Patent ID: 11918539
Assignee: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 10:
11. A garment for providing treatment, comprising:
a first layer;
a second layer coupled to the first layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer are configured to be worn over an affected area;
an actuator disposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the actuator is operable between a deployed state and a non-deployed state, and wherein the actuator is a soft robotics assembly including:
a membrane defining a cavity;
segments disposed within the cavity; and
a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the cavity via a vacuum port, wherein the vacuum pump is configured to vacuum fluid from the cavity and, consequently, contract the membrane around the segments and adjust the segments to the deployed state,
wherein the segments are disposed in a linear configuration within the membrane, and wherein the soft robotics assembly is configured to bend to the deployed state; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and configured to adjust the actuator between the deployed state and the non-deployed state.