Device, system and method for compression treatment of a body part
View Patent ↗A device for compressive treatment of a body part includes a compression member, adapted to at least partly encircle the body part, and an actuation unit, arranged to tighten the compression member to provide a compressive force to the body part. The actuation unit includes an active material actuator. There is also disclosed a system comprising such a device and methods for its therapeutic, cosmetic and non-therapeutic use and operation.
1. A device for compressive treatment of a body part of a user, the device comprising:
a compression member predeterminedly dimensioned to at least partly encircle the body part; and
an actuation unit cooperating with the compression member to tighten the compression member and provide a compressive force to the body part, wherein the actuation unit is arranged to stepwise tighten the compression member, wherein the compressive force to the body part is provided by a compression stroke resulting from operation of the actuation unit, wherein the actuation unit comprises:
an active material actuator,
a gripping member connected to the actuator to perform a cyclic motion over a plurality of cycles, wherein at least hundreds of cycles are used to provide the compression stroke, and
a movable member engaged by the gripping member and connected to the compression member, wherein the movable member during a first part of the cyclic motion is movable with the gripping member and during a second part of the cyclic motion is movable relative to the gripping member.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of 0.2 kHz to 20 kHz.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein during the first part of the cyclic motion, the gripping member is in a force-transferring engagement with the movable member, and wherein, during the second part of the cyclic motion, the force-transferring engagement is eliminated or substantially reduced.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of about 20kHz to 1 MHz.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises rectification means for providing a one-way motion of the movable member.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises a rotatable part, which is rotatably arranged about a substantially central axis, and wherein the gripping member is arranged to act on a surface of said rotatable part.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the gripping member is arranged to engage a surface of the rotatable part, at a distance from the central axis,
wherein a spindle is rotatable about said central axis and connected to the rotatable part, and
wherein the compression member or a connection member, connected to the compression member, is windable onto the spindle.
8. The device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein effective diameters of the rotatable part and the spindle are different.
9. The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the actuation unit comprises two actuators, which are individually drivable.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device is sized and adapted to form a sleeve around the body part.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuation unit and the compression member, if any, form an active layer, and wherein the device comprises at least one of:
a sensor layer, arranged between the active layer and the body part;
an inner layer, arranged between the sensor layer, or the active layer, and the body part;
and
an outer layer, arranged outside the active layer.
12. The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the inner layer and the sensor layer are integrated to form a disposable layer.
13. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said disposable layer comprises means for mechanically and/or electrically connecting with the active layer.
14. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said disposable layer comprises means for transferring a signal from the disposable layer to the active layer or to a control unit, which is external to the device.
15. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the inner layer is in the form of a disposable stocking.
16. A system comprising a device as claimed in claim 1 , and a control unit, connected to the device and arranged to provide a control signal to the device.
17. The system as claimed in claim 16 , comprising a sensor layer including at least one sensor element, and wherein the control unit is arranged to receive a feedback signal from the sensor.
18. The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the control unit is at least partially integrated with the device.
19. A device for compressive treatment of a body part of a user, the device comprising:
a compression member configured to at least partly encircle a limb of a body; and
an actuation unit cooperating with the compression member to tighten the compression member and provide a compressive force to the limb, wherein the actuation unit is arranged to stepwise tighten the compression member, wherein the compressive force to the limb is provided by a compression stroke resulting from operation of the actuation unit, wherein the actuation unit comprises:
an active material actuator,
a gripping member connected to the actuator to perform a cyclic motion over a plurality of cycles, wherein at least hundreds of cycles are used to provide the compression stroke, and
a movable member engaged by the gripping member and connected to the compression member, wherein during a first part of the cyclic motion, the gripping member is in a force-transferring engagement with the movable member, and wherein, during a second part of the cyclic motion, the force-transferring engagement between the gripping member and the movable member is eliminated or substantially reduced, wherein the movable member comprises a rotatable part rotatably arranged about a substantially central axis, wherein the gripping member is arranged to engage a surface of the rotatable part at a distance from the central axis, wherein a spindle is rotatable about said central axis and connected to the rotatable part, and wherein the compression member or a connection member connected to the compression member is windable onto the spindle.
20. The device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of 0.2 kHz to 20 kHz.
21. The device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of about 20 kHz to 1 MHz.
22. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movable member is moved during each cycle less than about 100 microns.
23. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movable member is moved during each cycle in a range of about 100 microns to 1 mm.
24. The device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the movable member is moved during each cycle less than about 100 microns.
25. The device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the movable member is moved during each cycle in a range of about 100 microns to 1 mm.