# US 10,945,911 B2 · System for adjusting pressure locally on the skin and subcutaneous tissue

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- Number: US 10,945,911 B2
- Document ID: US10945911B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/524,676
- Filed: 2015-11-06
- Published: 2017-12-07
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-10
- Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (Epfl)
- Applicants: Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (Epfl)
- Inventors: Yves Perriard; Zoltan Pataky; Daniel Grivon; Yoan René Cyrille Civet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945911B2

## CPC

- A61H 9/0078: {with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs (mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776)}
- A43B 1/0054: {provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances}
- A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements
- A43B 7/1464: with adjustable pads to allow custom fit
- A43B 7/147: {for sick or disabled persons, e.g. persons having osteoarthritis or diabetes}
- A43B 7/149: Pads, e.g. protruding on the foot-facing surface
- A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)}
- A43B 13/189: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water}
- A43B 13/203: {provided with a pump or valve}
- A61B 5/1036: {Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies}
- A61H 9/005: {Pneumatic massage}
- A61H 23/0218: {with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement}
- A61H 2023/0227: {with magnetostrictive elements}
- A61H 2201/0134: Cushion or similar support
- A61H 2201/0192: Specific means for adjusting dimensions
- A61H 2201/1207: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 2201/1238: with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
- A61H 2201/1246: by piston-cylinder systems
- A61H 2201/1409: Hydraulic or pneumatic means
- A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
- A61H 2201/1654: Layer between the skin and massage elements, e.g. fluid or ball
- A61H 2201/1664: linear
- A61H 2201/5002: Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
- A61H 2201/5005: for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal
- A61H 2201/5007: computer controlled
- A61H 2201/5056: pneumatically controlled
- A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors
- A61H 2205/12: Feet
- A61H 2205/125: Foot reflex zones
- 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)
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A system for adjusting pressure locally acting on the skin including a set of adjacent modules distributed so as to form a layer each module includes a cushion capable of changing shape and comprising a cavity, a valve, a tank, and a pressure sensor, wherein the cavity and the tank are in communication with each other by means of the valve, and the sensor is placed so as to sense pressure directly or indirectly acting on the cushion and a feedback loop arranged such as to increase or decrease the change in the shape of the cushion on the basis of the pressure detected by the sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for locally adjusting a pressure on a skin of a user, the system comprising:
a set of adjacent modules arranged to form a layer, each module of the set of adjacent modules including,
a deformable cushion having a cavity and configured to deform along a longitudinal axis,
a valve,
a housing having a reservoir and a biasing structure, wherein the biasing structure is located in the reservoir, the cavity of the deformable cushion and the reservoir including a liquid fluid, the cavity and the reservoir communicating with the valve, the valve located between the cavity of the deformable cushion and the reservoir, the valve providing for a direct fluidic connection between the cavity of the deformable cushion and the reservoir for liquid fluid exchange, and
a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure acting directly or indirectly on the deformable cushion, and wherein the deformable cushion comprises a lip that allow sealing of an upper portion of the housing, and wherein the biasing structure is configured to provide a biasing force that pushes the liquid fluid toward the deformable cushion along the longitudinal axis in response to the deformable cushion pushing the liquid fluid against the biasing structure, and
wherein a position of the valve is configured to be changed to control a flow rate of the liquid fluid between the cavity of the deformable cushion and the reservoir to increase or reduce a deformation of the deformable cushion according to the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each module of the set of adjacent modules is not in fluidic connection with another module.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two of the modules of the set of adjacent modules are in fluidic connection with each other.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biasing structure is a spring configured to exert a restoring force in a direction of the deformable cushion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biasing structure is an elastic membrane configured to exert a restoring force in a direction of the deformable cushion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid fluid comprises a magnetorheological fluid (MRF).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged on an outer face of a wall of the deformable cushion, configured to directly measure an external pressure that acts on the deformable cushion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged in the cavity of the deformable cushion, configured to measure the pressure inside the cavity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of adjacent modules is dimensioned to cover a surface of at least one of a forefoot and a heel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity of the deformable cushion, the valve, and the reservoir of each module form a closed fluidic system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein liquid fluid is incompressible.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the valve is configured to take an open and a closed position, and in the closed position, the deformable cushion is rigid, while in the open position, the deformable cushion is able to deform by permitting a liquid fluid flow between the cavity of the deformable cushion and the reservoir.