Wearable, Self-Locking Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuator Cartridge
In healthcare: garments for management of diabetes; garments to improve blood circulation; garments for burn management; post-surgical compression garments to aid in recovery after a surgical procedureIn athletics: garments for improvement of oxygen circulation In emergency medicine: garments to tourniquet active woundsIn aeronautics/space: compressive space suits to provide required pressurization to an astronaut’s body; compressive garments to prevent orthostatic intolerance during high-g maneuvers (aeronautics) or to prevent post-spaceflight orthostatic intolerance (astronautics); loading garments to augment / enhance musculoskeletal conditioningIn cosmetics: body shapewear
Researchers
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wearable, self-locking shape memory alloy (sma) actuator cartridge
United States of America | Granted | 10,828,221
Technology
This work presents the first kind of lightweight compression textiles that provide users with an active control over the compression process. The textiles consist of compression elements made in a form of springs that are woven into the fabrics. The actuators utilize the shape memory effect in order to produce compression motion and are fabricated using Nickel and Titanium materials. The springs are ‘trained’ to conform to a preprogrammed shape upon direct electrical stimulation and return to its original shape when stimulus is removed. Shape of the compression garments changes according to the way actuation springs are woven into the garments.The invention includes a cartridge that spatially arranges actuators within textiles and locks them in a compressed state once they are actuated. The cartridge also provides customizable interfaces required for interaction of actuators with fabrics.
Problem Addressed
Functional textiles, such as compression textiles, hold significant promise for a variety of industries, including but not limited to, athletics, healthcare and space. Existing approaches towards implementation of compression textiles rely exclusively on the pneumatic bladders and tight-fitting passive materials. None of the existing technological solutions, though being advantageous in specific circumstances, allows for implementation of lightweight and well-fitted compression textiles that provide active control over the compression process.
Advantages
- Active control over the process of compression
- Form-fitting ability
- Lightweight
- Electrically-driven compression
- Unique textile architectures capable of producing compression in a variety of directions
- Multipurpose compression garments with possibility to be used in a variety of applications
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