Apparatuses, systems, and methods for the treatment of damaged tissue
Inventors
Lawson, Daryl • Arena, Christopher Brian • Fischell, Tim A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12403299-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A therapeutic apparatus for treating damaged tissue on a limb or body of a subject includes a wearable adapted to cover and be secured to the limb or body of a subject over damaged tissue. The wearable being configured to reduce pressure on the damaged tissue and adapted to deliver one or more treatments selected from the group consisting of heat, oxygen, electrical current, and light to the damaged tissue.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a therapeutic apparatus for treating damaged tissue on a limb or body portion of a subject using a wearable that is adapted to cover and be secured over damaged tissue. The wearable is configured to contact the limb or body portion around the damaged tissue while being configured to off-load pressure from the damaged tissue in the presence of atmospheric pressure. The apparatus applies electrical current to induce electrical stimulation while simultaneously globally warming the limb or body portion.
Global warming is not limited to local warming of the damaged tissue. The wearable is adapted to globally warm the limb or body portion at the same time as applying the electrical current, and the global warming is defined such that at least 40% of the limb or body portion is warmed. The invention therefore combines pressure off-loading with electrical stimulation and global warming as concurrent therapeutic actions.
In one embodiment, the wearable apparatus applies one or more treatments selected from heat, oxygen, and light in addition to electrical stimulation. The heat treatment provides global warming to the limb or body portion, the oxygen treatment directs oxygen to the damaged tissue, and the light treatment directs light to the damaged tissue. The disclosure includes further wearable configurations and adjunct modalities such as UV light through a UV lamp to apply UV light to the damaged tissue.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims (1 and 16), each centered on a wearable pressure-offloading therapeutic apparatus for damaged tissue combined with electrical stimulation, with claim 1 requiring simultaneous global warming (at least 40% coverage) and claim 16 allowing selection among heat, oxygen, and light directed to the damaged tissue.
Wearable pressure off-loading with atmospheric pressure contact
A wearable adapted to cover and be secured to the limb or body portion over damaged tissue, contacting the limb or body portion around the damaged tissue while being configured to off-load pressure from the damaged tissue but in the presence of atmospheric pressure.
Simultaneous electrical stimulation and global warming of the limb or body portion
The wearable is adapted to apply electrical current to induce electrical stimulation and to globally warm the limb or body portion at the same time as applying the electrical current, raising the temperature of the limb or body portion (not just local warming of the damaged tissue).
At least 40% global warming coverage
At least 40% of the limb or body portion is warmed.
Pair of electrodes applying electrical stimulation
A pair of electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the damaged tissue.
Selectable treatments of heat, oxygen, and light directed to the damaged tissue
The wearable applies one or more treatments selected from heat wherein the heat applies global warming to the limb or body portion; oxygen wherein the oxygen is directed to the damaged tissue; and light wherein the light is directed to the damaged tissue.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is a wearable pressure off-loading apparatus for damaged tissue that applies electrical stimulation via electrodes and includes global warming as a required simultaneous effect in claim 1 (with at least 40% warmed coverage), or provides selectable additional modalities of heat (global warming), oxygen (directed to the damaged tissue), and light (directed to the damaged tissue) in claim 16.
Stated Advantages
Global warming is applied concurrently with electrical stimulation rather than only providing local warming of the damaged tissue.
Provides global warming coverage such that at least 40% of the limb or body portion is warmed.
Enables selection of one or more treatments selected from heat, oxygen, and light directed to the damaged tissue.
Documented Applications
Treating damaged tissue on a limb or body portion of a subject, including placement of a wearable over damaged tissue that off-loads pressure.
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