# US 12,178,949 B2 · Pressure-mitigation apparatuses for improved treatment of immobilized patients and associated systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,949 B2 - Document ID: US12178949B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/067,216 - Filed: 2020-10-09 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-09 - Assignees: TurnCare, Inc. - Applicants: TurnCare, Inc. - Inventors: Rafael Paolo Squitieri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178949B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/36: Other treatment of blood in a by-pass of the natural circulatory system, e.g. temperature adaptation, irradiation {; Extra-corporeal blood circuits} - A61G 7/05769: {with inflatable chambers} - A61G 13/1265: {having inflatable chambers} - A61M 1/1698: {Blood oxygenators with or without heat-exchangers (intracorporal A61M1/1678; manufacturing of membranes therefor B01D67/00; semi-permeable membranes for separation processes characterised by their properties B01D69/00; semi-permeable membranes characterised by their material B01D71/00)} - A61M 1/3659: {Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation} - A61G 7/05776: {with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers} - A61G 2200/325: prone - A61G 2200/327: supine - A61G 2203/12: Remote controls - A61G 2210/00: Devices for specific treatment or diagnosis - A61M 16/00: Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators (iron lungs A61H31/02); Tracheal tubes - A61M 16/04: Tracheal tubes (catheters in general A61M25/00) - A61M 60/38: Blood oxygenation - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract Introduced here are pressure-mitigation apparatuses able to mitigate the pressure applied to a human body by the surface of an object. A controller device can be fluidically coupled to a pressure-mitigation device that includes a series of selectively inflatable chambers. When a pressure-mitigation device is placed between a human body and a surface, the controller device can continuously, intelligently, and autonomously circulate air through the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device. As further discussed below, the controller device may cause the chambers to be selectively inflated, deflated, or any combination thereof. Such an approach is useful in a variety of contexts. For example, pressure-mitigation apparatuses may be used to improve treatment of patients suffering from respiratory illnesses and patients who are partially or completely immobilized for extended durations (e.g., as part of a medical procedure). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for alleviating pressure applied to a living body undergoing treatment with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine includes at least two tubes through which blood is obtained from, and then returned to, the living body for oxygenation, the system comprising: a pressure-mitigation device that includes chambers intertwined around an epicenter in a geometric pattern; a pump configured to generate a flow of air for pressurizing the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device; and a controller that includes— a communication module configured to establish a channel over which to wirelessly communicate with the ECMO machine, and a processor configured to: receive input that specifies locations at which the at least two tubes are connected to the living body, identify a programmed pattern for inflating the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device based on the input, and cause the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device to be inflated to varying degrees in accordance with the programmed pattern, so as to shift pressure that is applied to an anatomical region of the living body by an underlying surface when the living body is positioned on the pressure-mitigation device such that the anatomical region is proximate the epicenter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further includes— a manifold that includes valves, each of which is controllable to regulate airflow into a different one of the chambers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor causes the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device to be inflated to varying degrees in accordance with the programmed pattern in response to receiving a second input that is representative of an acknowledgement that the living body is positioned on the pressure-mitigation device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said causing is performed in response to receiving a second input that is representative of an acknowledgement that the living body is connected to the ECMO machine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed pattern is identified from among a plurality of programmed patterns based on the locations at which the at least two tubes are connected to the living body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said causing is performed in response to the processor receiving, via the communication module, a second input that is representative of an indication from the ECMO machine that treatment has been initiated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive, via the communication module, a second input that is representative of an indication from the ECMO machine that treatment has been halted, and cause all chambers of the pressure-mitigation device to either inflate or deflate. ### Claim 8 A system for alleviating pressure applied to a living body undergoing treatment with a mechanical ventilator, the system comprising: a pressure-mitigation device that includes chambers intertwined around an epicenter in a geometric pattern; a pump configured to generate a flow of air for pressurizing the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device; and a controller that includes— a communication module configured to establish a channel over which to wirelessly communicate with the mechanical ventilator, and a processor configured to: receive input that specifies a frequency at which the mechanical ventilator pushes air into the lungs of the living body, identify a programmed pattern for inflating the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device based on the input, and cause the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device to be inflated to varying degrees in accordance with the programmed pattern, so as to shift pressure that is applied to an anatomical region of the living body by an underlying surface when the living body is positioned on the pressure-mitigation device such that the anatomical region is proximate the epicenter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the processor causes the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device to be inflated to varying degrees in accordance with the programmed pattern in response to receiving a second input that is representative of an acknowledgement that a tube connected to the mechanical ventilator has been inserted into the trachea of the living body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein said causing is performed in response to the processor receiving, via the communication module, a second input that is representative of an indication from the mechanical ventilator that treatment has been initiated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive, via the communication module, a second input that is representative of an indication from the mechanical ventilator that treatment has been halted, and cause all chambers of the pressure-mitigation device to either inflate or deflate.