PIEZOELECTRIC COMPRESSION STOCKING

• US 20170246073A1
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dajustco Ip Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dajustco Ip Holdings Inc.
• Inventors: Van-De-Velde, Peter Francis
• Application Number:
  US15/511,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20170246073A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/08 Elastic stockings; for contracting aneurisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/085 Openable readjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/106 for the lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/108 for the upper legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 without substantial movement between the skin and the device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a compression stocking that comprises a tubular fabric body and a piezoelectric material that is incorporated into the tubular fabric body. The piezoelectric material changes shape in response to actuation energy to generate a compressive force. When the compression stocking is placed on a user'"'"'s leg, the compressive force may compress blood vessels in the user'"'"'s leg to assist with the return of venous blood.

Claims

1. A compression stocking comprising:

a tubular fabric body with a first end and an open second end for positioning about a user'"'"'s leg;

a piezoelectric material that is incorporated into the tubular fabric body, the piezoelectric material is deformable in response to an actuation energy for generating a compressive force that is applicable to the user'"'"'s leg;

a controller that is electrically connectible to a source of actuation energy and to the piezoelectric material, the controller for providing and regulating the actuation energy to the piezoelectric material.

2. The compression stocking of claim 1, wherein the tubular fabric body further comprises an elastic material.

3. The compression stocking of claim 1, wherein the first end is closed.

4. The compression stocking of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material is a fibre that is incorporated into the tubular fabric body as one or more loops about a longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

6. The compression stocking of claim 4, wherein proximal to the first end the adjacent loops of the fibre are spaced apart from each other by a distance A and proximal to the second end the adjacent loops of the fibre are spaced apart from each other by a distance B.

8. The compression stocking of claim 1, further comprising a conductor that electrically connects the controller and the piezoelectric material.

9. The compression stocking of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material is flexible.

10. The compression stocking of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material is a polymer.

11. The compression stocking of claim 1, wherein the controller regulates the electric current so that the piezoelectric material generates a pulsatile compressive force.

12. The compression stocking of claim 1, wherein the controller regulates the electric current to modulate at least one of the compressive force'"'"'s amplitude and frequency.

13. The compression stocking of claim 1, further comprising a remote device for sending commands to the controller for regulating the electric current and modulating at least one of the compressive force'"'"'s amplitude and frequency.

5. The compression stocking of claim 5, wherein adjacent loops of the fibre are spaced apart from each other at substantially the same distance.

7. The compression stocking of claim 7, wherein distance A is greater than distance B.

14. A method of applying a compressive force to a user'"'"'s leg, the method comprising steps of:

a. providing a piezoelectric material about a longitudinal axis of the user'"'"'s leg; and

b. applying an actuation energy to the piezoelectric material for generating the compressive force.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of modulating the actuation energy for applying the actuation energy at one end of the user'"'"'s leg.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of modulating the actuation energy for increasing or decreasing an amplitude of the compressive force.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of modulating the actuation energy for applying the actuation energy in a pulsatile fashion.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of changing a frequency of the pulsatile actuation energy.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of providing a greater density of piezoelectric material at a first end of a user'"'"'s leg than a second end of the user'"'"'s leg so that an amplitude of the compressive force is greater at the first end of the user'"'"'s leg than the second end.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first end is proximal to a user'"'"'s ankle and the second end is proximal to a user'"'"'s thigh.