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                                                             Veins and Lymphatics 2017; volume 6:6633

                                       [Veins and Lymphatics 2017; 6:6633]                                                        [page 23]

Shape memory textiles 
for functional compression
management
Bipin Kumar
Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The
Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Kowloon, Hung Hom, Hong Kong

Compression stockings or bandages are
preferred choice for the management of
venous ulcers and also prevention of the
recurrence ulcers.1,2 Nevertheless, current
textile based compression products have the
following shortcomings: i) selection of
stockings with proper sizing and fitting has
always been a challenge for both health
practitioners and manufacturers seeking
better patient compliance and effective
treatment; ii) using textiles, it is impossible
to achieve a dynamic (massaging) compres-
sion benefit which is otherwise provided by
intermittent pneumatic compression which
is costly, noisy, bulky, and once attached,
severely constraining the patients; iii) To

apply a targeted compression or pressure
level and its sustenance is a huge challenge
to provide effective treatment. Moreover,
pressure drop is inevitable for almost all
available stockings, and the replacement of
stocking is needed once the pressure fall
below a target level. 

This work aims to design and investi-
gate smart textiles using memory polymer
to overcome the existing challenges of the
compression products. Smart fabric was
developed by incorporating memory fila-
ments in the fabric structure (Figure 1).3,4
The memory filament was used as inlay
yarn in the structure and it was made from
segmented polyurethane. Nylon was used as
ground yarn in the structure.

The developed smart fabric allows to
program customized shape development
(Figure 2). This shape control ability of the
memory textile will promote the develop-
ment of one size stocking that could be pro-
grammed to fit different leg sizes. This will
be a huge relief to doctor or manufactures in
stocking selection as different size require-
ments could be met by just one memory
stocking. 

Apart from shape control, the memory

polymer also allows to control stress in the
structure.5 As the interface pressure depends
on the stress (tension) in the fabric material,

Correspondence: Bipin Kumar, Institute of
Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong
Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hung Hom,
Hong Kong.
E-mail: bipiniitd18@gmail.com 

Acknowledgments: the author acknowledges
the full guidance and support from his previ-
ous postdoc supervisors, i.e. Prof. Jinlian Hu
and Prof. Ning Pan. Most of this research has
been carried out at the Institute of Textiles and
Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, HK. The author also acknowl-
edges the support of team members,
Harishkumar Narayana, H. Jianping and Wu
You for all discussion and experimentation.

This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 License (by-nc 4.0).

©Copyright B. Kumar, 2017
Licensee PAGEPress, Italy
Veins and Lymphatics 2017; 6:6633
doi:10.4081/vl.2017.6633

Figure 2. Customized shape development using the memory fabric.

Figure 1. Smart fabric.

Figure 4. Schematic of memory fabric performance showing
dynamic compression.

Figure 3. Customized shape development using the memory fabric.

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                             Conference presentation

[page 24]                                                          [Veins and Lymphatics 2017; 6:6633]

so it is possible to control pressure by mod-
ulating internal stress in its structure. To
confirm this, we tested the memory fabric
performance in changing pressure. The
pressure level can be changed by changing
temperature (Figure 3).

Because of the internal stress and heat
stimuli connection of memory filament,
such smart fabric will allow generating
massage effect (dynamic compression)
using an external programmed heating
source (Figure 4).6 No doubt, such memory
textiles possess unique functions including
stress and shape control abilities. These
smart functions have the potential to over-
come many challenges of conventional
compression products, and could provide
many novel solutions in the current treat-
ment practice including customized stock-
ing size development just before applica-
tion, external pressure control and also mas-

sage compression. 
The availability of such memory textile

with multi-functional benefits is the dream
of all the related practitioners and manufac-
turer in the field. Herein, this dream seems
to come true with the inception of smart
memory fabric. Although the idea is work-
ing well at laboratory level but there are still
several challenges need to meet including
designing and optimization of memory tex-
tile before recommending it as a successful
commercial venture. 

References
1. Mosti G, Picerni P, Partsch H.

Compression stockings with moderate
pressure are able to reduce chronic leg
oedema. Phlebology 2012;27:289-96.

2. Partsch H, Clark M, Mosti G, et al.
Classification of compression bandag-
es: practical aspects. Dermatol Surg
2008;34:600-9.

3. Kumar B, Hu JL, Pan N. Smart medical
stocking using memory polymer for
chronic venous disorders. Biomaterials
2016;75:174-81.

4. Kumar B, Hu J, Pan N. Memory band-
age for functional compression manage-
ment for venous ulcers. Fibers
2016;4:1.

5. Hu JL, Kumar B, Narayan HK. Stress
memory polymers. J Polymer Sci Part B
2015;53:893-8.

6. Kumar B, Hu J, Pan N, Narayan HK. A
smart orthopedic compression device
based on a polymeric stress memory
actuator. Mater Design 2016;97:222-9.

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