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Publication Number
US-8485995-B1
Publication Date
2013-07-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for providing a combined DVT and compression therapy to a patient is provided. The method includes providing a control unit configured to condition heat transfer fluid and to selectively provide a compressed gas, providing a thermal compression device that is mountable to a select portion of the patient, and programming the control unit to supply heat transfer fluid to the thermal compression device and to supply compressed gas to the thermal compression device.
Core Innovation
The system combines thermal therapy and compression therapy for addressing deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), using a control unit that thermally conditions heat-transfer fluid and supplies programmable compressed-gas pulses to patient-mounted devices. The thermal therapy pad and compression device use separate fluid and gas channels, with a reinforcing bridge intended to reduce channel obstruction during joint flexion. A disposable cover protects the reusable therapy core and may include a skin-temperature sensor.
The claims describe coordinated delivery of compressed gas among a thermal compression device and DVT compression devices, with control-unit timing that prevents specified devices from receiving gas simultaneously and can alternate compression among devices. The described system is intended for DVT prophylaxis and treatment of pain, edema, and swelling. The supplied partial content does not include the background section, so its specific problem statement is not explicitly described.
Claims Coverage
The supplied relevant claims include five independent claims: claims 1, 6, 14, 16, and 18. They cover nine main inventive features relating to thermal and compression therapy, coordinated compressed-gas delivery, and heat-transfer-fluid distribution.
Combined thermal and DVT compression system
Independent claim 1 recites a control unit that thermally conditions heat-transfer liquid and provides compressed gas to a thermal therapy pad, a compression therapy device, and first and second DVT compression devices.
Timed delivery of DVT compression pulses
Independent claim 1 requires the control unit to direct the first DVT compression pulse only when compressed gas is not being applied to the compression therapy device.
Thermal and DVT compression devices coordinated by a control unit
Independent claim 6 recites providing and coupling a thermal compression device and first and second DVT compression devices to a control unit that supplies heat-transfer fluid and compressed gas.
Non-simultaneous gas delivery to specified devices
Independent claim 6 requires programming the control unit to coordinate compressed-gas distribution so that the thermal compression device does not receive compressed gas at the same time as the first DVT compression device.
Alternating compression among multiple devices
Independent claim 14 requires the control unit to distribute compressed gas so that only one compression device is compressed at a time and compression alternates between devices.
Coordination of thermal and DVT compression
Independent claim 14 requires coordination of compressed-gas distribution so that the thermal compression device does not receive compressed gas at the same time as the first DVT compression device.
Alternating gas delivery and sequencing thermal fluid
Independent claim 16 recites alternating compressed-gas distribution among patient-secured compression devices, with only one device compressed at a time, and coordinating a sequence of compressed-gas and heat-transfer-fluid distribution to a thermal compression device.
Alternating compression with heat-transfer-fluid distribution
Independent claim 18 recites alternating compressed-gas distribution among patient-secured compression devices, with only one device compressed at a time, while coordinating heat-transfer-fluid distribution to a thermal compression device.
Control-unit coupling of patient-secured compression devices
Independent claims 14, 16, and 18 specify that the plurality of compression devices are secured to the patient, coupled to the control unit, and adapted to receive compressed gas from it.
The five independent claims cover a combined thermal and compression therapy system and methods for coordinating compressed-gas and heat-transfer-fluid delivery. Their main features include alternating compression among devices, limiting simultaneous gas delivery to specified devices, and coordinating thermal-fluid delivery with compression.
Stated Advantages
A reinforcing bridge reduces channel obstruction during joint flexion.
A low-cost disposable cover protects the reusable therapy core.
Documented Applications
The system is described for DVT prophylaxis and for treatment of pain, edema, and swelling.
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