18616723. Textile Actuators (President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Textile Actuators

Organization Name

President and Fellows of Harvard College

Inventor(s)

Conor J Walsh of Cambridge MA (US)

Ciaran O'neill of Cambridge MA (US)

Nathan Phipps of Somerville MA (US)

Textile Actuators

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18616723 titled 'Textile Actuators

Original Abstract Submitted

A textile actuator worn by a user comprises a textile envelope that defines a chamber made fluid-impermeable by a fluid-impermeable bladder contained in the textile envelope and/or a fluid-impermeable structure incorporated into the textile envelope. The textile envelope has a pre-determined geometry that produces an equilibrium state at a non-180°-angle displacement and that stops further displacement upon pressurization of the chamber and prevents over-extension of the joint. A fluid is delivered into or out of the chamber to displace the textile envelope primarily by transitioning from an uninflated state to the pre-determined geometry due to displacement of the textile envelope rather than via stretching or contraction of the textile envelope. When actuated, the textile actuator (a) displaces a body segment of the user and/or (b) supports and holds the body segment of the user in place.