Garment system including at least one sensor and at least one actuator responsive to the sensor and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016120733-A1
Application number	US-201414529006-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Oct 30, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a garment system including at least one sensor, and at least one actuator that operates responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one sensor to selectively constrict or selectively dilate at least one flexible compression garment. Such selective constriction or dilation of the at least one flexible compression garment against at least one body part can improve muscle functioning or joint functioning during an activity, such as a sport or other activity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A garment system, comprising:
at least one flexible compression garment configured to be worn on at least one body part of a subject, the at least one flexible compression garment defining an interior space configured to receive the at least one body part; footwear configured to be worn on at least one foot of the subject; one or more sensors supported by the footwear, the one or more sensors configured to sense at least one characteristic associated with movement of the subject or at least one physiological characteristic of the subject, the one or more sensors further configured to output one or more sensing signals indicative of the at least one characteristic; one or more actuators positioned relative to the at least one flexible compression garment and configured to selectively constrict or selectively dilate the at least one flexible compression garment; and a control system operably coupled to the one or more actuators and further operably coupled to the one or more sensors to receive the one or more sensing signals therefrom, the control system including control electrical circuitry configured to direct the one or more actuators to selectively constrict or selectively dilate the at least one flexible compression garment responsive to the one or more sensing signals from the one or more sensors.

2 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the footwear includes at least one shoe, at least one shoe insert, at least one boot, an item of footwear associated with a snow ski, at least one water ski, at least one sock, at least one sandal, or at least one slipper.

3 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more of a change in direction of travel of the subject, a load applied to the one or more sensors by a body part of the subject, pressure applied to the one or more sensors by a body part of the subject, tension applied to the one or more sensors by a body part of the subject, a load on a body part of the subject, pressure on a body part of the subject, tension on a body part of the subject, temperature of a body part of the subject, pulse of a body part of the subject, velocity of a body part of the subject, acceleration of a body part of the subject, oxygenation of a body part of the subject, nerve activity in a body part of the subject, location of the subject, gait of the subject, or pace at which the subject moves.

4 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of an accelerometer, a pedometer, a counter, a tension sensor, a pressure sensor, a time-keeper, a pulse sensor, a chemical sensor, an oximeter, or a temperature sensor.

5 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the at least one body part is a body part other than the at least one foot of the subject

6 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the footwear includes an interior surface that contacts at least one foot of the subject when worn, and wherein the one or more sensors are disposed at least partially on the interior surface of the footwear.

10 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators include at least one of one or more electroactive polymer actuators, one or more electroactive metallic actuators, one or more thermally active polymer actuators, one or more motors, or one or more hydraulic actuators.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The garment system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more electroactive metallic actuators include one or more actuator elements at least partially formed from a shape memory material.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The garment system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more motors include one or more micro-electro-mechanical motors.

15 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators include a gear system configured to tighten or loosen the at least one flexible compression garment on the at least one body part of the subject.

16 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators include a compressed gas system configured to provide inflow of compressed gas into or outflow of the compressed gas from at least a portion of the at least one flexible compression garment.

17 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators extend circumferentially along the at least one flexible compression garment, and are positioned and configured to increase or decrease the interior space of the at least one flexible compression garment responsive to actuation thereof.

18 . The garment system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more actuators include a plurality of actuators each of which extends circumferentially about the at least one flexible compression garment.

19 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators includes a substantially tubular actuator.

20 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators are at least partially embedded within the flexible compression garment.

21 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible compression garment defines an exterior, and wherein the one or more actuators extend about at least a portion of the exterior of the flexible compression garment.

22 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes:
a power supply operably coupled to at least one of the one or more actuators or the control electrical circuitry.

23 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the control electrical circuitry of the control system is configured to direct the power supply to alter an actuation stimulus to the one or more actuators responsive to the one or more sensing signals from the one or more sensors.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . The garment system of claim 22 , wherein the one or more actuators include one or more electroactive polymer actuators, and wherein the power supply includes a voltage source configured to apply a voltage to the one or more electroactive polymer actuators to cause actuation thereof.

27 . The garment system of claim 22 , wherein the one or more actuators include one or more electroactive metallic actuators, and wherein the power supply is configured to apply a current to the one or more electroactive metallic actuators to cause actuation thereof.

28 . The garment system of claim 22 , wherein the power supply includes one or more batteries.

29 . (canceled)

30 . The garment system of claim 22 , wherein the power supply is housed separately from the one or more actuators or control electrical circuitry.

31 . The garment system of claim 30 , wherein the power supply is housed on a separate part of the body than the one or more actuators or control electrical circuitry and can supply power thereto via one or more of physical electrical connection or wirelessly.

32 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the control electrical circuitry of the control system is configured to direct the one or more actuators to apply a gradient of constriction or dilation responsive to the one or more sensing signals from the one or more sensors.

33 . The garment system of claim 1 , wherein the control electrical circuitry of the control system is configured to direct the one or more actuators to apply constrict

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Kare Jordin T
• Mankin Max N
• Myhrvold Nathan P
• Pan Tony S
• Petroski Robert C
• Sweeney Elizabeth A
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Touran Nicholas W
• Urzhumov Yaroslav A
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Wood Victoria Y H
• Hyde Roderick A

Classifications

• G06F2218/00

  Aspects of pattern recognition specially adapted for signal processing · CPC title

• G06V10/143

  Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths · CPC title

• A61B5/1468

  using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means · CPC title

• A41D1/002

  adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085) · CPC title

• A61B5/02055

  Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature · CPC title