title: Smart medical stocking using memory polymer for chronic venous disorders.
abstract: Proper level of pressure or compression generated by medical stocking or hosiery is the key element for successful treatment or management of chronic venous disorders such as oedema, leg ulcers, etc. However achieving the recommended compression level and, more importantly, sustaining it using stockings has been a major challenge to the health practitioners supervising the treatment. This work aims to investigate and design a smart compression stocking using shape-memory polymer that allows externally controlling the pressure level in the wrapped position on the leg. Based on thermodynamical rubber theories, we first derived several criteria that have to be satisfied simultaneously in order to achieve the controlled pressure adjustment using external heat stimuli. We then presented a case where such a stocking is developed using a blend yarn consists of selected shape-memory polyurethane and nylon filaments. Extensive experimental work has also been conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and explore the influencing factors involved.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Division of Textiles, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Bipin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Electronic address: jin-lian.hu@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Jinlian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Division of Textiles, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis, CA, USA. Electronic address: npan@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes
keywords: Compression stocking; Compression therapy; Heat stimuli; Interface pressure; Rubber elasticity; Shape memory polymer; Venous ulcers