Compression garment apparatus
This disclosure relates to compression garments, specifically to compression garments to promote lymphatic circulation and/or circulation of other bodily fluids. The garments can include compression actuator units that can apply a pull force on a strap of the compression garment to apply compression to an anatomical feature of the user. The compression actuator units can be actuated via contraction of a wire made of shape memory material. The compression actuator units can include a plurality of levers to amplify the effect of the contraction of the wire to provide a wide range of compressive forces to the user.
1 . A garment configured to be worn by a user to promote fluid flow within an anatomical feature of the user, the garment comprising:
a plurality of straps configured to secure the garment to an anatomical feature of the user; and
a plurality of compression actuator units, each of the compression actuator units comprising:
a housing having an interior space;
one or more levers mounted within the interior space, the one or more levers configured to rotate;
a slide configured to be pulled against the one or more levers to cause the rotation thereof;
a sled configured to be moved by rotation of the one or more levers, the sled coupled to a strap of the plurality of straps of the compression garments; and
a wire wrapped around portions of the housing and the slide, wherein the wire is configured to be contracted such that the slide is pulled against the one or more levers, causing the one or more levers to rotate to move the sled and pull the strap of the plurality of straps to apply compression to the anatomical feature of the user.
2 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the sled comprises a D ring configured to couple with a strap of the plurality of straps.
3 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of channels configured to receive the wire therein.
4 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a cover and a base, wherein an exterior surface of the cover comprises a channel configured to receive the wire therein and an interior surface of the base comprises a channel configured to receive the wire therein.
5 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of compression actuator units is configured to amplify a stroke length from the contraction of the wire by up to one thousand percent.
6 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the slide comprises one or more protrusion configured to contact the one or more levers to cause rotation.
7 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the slide comprises channels configured to receive the wire therein.
8 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the one or more levers comprises a first lever with a lowered portion and a second lever with a raised portion, wherein the raised portion of the second lever is configured to pass over the lowered portion of the first lever to avoid interference between the first lever and second lever during rotation.
9 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a base and a cover, wherein the base comprises two inclined surfaces angled about an inflection point, and wherein the sled is configured to slide on at least one of the two inclined surfaces.
10 . The garment of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to apply an electrical input to the wire, raising an internal temperature of the wire such that the wire contracts.
11 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuator units are configured to compress an anatomical feature of the user simultaneously or in sequence.
12 . A garment configured to be worn by a user to promote fluid flow within a body of the user via compressive force, the garment comprising:
a strap configured to be disposed around an anatomical feature of the user; and
an actuator unit comprising:
a housing having an interior space and a plurality of channels configured to receive a wire therein such that the wire wraps around features of the housing;
a first lever disposed within the interior space, the first lever configured to rotate;
a slide configured to be pulled against the first lever by a contraction of the wire to cause the rotation of the first lever; and
a sled disposed at least partially within the interior space of the housing and coupled to the strap of the compression garment, the sled configured to be moved by rotation of the first lever to pull the strap to apply compression to the anatomical feature of the user.
13 . The garment of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a cover and a base, wherein plurality of channels are disposed in an exterior surface of the cover and an interior surface of the base.
14 . The garment of claim 12 , wherein the compression actuator unit is configured to amplify a stroke length from the contraction of the wire by up to one thousand percent.
15 . The garment of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a slot disposed in the housing, the slot configured to receive the sled therein.
16 . The garment of claim 12 , wherein the slide comprises one or more protrusions configured to contact the first lever to cause rotation.
17 . The garment of claim 12 , further comprising a second lever disposed within the interior space, wherein the slide is configured to be pulled against the second lever by the contraction of the wire to cause the rotation of the second lever, and wherein the first lever comprises a lowered portion and the second lever comprises a raised portion, wherein the raised portion of the second lever is configured to pass over the lowered portion of the first lever to avoid interference between the first lever and second lever during rotation.
18 . The garment of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a base and a cover, wherein the base comprises two inclined surfaces angled about an inflection point, and wherein the sled is configured to slide on at least one of the two inclined surfaces.
19 . The garment of claim 12 , further comprising a controller configured to apply an electrical input to the wire, raising an internal temperature of the wire such that the wire contracts.
20 . An actuator unit comprising:
a housing having an interior space and a plurality of channels configured to receive a wire therein such that the wire wraps around features of the housing;
one or more levers disposed within the interior space, the one or more levers configured to rotate;
a slide configured to be pulled against the one or more levers by a contraction of the wire to cause the rotation of the one or more levers; and
a sled disposed at least partially within the interior space of the housing, the sled configured to be moved by rotation of the one or more levers, and wherein the one or more levers are configured to amplify a pull force generated by the contraction of the wire.