Compression Device
First Claim
1. A compression device for applying controllable compression to a portion of the anatomy of a user, comprising:
- a panel formed of a wearable material, the panel sized and configured to be applied to a portion of the anatomy of the user, the panel having opposite ends configured to oppose each other when the panel is applied to the portion of the anatomy;
a plurality of shape memory wires supported by the panel between said opposite ends and configured to apply a compressive force to the portion of the anatomy of the user;
a pre-tensioning apparatus connectable between said opposite ends when the panel is applied to the portion of the anatomy, the pre-tensioning apparatus operable to draw the opposite ends toward each other to thereby apply an initial tension to the panel and/or the plurality of shape-memory wires; and
a controller configured to selectively actuate one or more of the plurality of shape-memory wires to reduce the effective length of the wires and thus the panel about the portion of the anatomy, to thereby apply pressure to the portion of the anatomy of the user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wearable massage and/or compression device for applying controllable scrolling or intermittent sequential forces, such as compression forces, to the body and limbs of a user comprises an elongated fabric body sized to encircle a limb of a user, one or more shape-memory wires carried by the fabric body and configured to apply a compression pressure to the limb through the fabric body upon changing shape in response to a stimulus, and a micro-processor based controller for selectively actuating the one or more shape-changing elements to reduce the effective diameter of the device encircling the limb, to thereby apply pressure to the limb.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A compression device for applying controllable compression to a portion of the anatomy of a user, comprising:
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a panel formed of a wearable material, the panel sized and configured to be applied to a portion of the anatomy of the user, the panel having opposite ends configured to oppose each other when the panel is applied to the portion of the anatomy; a plurality of shape memory wires supported by the panel between said opposite ends and configured to apply a compressive force to the portion of the anatomy of the user; a pre-tensioning apparatus connectable between said opposite ends when the panel is applied to the portion of the anatomy, the pre-tensioning apparatus operable to draw the opposite ends toward each other to thereby apply an initial tension to the panel and/or the plurality of shape-memory wires; and a controller configured to selectively actuate one or more of the plurality of shape-memory wires to reduce the effective length of the wires and thus the panel about the portion of the anatomy, to thereby apply pressure to the portion of the anatomy of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification