Method and system for thermal and compression therapy relative to the prevention of deep vein thrombosis
Inventors
Parish, Overton L. • Balachandran, Niran • Quisenberry, Tony
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10507131-B2
Publication Date
2019-12-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A DVT and temperature therapy system. A temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression. The DVT system functions independently of the temperature therapy. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
Core Innovation
The invention provides a combination thermal compression method for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) therapy that thermally conditions a fluid to a predetermined temperature and circulates the fluid through a hose to a thermal blanket. The fluid is returned to the control unit via the hose. The thermal blanket is secured to an extremity of a patient and is integrated with a first compression device disposed outwardly of the thermal blanket.
A second compression device is secured to the extremity at a location distal to the thermal blanket. The control unit provides compressed gas to the first compression device to compress the thermal blanket against the extremity so as to deliver a first treatment modality, and applies pulsed compression therapy treatment via a DVT therapy subsystem to at least the extremity through the second compression device so as to deliver a second treatment modality.
The control unit automatically directs compressed air alternately to the first compression device and the second compression device such that the first treatment modality and the second treatment modality are delivered to the extremity in an alternating fashion. The alternating delivery coordinates thermal-fluid conditioning with pulsed DVT compression delivered through the distal compression device via an integrated control architecture.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a combination DVT therapy method with four inventive features: thermally conditioning and circulating fluid to a thermal blanket, integrating a first compression device outwardly of the thermal blanket, delivering pulsed DVT compression through a second compression device, and alternately directing compressed air between the first and second compression devices. Dependent claim refinements add conditioning profiles, compressed gas delivery sequence, quantified pressure constraints, and sequential pulsed delivery across multiple second compression devices.
Thermally conditioning and circulating fluid to a thermal blanket
Thermally conditioning, via a control unit, a fluid to a predetermined temperature; providing the fluid to a thermal blanket via a hose; and returning the fluid to the control unit via the hose.
Integrating a first compression device outwardly of the thermal blanket
Securing the thermal blanket to an extremity of a patient, wherein the thermal blanket is integrated with a first compression device and the first compression device is disposed outwardly of the thermal blanket.
Distal second compression device for pulsed DVT compression therapy
Securing a second compression device to the extremity of the patient at a location distal to the thermal blanket; and applying, via a DVT therapy subsystem in the control unit, pulsed compression therapy treatment to at least the extremity via the second compression device so as to deliver a second treatment modality to the patient.
Alternately directing compressed air to first and second compression devices
Providing, via a compression subsystem in the control unit, compressed gas to the first compression device to compress the thermal blanket against the extremity so as to deliver a first treatment modality; and wherein the control unit automatically directs compressed air alternately to the first compression device and the second compression device such that the first treatment modality and the second treatment modality are delivered to the extremity in an alternating fashion.
Conditioning temperature profiles with heating and holding
Conditioning heats the fluid from a predetermined cold temperature to a predetermined hot temperature and maintains the predetermined hot temperature for a set period of time.
Conditioning temperature profiles with cooling and holding
Conditioning cools the fluid from a predetermined hot temperature to a pre-determined cold temperature and maintains the pre-determined cold temperature for a pre-determined period of time.
Compressed gas delivery sequence between first and second compression devices
Compressed gas is directed first to the first compression device before being directed to the second compression device.
Quantified compression pressure range for compression devices
Providing compressed gas and applying pulsed compression generate pressures within the range of approximately 0 to approximately 120 mmHg in the first and second compression devices.
Sequential pulsed therapy across multiple second compression devices
At least two second compression devices are used, and pulsed compression therapy is applied to the at least two second compression devices in sequence.
Overall, the claim set covers coordinated thermal compression and DVT pulsed compression delivered through distinct proximal and distal compression device locations, with a control unit automatically alternating compressed air between the first compression device and the second compression device while independently conditioning a fluid to a predetermined temperature. Dependent claims refine how the fluid is conditioned, how compressed gas is sequenced, numeric pressure ranges for compression, and sequential pulsed delivery across multiple distal compression devices.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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