1. Hadi Moein1 and Carlo Menon1
1. MENRVA Research Group, School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Smart Compression Bandage Using Shape Memory Alloy Artificial
Muscle As A Potential Remedy For Lower Extremity Disorders
Carlo Menon, Ph.D.
Hadi Moein, Ph.D. Candidate
Laboratory: MENRVA research group
School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University
8888 University Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
Funding:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR)
Email: cmenon@sfu.ca
Email: hmoein@sfu.ca
Scientific Support:
Dr. Andrew Blaber
Dr. Victoria Claydon
Contact informationAcknowledgment
OVERVIEW
• Up to 30% of the elderly have standing hypotension intolerance
• Almost 1 in 62 Canadians suffer from edema (about 7 million
people in North America)
• Control blood flow and volume in the lower limbs is a health risk
for the 86,000 Canadians living with spinal cord injury
Compression therapy
• Mechanical compression on lower leg mimics the natural muscle
contraction and helps blood return
• Increases the pressure of interstitial fluid and decrease the
superficial venous pressure. Thus, the leak of fluids to interstitial
space is reduced.
Fig. 1 Postural hemodynamics.
Fig. 2 Current solution-1,
compression stockings.
Compression stockings
• Commonly used to apply gradient
compression
• 15-50 mmHgmuscle
• Helps the calf pump, improvement of
microcirculation, and prevention of skin
breakdown
EXPERIMENTAL & ANALYTICAL RESULTS
CONCLUSION
• The prototyped ACB could provide the same pressure as is exerted
by compression stockings.
• The prototyped ACB can be used to provide variable compression
(experimentally up to 50 mmHg).
• Analytical model can be used as a useful tool for study and design
procedure of the ACB.
ONGOING RESEARCH
• Consideration of the leg’s compressibility
• Experimentation and analytical modeling
• Human tests
• PID and State-Space controller for the ACB
• Walking situation application
• Analytical modeling of the muscle movements and contractions with
wrapped ACB
• Human tests activated and deactivated
• FEM Modeling of a compressible calf and the ACB
REFERENCES
1. Moein Hadi, and Carlo Menon. "An active compression bandage based on shape memory
alloys: a preliminary investigation." Biomedical engineering online 13.1 (2014): 135.
2. Moein Hadi, and Carlo Menon. " Parametric Study On An Active Compression Bandage
Performance.“ International Conference on Smart Materials and Structures, 5th
International Conference on Smart Materials and Nanotechnology in Engineering , 15-17
July, 2015 - Vancouver, BC, Canada.
SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS (SMAs)
• Artificial muscles for their capability of mimicking nature’s
mechanisms
• The characteristics of either large recoverable strains or large forces
due to temperature and/or load changes
• Actuation and phase transformation due to electrical stimulation
• Wide range of applications
SMART COMPRESSION BANDAGE
• Wrapped around the leg, apply an initial mechanical compression
• Adjustable initial compression
• Capable of producing intermittent
• Compression increases after application of voltage
• Easy to take on and off
• Light and portable
• Controllable and can be integrated with sensors
Fig. 4 Shape memory alloys applications, medical, engines and robotics.
Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC)
• High compression range (usually 0-
80mmHg)
• Time-varying compression
• Helps to reduce venostasis and
improves venous return by simulating
normal leg muscle activity
Fig. 3 Current solution-2, intermittent
pneumatic compression (IPC).
Fig. 5 Smart compression bandage.
Fig. 6 Actuation of the smart compression bandage. (a) Change of pressure in the chamber
and (b) applied electrical current to each wire by time..
Fig. 7 Cyclic response of the actuation pressure for 150.3mA applied current.
• Can be used for a range of limb geometries and sizes while the
compression is regulated by the pump
Shortcomings: bulky and unsuitable for ambulatory use
Fig. 8 Comparison of the experimental results and the calculation for the
change of pressure by different applied electrical currents.
Shortcomings:
• Tedious to take on and off
• Compliance should be customized for each single user to
maximize the efficacy
• Passive