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: 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 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 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: 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 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: 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.

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 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 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 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.

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: 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 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: Actuators that employs a shape memory alloy component as the driving element include linear and rotational devices. An Intrinsic Return Means (IRM) may be imparted to the SMA actuator, thereby reducing the use of a spring return mechanism. The rotational actuator may include a cylindrical bobbin with a helical groove to receive an SMA wire. A number of turns may be placed in a small length of bobbin to amplify the rotational excursion. In another rotational actuator, a plurality of narrow, coaxial rings are provided, the rings being nested in close concentric fit or stacked in side-by-side fashion. Each ring is provided with a groove extending thereabout to receive an SMA wire and contraction of the wire causes each ring to rotate with respect to the adjacent ring. In an embodiment for linear actuation, the invention provides a bar-like component having SMA wires joined between bars.