# US 10,441,491 B2 · Compression device

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- Number: US 10,441,491 B2
- Document ID: US10441491B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/823,040
- Filed: 2015-08-11
- Published: 2016-01-28
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-14
- Assignees: Recovery Force, LLC
- Applicants: Recovery Force, LLC
- Inventors: Matthew W. Wyatt; Brian J. Stasey; Mark Gummin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441491B2

## CPC

- A61H 1/008: {Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation}
- A61H 7/001: {without substantial movement between the skin and the device}
- A61H 7/007: {Kneading}
- A61H 9/0071: {by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets}
- A61H 2201/0207: heated
- A61H 2201/0214: cooled
- A61H 2201/0228: heated by an electric resistance element
- A61H 2201/0257: by a heat accumulator, e.g. a sand or liquid reservoir
- A61H 2201/10: with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
- A61H 2201/1207: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 2201/1635: Hand or arm, e.g. handle
- A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
- A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces
- A61H 2201/169: Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
- A61H 2201/1697: Breathability of the material
- A61H 2201/50: Control means thereof
- A61H 2201/501: connected to external computer devices or networks
- A61H 2201/5012: using the internet
- A61H 2201/5015: using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
- A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors
- A61H 2201/5082: Temperature sensors
- A61H 2201/5097: wireless
- A61H 2205/062: Shoulders
- A61H 2205/065: Hands
- A61H 2205/081: Back
- A61H 2205/084: Chest
- A61H 2205/106: for the lower legs
- A61H 2205/108: for the upper legs
- A61H 2205/12: Feet
- A61H 2209/00: Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
- A61H 2230/06: Heartbeat rate
- A61H 2230/50: Temperature
- A63B 21/4005: {to the shoulder}
- A63B 21/4007: {to the chest region, e.g. to the back chest}
- A63B 21/4009: {to the waist}
- A63B 21/4011: {to the lower limbs (means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057)}
- A63B 21/4017: {to the upper limbs}
- A63B 21/4019: {to the hand}
- A63B 21/4025: {Resistance devices worn on the user's body (A63B21/065 takes precedence)}
- A63B 69/002: {for football (American-football dummies A63B69/34)}
- A63B 69/0059: {worn by the user}
- A63B 69/0071: {for basketball}
- A63B 69/10: Swimming instruction apparatus for use without water
- A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
- A63B 2213/004: with electrotherapy
- A63B 2220/56: Pressure
- A63B 2220/64: Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
- A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
- A63B 2225/62: Inflatable
- A63B 2225/64: Heated
- A63B 2230/06: heartbeat rate only
- A63B 2230/50: temperature
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A compression device for applying controllable compression to a portion of an anatomy of a user, comprising:
a panel formed of a wearable material, the panel sized and configured to be applied to a portion of the anatomy of the user, the panel having opposite ends configured to oppose each other when the panel is applied to the portion of the anatomy;
a plurality of shape-memory wires supported by the panel between said opposite ends and configured to apply a compressive force to the portion of the anatomy of the user;
a pre-tensioning apparatus connectable between said opposite ends when the panel is applied to the portion of the anatomy, the pre-tensioning apparatus operable to draw the opposite ends toward each other to thereby apply an initial tension to the panel and/or the plurality of shape-memory wires, wherein said pre-tensioning apparatus includes at least one connector affixed to one of said opposite ends of the panel and a corresponding mating connector affixed to the other of said opposite ends of the panel and adapted for releasable engagement to said at least one connector, wherein the pre-tensioning device includes:
at least one rotary dial fastened to said opposite end of the panel; and
a cable passing through said at least one rotary dial and said corresponding mating connector, said rotary dial configured to reduce the length of the cable between said rotary dial and mating said corresponding connector, whereby when the corresponding mating connector is engaged to said at least one connector at least a portion of the panel adjacent said rotary dial is pre-tensioned; and
a controller configured to selectively actuate one or more of the plurality of shape-memory wires to reduce the effective length of the wires and thus the panel about the portion of the anatomy, to thereby apply pressure to the portion of the anatomy of the user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein:
the device is provided with an electrical power supply; and
the controller is configured to selectively apply a current from the power supply to one or more of the plurality of shape-memory wires.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The compression device of claim 2, wherein the electrical power supply is a battery.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The compression device of claim 2, wherein the power supply and controller are supported in a pouch on the panel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The compression device of claim 2, wherein the power supply and controller are separate from the panel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The compression device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of shape-memory wires are connected to one or more cables and the controller includes one or more mating cables for electrical connection to the one or more cables.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein said cable passing through said at least one rotary dial is one of the plurality of shape-memory wires.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be worn on the user's leg, including a portion configured to encircle the thigh and a portion configured to encircle the calf.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be worn on the user's hand and wrist.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be worn on the user's ankle or foot.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be worn on the user's shoulder.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The compression device of claim 11, wherein the device includes:
a first portion configured to wrap around the upper arm;
a second portion that extends across the chest and upper back of the user; and
a number of straps that extend from the second portion and wrap around the chest and back of the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured as a vest adapted to be worn about the torso of the user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured as athletic shorts, belt or wrap apparatus to apply compression to the hip and/or IT band and/or gluteus muscles of the user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured as a vest adapted to be worn about the lower back of the user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be worn around the calf of the user.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The compression device of claim 16, wherein the device includes a first pair of panels and a second pair of panels extending from a base panel, the first pair of panels configured to encircle the lower portion of the calf and the second pair of panels configured to encircle the upper portion of the calf.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The compression device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a microcontroller configured to apply current simultaneously to selected ones of said plurality of shape-memory wires sufficient to achieve a 2-15% reduction in length or shrinkage of the wire over a predetermined time period.