Contractible band for use in a wearable garment comprising a shape memory material part

Abstract

A textile contractible band for use in a wearable garment for applying pressure to a subject body part includes a shape memory material, in particular a shape memory alloy, or shape memory polymer, part and a textile part, said parts being successively coupled to form said contractible band, wherein the shape memory material part has an electrically-contractible shape memory material and a spring arranged to reverse the contraction of the shape memory material, and wherein the textile part has an elastic fabric band and an optical fiber strain sensor arranged to sense the fabric band strain. The sensor can be a lossy optical fiber arranged in meandering layout such that variation of band extension causes variation of transmitted light. The contractual band can be used for lymphedema or venous return.

Technical Field

 The present disclosure relates to a textile contractible band for use in a wearable garment for applying pressure to a subject body part, comprising a shape memory material, in particular a shape memory alloy, SMA, or shape memory polymer, SMP, part.