Blood flow restriction systems having wireless monitoring and control

A method for exercising using a blood flow restriction training (BFRT) system comprising:

• a. providing a portable BFRT cuff;
• said portable BFRT cuff includes i) a flexible outer material, ii) a single air chamber that is encapsulated by said flexible outer material, and iii) a connection arrangement that is configured to releasably secure said portable BFRT cuff to a limb of a user;
• b. providing a portable inflation unit;
• said portable inflation unit is configured to at least partially inflate said portable BFRT cuff during operation of said portable inflation unit;
• said portable inflation unit includes a housing, a fluid pump, a pressure sensor, a controller, a wireless receiver, a rechargeable power source and an air connection arrangement;
• said fluid pump, said pressure sensor, said controller, said wireless receiver, and said rechargeable power source are contained within said housing;
• said housing is releasably connectable to said portable BFRT cuff, said housing has a size that is less than 400 cubic inches and a weight that is less than 4 lbs.;
• said controller is configured to control an operation of said fluid pump to a) cause said fluid pump to pump fluid into said portable BFRT cuff to inflate said portable BFRT cuff and b) cause said fluid pump to remove fluid from said portable BFRT cuff, said air connection arrangement is located on a bottom surface of said housing and is configured to fluidly connect said fluid pump to said portable BFRT cuff when said housing is releasably connected to said portable BFRT cuff, said housing of said portable inflation unit connected to said portable BFRT cuff to enable fluid flow between said portable BFRT cuff and said portable inflation unit;
• c. a portable smart device;
• said portable smart device includes a mobile device app that is configured to enable a user to control and monitor operation of said inflation unit;
• said portable smart device is configured to wirelessly communicate with said controller in said portable inflation unit;
• said mobile device app includes at least one exercise program;
• said portable smart device is a mobile phone, laptop computer, or a tablet;
• d. placing said portable BFRT cuff on the user's limb;
• e. selecting said exercise program on said mobile device app;
• said selection of said exercise program is configured to cause said portable smart device to wirelessly send instructions to said portable inflation unit to cause said portable inflation unit to inflate said portable BFRT cuff to a first pressure and then decreasing said pressure in said cuff to a percentage of said first pressure tQ allow a user to thereafter exercise the user's limb while said portable BFRT cuff is inflated about the user's limb;
• said first pressure is a preprogrammed upper pressure, a detected LOP pressure, or a programmed % LOP;
• said exercise program is configured to allow a user to select both A) a limb that said portable BFRT cuff is to be releasably connected and B) a % LOP;
• f. via said exercise program on said mobile device app, selecting what limb said portable BFRT cuff is placed thereon;
• g. causing said portable inflation unit to supply air to said portable BFRT cuff to thereby cause said portable BFRT cuff to inflate until said first pressure is obtained;
• h. terminating air flow from portable inflation unit to said portable BFRT cuff after said first pressure has been obtained in said portable BFRT cuff;
• i. reducing pressure in said portable BFRT cuff within 0.001-30 seconds after said first pressure has been obtained;
• said step of reducing pressure continues until said pressure value in said portable BFRT cuff is said preprogrammed upper pressure, said programmed % LOP, or said percent of said preprogrammed upper pressure;
• said step of reducing pressure is by operation of portable inflation unit;
• j. exercising the user's limb while said portable BFRT cuff is positioned on said limb of said user and said pressure in said portable BFRT cuff is said preprogrammed upper pressure, said programmed % LOP, or said percent of said preprogrammed upper pressure;
• k. causing said portable inflation unit to remove air from said portable BFRT cuff to reduce pressure in said portable BFRT cuff below said preprogrammed upper pressure, said programmed % LOP, or said percent of said preprogrammed upper pressure after completion of said step of exercising;
• and
• l. removing said portable BFRT cuff from the user's limb;
• and
• wherein said mobile device app both a) causes said portable inflation unit to reduce said pressure in said portable BFRT cuff when said pressure in said portable BFRT cuff exceeds a preset maximum pressure and b) causes said portable inflation unit to terminate operation after said portable inflation unit operates longer than a preset time period;
• and
• wherein said mobile device app allows the user to monitor pressure in said portable BFRT cuff;
• and
• wherein said mobile device app is configured to further perform each function selected from the group consisting of i) maintain a log regarding use of said portable BFRT cuff by a user, ii) provide an exercise plan for the user that is using said portable BFRT cuff, iii) record or monitor the progress or compliance of the user's exercise plan with said portable BFRT cuff, iv) select or recommend a BFRT training session for the user, v) keep track of the user's BFRT training sessions, vi) provide suggested training tips for said portable BFRT cuff to the user, vii) provide BFRT information to the user, and viii) transmit or receive data to/from the user's BFRT trainer or instructor.