System and method for healing skin injuries
AssigneeThe Research Foundation of State University of New York
InventorsJahangir S. Rastegar, Harry Soroff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for facilitating the healing of damaged skin of a patient. The method including: isolating the damaged skin in an enclosure having an air-tight seal between a portion of the enclosure and adjacent skin, the enclosure and skin forming a chamber; and applying cycles of positive and negative pressure in the chamber to enhance blood flow to outer layers of the damaged skin and inhibit the formation of edema in the damaged skin. Preferably, the method further includes: detecting a cardiac cycle of the patient; and wherein the applying comprises synchronizing the application of the positive and negative pressure in the chamber to the detected cardiac cycle.
Claims36
A method for facilitating the healing of damaged skin of a patient, the method comprising:
- isolating the damaged skin in an enclosure having an air-tight seal between a portion of the enclosure and adjacent skin, the enclosure and skin forming a chamber;
- and
- applying cycles of positive and negative pressure in the chamber to enhance blood flow to outer layers of the damaged skin and inhibit the formation of edema in the damaged skin.
An apparatus for facilitating the healing of damaged skin of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure for isolating the damaged skin and for forming a chamber between a wall of the enclosure and the damaged skin, the enclosure having means for sealing a portion thereof to a portion of skin adjacent to the damaged skin;
- and
- means for applying cycles of positive and negative pressure in the chamber to enhance blood flow to outer layers of the damaged skin and inhibit the formation of edema in the damaged skin.
An enclosure for covering a body portion, the enclosure comprising:
- a wall having a portion thereof for providing a seal between the enclosure and the body portion for isolating the body portion in a chamber formed between the body portion and the wall;
- and
- at least two segments formed in the wall and joined by a hinge for forming the enclosure to the shape of the body portion.
A method for facilitating the healing of damaged skin of a patient, the method comprising:
- isolating the damaged skin in an enclosure having an air-tight seal between a portion of the enclosure and adjacent skin, the enclosure and skin forming a chamber;
- and
- applying at least one of positive and negative pressure in the chamber to enhance blood flow to outer layers of the damaged skin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.