公开(公告)号：US20210113402A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-22

申请号：US16606627

申请日：2018-04-20

Applicant: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM

Inventor： Muthu WIJESUNDARA ,  Wei Carrigan

IPC: A61G7/057 ,  A47C27/10

Abstract: Pressure modulating soft actuator array devices and related systems and methods. One example of the present systems comprises: a device having a body that defines a plurality of cavities; a pressure source configured to be in fluid communication with the plurality of cavities; a plurality of sensors configured to capture data indicative of pressure within the plurality of cavities; and one or more controllers configured to actuate the pressure source to move fluid toward and/or away from one or more of the plurality of cavities in response to data captured by the plurality of sensors; wherein the device is configured to be disposed between a user and a surface on which the user is seated upon.

公开(公告)号：US20180344488A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-06

申请号：US16052450

申请日：2018-08-01

Applicant: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM

Inventor： Muthu WIJESUNDARA ,  Wei Carrigan

IPC: A61F2/54 ,  F15B15/10 ,  B32B3/28 ,  A61F2/68 ,  A61F2/78 ,  A61G7/057 ,  B25J15/00 ,  B32B3/26 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B32B7/08 ,  A42B3/12 ,  A61F2/50 ,  A61F2/74

CPC classification number: A61F2/54 ,  A42B3/122 ,  A61F2/68 ,  A61F2/78 ,  A61F2002/5012 ,  A61F2002/745 ,  A61G7/05776 ,  B25J15/0023 ,  B32B3/266 ,  B32B3/28 ,  B32B7/08 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B32B2307/51 ,  B32B2307/546 ,  B32B2307/732 ,  B32B2535/00 ,  F15B15/10

Abstract: This disclosure includes bubble actuator arrays and methods for making and using the same. Some bubble actuator arrays include a first flexible layer having a substantially flat first portion and a plurality of second portions that protrude away from the first portion to define chambers, a flexible second layer sealed to the first layer to define a plurality of cells in the chambers and between the layers, and where the array can be coupled to a fluid source such that the internal pressures of the cells can be varied. Some of the present methods include adjusting with a processor and fluid source the pressure in the cells of an array. Others of the present methods include placing sacrificial material into chambers of a molded first layer such that a plurality of cells is formed when a second layer is molded coincident to the first and the sacrificial material is removed.