SoloBand: A Maternity Support Band with the One-Handed Tightening System for Pregnant Individuals

Pregnancy induces substantial anatomical and biomechanical changes that often lead to discomfort such as lower back and pelvic pain. Maternity support garments have been shown to alleviate some of these symptoms by providing lumbar support and improving postural stability. However, current maternity support garments frequently fail to address the ergonomic and usability needs of pregnant individuals, particularly those requiring one-handed operation. This study aims to develop and evaluate SoloBand, a novel maternity support band that integrates a two-phase tightening system - thermally actuated Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) springs for initial self-anchoring, and a BOA® dial system for precise compression adjustment. Preliminary evaluations assessed three main design criteria: one-handed donning/doffing time, belly-lifting support, and compression force. Results demonstrated that users could secure the band in approximately 43 seconds using one hand, achieve an average abdominal lift of 0.59 inches (?1.5 cm), and generate measurable compression forces up to 238 g at the lower back. The results of this preliminary evaluation support the feasibility of the SoloBand in achieving one-handed operability, highlighting its potential as a user-friendly solution for enhancing the usability of maternity support garments. Future work will focus on optimizing support and compression delivery, as well as developing a user-friendly and autonomous SMA activation system.