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US 12,029,703 B2Granted
Body pulsating apparatus and method
AssigneeElectromed, Inc.
InventorsCraig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method coupled to a therapy garment to apply pressure and repetitive compression forces to a body of a person has a positive air pulse generator and a user programmable time, frequency and pressure controller operable to regulate the duration of operation, frequency of the air pulses and a selected air pressure applied to the body of a person. The air pulse generator has rigid displacers that are angularly moved with power transmission assemblies to draw air into the air pulse generator and discharge air pressure pulses to the therapy garment.
Claims21
An apparatus for applying pressure and high frequency pressure pulses to the thorax of a person, comprising:
- an air pulse generator having user programmable controls, the air pulse generator comprising:
- an air pumping chamber;
- an air pulsing chamber:
- and
- an air displacer assembly, the air displacer assembly comprising:
- a first displacer and a second displacer;
- wherein the first and second displacers are mounted on opposite sides of the air pulsing chamber and are configured to be angularly moved between first and second positions to move air through and pulse air from the air pulse generator;
- a check valve operable to allow air to flow from the air pumping chamber into the air pulsing chamber and prevent air from flowing from the air pulsing chamber into the air pumping chamber;
- a first anti-backlash device associated with the first displacer, the first anti-backlash device comprising a first arm and a first spring, the first spring pivoting the first arm towards a top surface of the first displacer and the first arm pivoting the first displacer between the first and second positions;
- a second anti-backlash device associated with the second displacer, the second anti-backlash device comprising a second arm and a second spring, the second spring moving the second arm towards a top surface of the second displacer and the second arm moving the second displacer between the first and second positions,
- a seal assembly associated with the air pulse generator;
- a garment having an air core, the garment being adapted to be located on the thorax of the person for subj ecting the thorax of the person to the pressure and high frequency pressure pulses from the air pulse generator, wherein the garment includes a single air inlet connector;
- and
- no more than one hose coupling the air pulse generator to the thoracic garment for transmitting the pressure and high frequency pressure pulses from the air pulse generator to the garment, wherein the hose is received by the air inlet connector.
11 more elements
An apparatus for applying pressure and high frequency pressure pulses to the thorax of a person, comprising:
- a housing having an enclosed space;
- an air displacer assembly located in said enclosed space and separating the enclosed space into an air pumping chamber and an air pulsing chamber, said air displacer assembly comprising:
- a first rigid displacer;
- and
- a second rigid displacer;
- wherein the first and second rigid displacers are operable to pivot between first and second positions to pump and pulse air;
- a first power transmission assembly operable to angularly move the first rigid air displacer between the first and second positions;
- a second power transmission assembly operable to angularly move the second rigid air displacer between the first and second positions;
- a power train operably connected to the first and second transmission assemblies to concurrently operate the first and second power transmission assembles to angularly move the first and second air displacers toward and away from each other;
- a seal assembly associated with the
- air displacer assembly;
- a first anti-backlash device associated with the first rigid displacer, the first anti-backlash device comprising a first arm and a first spring, the first spring pivoting the first arm towards a top surface of the first rigid displacer and the first arm pivoting the first rigid displacer between the first and second positions;
- a second anti-backlash device associated with the second rigid displacer, the second anti-backlash device comprising a second arm and a second spring, the second spring moving the second arm towards a top surface of the second rigid displacer and the second arm moving the second rigid displacer between the first and second positions;
- a reversible garment having an air core, the garment being adapted to be located on the thorax of the person for subjecting the thorax of the person to the pressure and high frequency pressure pulses from the air pulse generator;
- and
- fewer than two hoses coupling the air pulse generator to the thoracic garment for transmitting the air pressure and the high frequency pressure pulses from the air pulse generator to the thoracic garment.
13 more elements
An apparatus for applying pressure and high frequency pressure pulses to the thorax of a person, comprising:
- an air pulse generator having user programmable controls, the air pulse generator including only one rigid air displacer, the rigid air displacer being operable to pivot between first and second positions within an air pulse generator housing to provide air pressure pulses;
- a power transmission assembly operable to angularly move the rigid air displacer between the first and second positions;
- an anti-backlash device associated with the rigid air dosplacer, the anti-backlash device comprising a first arm and a first spring, the first spring pivoting the first arm towards a top surface of the rigid air displacer and the first arm pivoting the rigid air displacer between the first and second positions;
- a seal assembly associated with the air pulse generator;
- a garment adapted to be located on the thorax of the person for subjecting the thorax of the person to the pressure and high frequency pressure pulses;
- and
- a single hose coupling the air pulse generator to the thoracic garment for transmitting the pressure and the high frequency pressure pulses from the air pulse generator to the thoracic garment.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.