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Publication Number
US-9119392-B2
Publication Date
2015-09-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
An organ support apparatus includes: an enclosure having a floor, opposed side walls, opposed end walls, and a lid; a first support pad disposed on the floor of the enclosure, the first support pad comprising a plurality of inflatable and flexible chambers; and an inflation apparatus coupled to the chambers and operable to individually inflate or deflate each chamber.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an organ support apparatus that prevents localized pressure ischemia by enclosing an organ within a housing that completely encompasses the organ placed entirely within the housing. The housing includes a floor, opposed side walls, opposed end walls, and a lid, and it supports the organ using a first support pad disposed on the floor. The first support pad comprises a plurality of inflatable and flexible chambers, and an inflation apparatus coupled to the chambers is operable to individually inflate or deflate each chamber.
The apparatus enables selectively changing support so that the organ is subjected to a time-varying contact pressure profile. By repeatedly inflating and/or deflating one or more of the chambers, the time-varying contact pressure profile is selected such that no one portion of the organ is subjected to damaging pressure long enough to cause localized pressure ischemia in that portion.
In additional implementations, the system includes an opposite second support pad inside the housing. The organ is placed between a first support pad against the floor and a second support pad against the lid, the chambers are inflated to clamp the organ in position between the support pads, and the housing is selectively tilting or rotating to provide a time-varying contact pressure profile between the first and second support pads and the organ.
The invention further includes imaging-based and temperature-related identification for targeted pressure relief. An imaging device positioned to observe an organ within the housing identifies a portion of the organ with a temperature different from surrounding tissue, and pressure relief is provided by selectively inflating and deflating chambers or by selectively tilting or rotating the housing to relieve pressure on the identified portion.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim coverage includes inventive features in three main areas: a fully enclosing organ-support housing with an individually inflatable flexible chamber pad, methods that repeatedly inflate and deflate chambers to create a time-varying contact pressure profile selected to avoid localized pressure ischemia, and an enhanced method using two support pads with selective tilting or rotating to create the time-varying contact pressure profile. The document further supports imaging-based temperature-difference identification for targeted pressure relief.
Fully enclosing housing for an organ support pad
A housing having a floor, opposed side walls, opposed end walls, and a lid, the housing adapted to completely encompass an organ placed entirely within the housing.
Flexible pad with individually controllable inflatable chambers
A first support pad disposed on the floor of the housing, the first support pad comprising a plurality of inflatable and flexible chambers.
Individual chamber inflation and deflation
An inflation apparatus coupled to the chambers and operable to individually inflate or deflate each chamber.
Time-varying contact pressure profile to avoid localized pressure ischemia
Repeatedly inflating and/or deflating one or more of the chambers so as to provide a time-varying contact pressure profile with the organ, the time-varying contact pressure profile selected such that no one portion of the organ is subjected to damaging pressure long enough to cause localized pressure ischemia in that portion.
Opposite second support pad and clamping between pads
Placing a second support pad against the lid, the second support pad comprising a plurality of inflatable chambers; placing the organ between the first and second support pads; and inflating the chambers to clamp the organ in position between the support pads.
Selective tilting or rotating the housing to form a time-varying pressure profile
Selectively tilting or rotating the housing to provide a time-varying contact pressure profile between the first and second support pads and the organ.
Imaging-based identification of a temperature-different organ portion and targeted relief
Using an imaging device to observe an organ within a housing, identifying a portion of the organ with a temperature different from surrounding tissue, and then selectively inflating and deflating chambers to relieve pressure on the identified portion; and/or using the imaging device to identify a portion with a temperature different from surrounding tissue and then selectively tilting or rotating the housing to relieve pressure on the identified portion.
Overall claim coverage centers on an organ-support system that uses a fully enclosing housing and a flexible pad comprising a plurality of inflatable and flexible chambers that are individually inflatable and deflatable. The core method repeatedly changes chamber inflation to generate a time-varying contact pressure profile selected to avoid localized pressure ischemia. Dependent inventive features add an opposite second pad with clamping, selective tilting or rotating to generate the time-varying profile, and imaging-based identification of temperature-different portions to target pressure relief.
Stated Advantages
Prevents localized pressure ischemia by avoiding damaging pressure applied to any one portion of the organ long enough to cause localized pressure ischemia.
Provides a time-varying contact pressure profile with the organ selected such that no one portion is subjected to damaging pressure long enough to cause localized pressure ischemia.
Allows pressure relief targeted to an identified portion of the organ having a temperature different from surrounding tissue.
Documented Applications
Supporting an organ within a completely encompassing housing to prevent localized pressure ischemia by providing time-varying contact pressure using individually inflatable and flexible chambers.
Supporting an organ using first and second inflatable support pads and using selective tilting or rotating of the housing to provide a time-varying contact pressure profile between the pads and the organ.
Using imaging to observe an organ in the housing, identify a portion with a temperature different from surrounding tissue, and provide pressure relief targeted to that portion.
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