Abstract: A compression device for applying controllable compression to a portion of the anatomy of a user, includes a body, at least one memory wire embedded in the body and configured to contract in length upon application of a current so as to reduce an effective length of the body and apply a compressive force to the portion of the anatomy of the user, and a controller configured to selectively apply current to the memory wires to contract the memory wires and reduce the effective length of the body. The controller includes a circuit board supported by the body and a microcontroller mounted to the circuit board, the microcontroller programmed to actuate the memory wires according to a compression protocol stored in a memory associated with the microcontroller. Each memory wire has a first end fixedly connected to the circuit board and a second end fixed relative to the body.

Abstract: An active compression device includes a textile wrap configured to be secured around a waist of a user. Additionally, the active compression device includes a controller assembly disposed within the textile wrap, wherein the controller assembly includes one or more shape memory wires configured to apply compression to the user's back in response to actuation of the one or more shape memory wires. The controller assembly also includes processing circuitry configured to receive a selection of a predetermined compression profile, and in response to receiving the selection of the predetermined compression profile, activate a predetermined pattern of compressions corresponding to the selected predetermined compression profile.

Abstract: A compression device particularly suited for DVT prophylaxis includes a disposable wrap and a re-usable controller removably mounted on the wrap to apply a tensioning force to the wrap when it is encircling the limb of a patient. The wrap includes an RF chip with a unique identifier and the controller includes an RF sensor and processor to authenticate the wrap before commencing a compression cycle. A kiosk is provided for storing a plurality of wraps for use by patients and a plurality of controllers to be used with any of the wraps. The processor of each controller can control an electric motor in the controller to tighten and loosen the wrap according to a compression protocol between a pre-tension compression force and maximum compression force. The amount of movement of the wrap changes as the patient's physiology changes while maintaining the pre-tension and maximum compression forces.

Abstract: A compression device particularly suited for DVT prophylaxis includes a disposable wrap and a re-usable controller removably mounted on the wrap to apply a tensioning force to the wrap when it is encircling the limb of a patient. The wrap includes an RF chip with a unique identifier and the controller includes an RF sensor and processor to authenticate the wrap before commencing a compression cycle. A kiosk is provided for storing a plurality of wraps for use by patients and a plurality of controllers to be used with any of the wraps. The processor of each controller can control an electric motor in the controller to tighten and loosen the wrap according to a three-stage DVT prophylaxis protocol that produces an optimum blood flow velocity. An accelerometer and software/firmware in the controller can also measure and summarize patient activity while wearing the device.

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.

Abstract: A bra incorporates shape memory alloy, either in shape memory or super-elastic states, an accelerometer, a power source, a microprocessor, and an algorithm implemented by the microprocessor to learn and adapt to the displacement pattern of the wearer's breast during a physical activity. The shape memory alloy is in the form of SMA or super-elastic wires integrated into portions of the bra, whereby activating the wire(s) shortens the corresponding wire to produce a compressive force on the breast within the bra. The system thereby provides real-time, active suspension to control breast displacement or bounce. The system provides real-time feedback to a memory or super-elastic material integrated into the bra to provide adaptive force and displacement to counteract the push-off and landing forces at each footfall of the moving wearer affecting breast displacement.

Abstract: A lace-tightening device for a shoe lace in a shoe includes a rotating cam within a housing disposed within the shoe. The cam is connected to the opposite ends of the shoe lace and includes an outer surface for receiving the shoe lace as the cam rotates to pull the lace. A ratchet arm is slidably disposed within the housing and includes linear teeth arranged to engage the teeth of a driven gear as the ratchet arm translates in a linear direction, to rotate the gear in the one direction. The driven gear is part of a gear train connected to the cam to rotate the cam. The ratchet arm is pulled by at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire attached to a controller that is configured to execute a power cycle to energize and deenergize the SMA wire to thereby sequentially translate the ratchet arm in the linear direction, and ultimately to incrementally pull and tighten the shoe lace.

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 one or more shape-memory wires integrated into an article of clothing and configured to apply a compression pressure to the limb through the fabric body upon changing shape in response to a stimulus, a pre-tensioning apparatus in the form of a bungee cord associated with each shape memory wire, and a micro-processor based controller for selectively actuating the one or more shape memory wire to reduce the length of the shape memory wire to thereby apply pressure to the wearer's body.

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.

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.

Abstract: A garment incorporates shape memory alloy, either in shape memory or super-elastic states, an accelerometer, a power source, a microprocessor, and an algorithm implemented by the microprocessor to learn and adapt to the displacement pattern of the wearer's body during a physical activity. The shape memory alloy is in the form of SMA or super-elastic wires integrated into portions of the garment, whereby activating the wire(s) shortens the corresponding wire to produce a compressive force on the wearer's body within the garment. The system thereby provides real-time, active suspension to control breast displacement, jiggle or bounce. The system provides real-time feedback to a memory or super-elastic material integrated into the garment to provide adaptive force and displacement to counteract the push-off and landing forces at each footfall of the moving wearer affecting displacement of the body.

Abstract: An active compression device includes a textile wrap configured to be secured around a waist of a user. Additionally, the active compression device includes a controller assembly disposed within the textile wrap, wherein the controller assembly includes one or more shape memory wires configured to apply compression to the user's back in response to actuation of the one or more shape memory wires. The controller assembly also includes processing circuitry configured to receive a selection of a predetermined compression profile, and in response to receiving the selection of the predetermined compression profile, activate a predetermined pattern of compressions corresponding to the selected predetermined compression profile.

Abstract: A lace-tightening device for a shoe lace in a shoe comprises a rotating cam within a housing disposed within the shoe. The cam is connected to the opposite ends of the shoe lace and includes an outer surface for receiving the shoe lace as the cam rotates to pull the lace. A driven gear disposed is rotatably coupled to the cam through a one-way clutch configured so that rotation of the driven gear in one direction rotates the cam in the one direction, thereby tightening the shoe lace connected to the rotating cam. A ratchet arm is slidably disposed within the housing and includes linear teeth arranged to engage the teeth of the driven gear as the ratchet arm translates in a linear direction. to rotate the gear in the one direction. The ratchet arm is pulled by at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire attached at one end to the ratchet arm and at its opposite end to a controller.

Abstract: A bra incorporates shape memory alloy, either in shape memory or super-elastic states, an accelerometer, a power source, a microprocessor, and an algorithm implemented by the microprocessor to learn and adapt to the displacement pattern of the wearer's breast during a physical activity. The shape memory alloy is in the form of SMA or super-elastic wires integrated into portions of the bra, whereby activating the wire(s) shortens the corresponding wire to produce a compressive force on the breast within the bra. The system thereby provides real-time, active suspension to control breast displacement or bounce. The system provides real-time feedback to a memory or super-elastic material integrated into the bra to provide adaptive force and displacement to counteract the push-off and landing forces at each footfall of the moving wearer affecting breast displacement.

Abstract: A compression integument for applying controllable intermittent sequential compression to the limbs of a user comprises an elongated fabric body sized to encircle a limb of a user, one or more compressible pads affixed to a surface of the fabric body facing the limb when the fabric body is wrapped around the limb; one or more tensioning elements integrated into the fabric body or compressible pads and arranged to encircle the limb when the fabric body is wrapped around the limb, and a micro-processor based actuator for selectively actuating the one or more tensioning elements to reduce the effective diameter of the tensioning elements encircling the limb, to thereby apply pressure to the limb by way of the compressible pads.

Abstract: A compression integument for applying controllable intermittent sequential compression to the limbs of a user comprises an elongated fabric body sized to encircle a limb of a user, one or more compressible pads affixed to a surface of the fabric body facing the limb when the fabric body is wrapped around the limb; one or more tensioning elements integrated into the fabric body or compressible pads and arranged to encircle the limb when the fabric body is wrapped around the limb, and a micro-processor based actuator for selectively actuating the one or more tensioning elements to reduce the effective diameter of the tensioning elements encircling the limb, to thereby apply pressure to the limb by way of the compressible pads.