CPC A61F 5/012 (2013.01) [A61F 2/70 (2013.01); A61F 5/34 (2013.01); A61F 2005/0155 (2013.01); A61F 2005/0188 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. An appendage pressurization device comprising:
an appendage strap;
a plurality of artificial muscles disposed in the appendage strap and communicatively coupled to a controller, wherein each of the plurality of artificial muscles comprise:
a housing comprising an electrode region and an expandable fluid region;
a dielectric fluid housed within the housing;
an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair comprising a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing, wherein the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region; and
a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to output a current pressure value to the controller and actuation of the electrode pair is based on the current pressure value;
wherein each of the plurality of artificial muscles is independently actuatable between the non-actuated state and the actuated state.
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