhesives are widely used, their toxicity upon degradation shifts focus to biocompatible natural biomaterials. However, enhancing the adhesive strengths of these biomaterials presents ongoing challenges while accommodating the unique properties of specific organs. To address these issues, three types of customized underwater bioadhesive patches (CUBAPs) with strong, water-responsive adhesion and controllable biodegradability and stretchability based on bioengineered mussel adhesive proteins conjugated with acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid are proposed. The CUBAP system, although initially nonadhesive, shows strong underwater adhesion upon hydration, adjustable biodegradation, and adequate physical properties by adjusting the ratio of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid). Through ex vivo and in vivo evaluations using defective organs and the implantation of electronic devices, the suitability of using CUBAPs for effective wound healing in diverse internal organs is demonstrated. Thus, this innovative CUBAP system offers strong underwater adhesiveness with tailored biodegradation timing and physical properties, giving it great potential in various biomedical applications.

Experimental Study on Influence of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Thermal Behavior of ABS &amp; PETG Hybrid Polymer Composites

Polymer composites with enhanced thermal conductivity not only exhibit impressive heat transfer capabilities comparable to metals and ceramics but also preserve the inherent benefits of polymers, including their lightweight nature, ease of processing, and cost-effectiveness. These composites find extensive applications in aerospace, electronics, medical devices, and various other industries. Polymer-based composites incorporating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were created, and the impact of different concentrations on the thermal stability of the resulting hybrid composite was examined. This study examines the way of behaving of PETG and ABS materials fabricated through 3D printing and built up with differing measures of carbon fibers (CF) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The study aims to shed light on the ways in which these materials improve polymer properties, focusing particularly on the beneficial effect of reinforcement on thermal behavior. Additionally, the influence of temperature on the thermal properties of hybrid polymer composites is briefly addressed. These findings underscore the significance of both the content and dispersion state of nanoparticles in shaping the thermal characteristics of such composites.

Active compliant mechanisms for optimized actuation by LCE-based artificial muscles

Compliant mechanisms leverage deformation of materials for precise, lightweight solution to transfer force and motion. By incorporating smart materials, active compliant mechanisms are formed with self-embedded actuation source. Here, we propose lightweight active compliant mechanisms that mimic biological joints, which are capable of transmitting displacements and forces from the linear contraction of artificial muscles into desired magnitudes and directions using a compact structural design. The artificial muscles are braided from liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fibers and heating threads, competent of generating large force and stroke. Meanwhile, the compliant mechanisms are designed by topology optimization to imitate the functions of biological joints. Combining the braided artificial muscles and optimized compliant mechanisms, these active compliant mechanisms effectively achieve transmission of centralized linear actuation into multiple and various output motions, which is verified by both numerical simulations and experiments. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the active compliant mechanisms can be used for potential surgical procedures such as in-body grasping, cavity dilation, drug delivery, and suturing. The demonstrated biomimetic motions of the active compliant mechanisms hold significant potential for applications in medical devices and soft robots.