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US 2003/0167057 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for facilitating the healing of bone fractures
AssigneeAircast, Inc.
InventorsDaniel A. Berish, Henry J. McVicker, Glenn W. Johnson III, Anthony Victor Seaber, Christian Fink
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating bone fractures by the application of intermittent pneumatic compression. The period of compression is sufficient to induce venous stasis at the fracture site. The period of recovery can be about half the period of compression. The applied pressure can be in the range os about 25-60 mmHg.
Claims16
An apparatus for treating a bone fracture, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable cuff means adapted to be in operative contact with the circumference of a user's limb at or near the site of a bone fracture,
- a pump means operatively connected to said cuff means, and
- a control means for controlling the operation of the pump means, such that said pump means controllably inflates said inflatable cuff means to apply intermittent low pressure pneumatic compression directed radially inwardly at or proximal to the site of the bone fracture at a predetermined pressure and for predetermined periods of compression and recovery, said period of compression being sufficient to cause venous stasis in the region of the fracture and said period of recovery being sufficient to restore venous circulation.
An apparatus for treating a bone fracture, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable cuff means adapted to be in operative contact with the circumference of a user's limb at or near the site of a bone fracture,
- a pump means operatively connected to said cuff means, and
- a control means for controlling the operation of the pump means, such that said pump means controllably inflates said inflatable cuff means to apply intermittent low pressure pneumatic compression directly radially inwardly at or proximal to the site of the bone fracture, said pressure in said cuff means being in the range of about 25-60 mmHg, for a predetermined period of compression, and reducing said applied compression for a predetermined period of recovery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.