Patent ID: 9271890
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: A61F,A61H

Claim Text:
1. A compression garment apparatus for a body part of an animal comprising: a flexible backing for contacting the body part of the animal; an attaching means connected to the flexible backing; at least one segmented flex frame connected to the flexible backing; a first terminal and a second terminal formed on the segmented flex frame; a shape memory alloy disposed on the segmented flex frame with a first end of the shape memory alloy engaging the first terminal and a second end of the shape memory alloy engaging the second terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal each performing a mechanical connection and an electrical connection for forming a circuit incorporating the shape memory alloy; a controller operatively connected to the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the controller is adapted to selectively apply a current to the shape memory alloy sufficient to shorten a length of the shape memory alloy at least 0.25 percent; (i) the at least one segmented flex frame comprising: a series of frame segments including at least two struts and at least one spring link; wherein each strut has a groove configured to receive the shape memory alloy so that the shape memory alloy may be used to decrease a distance between two adjacent struts; and each spring link, located entirely between a pair of adjacent frame segments is configured to transition between a first shape and a collapsed shape in response to a change of length of the shape memory alloy; and each spring link having at least two bridges, wherein each bridge is connected between an outer perimeter of the spring link and an outer perimeter of an adjacent frame segment.