Compression Integument
First Claim
1. A compression integument for applying controllable compression to a portion of the anatomy of a user, comprising:
- an elongated body sized and configured to be applied to a portion of the anatomy of the user;
one or more shape-changing elements supported by the elongated body and configured to apply a compressive force to the portion of the anatomy of the user; and
a controller configured to selectively actuate the one or more shape-changing elements to reduce the effective length of the elongated body, to thereby apply pressure to the portion of the anatomy of the user by way of the elongated body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile compression integument 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-changing elements 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 integument encircling the limb, to thereby apply pressure to the limb.
38 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A compression integument for applying controllable compression to a portion of the anatomy of a user, comprising:
-
an elongated body sized and configured to be applied to a portion of the anatomy of the user; one or more shape-changing elements supported by the elongated body and configured to apply a compressive force to the portion of the anatomy of the user; and a controller configured to selectively actuate the one or more shape-changing elements to reduce the effective length of the elongated body, to thereby apply pressure to the portion of the anatomy of the user by way of the elongated body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for applying compression to the limb of a user, comprising:
-
wrapping a compression integument around the limb of the user for a snug fit, the compression integument including; a plurality of ribs spaced apart on an elongated body configured to encircle the limb of the user; a plurality of shape-changing wires configured to shrink in length upon application of an electrical current, wherein two wires span the space between each facing side of each adjacent rib, the two wires positioned at the opposite ends of each rib; and a controller configured to selectively apply electrical current to the plurality of wires; and operating the controller to continuously and sequentially; apply a current to the wires spanning the space between ribs at like first ends of the ribs to contract the compression integument at the first end; apply a current to the wires spanning the space between ribs at the like second ends of the ribs to contract the compression integument at the second end; remove the current applied to the wires at the first ends of the ribs to allow the wires to return to their neutral length and thereby remove the compression at the first end;
andremove the current applied to the wires at the second ends of the ribs to allow the wires to return to their neutral length and thereby remove the compression at the second end.
-
-
20. A compression integument comprising:
-
a body configured to a least partially encircle a part of the body of the user for a snug fit; a plurality of ribs spaced apart on the elongated body; at least two shape-changing wires configured to contract in length upon application of an electrical current, a first one of the at least two wires spanning the space between each facing side of each adjacent rib at one end of each rib, and a second one of the at least two wires spanning the space between each facing side of each adjacent rib at an opposite end of each rib; and a controller configured to selectively apply electrical current to the plurality of wires causing the wires to contract to urge at least some of the ribs into a closer spaced apart relationship. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification