Method and apparatus for promoting circulation of blood

An apparatus for use with a source of compressed gas to improve the circulation of blood in a patient's extremity, said apparatus comprising:

• A. a rigid enclosure adapted to enclose the patient's extremity, said enclosure comprising an opening adapted to receive the patient's extremity into the rigid enclosure;
• B. a flexible enclosure within the rigid enclosure, said flexible enclosure configured to extend circumferentially around the patient's extremity when the extremity is inserted into the rigid enclosure;
• C. a valve assembly configured for connection between the source of compressed gas and the flexible enclosure, said valve assembly operable in an open setting to permit the flow of gas from the source of compressed gas into the flexible enclosure, and a closed setting to prevent the flow of gas from the source of compressed gas into the flexible enclosure;
• D. a monitor operably connected with the valve assembly, said monitor being configured to detect the patient's arterial pulse and switch the valve assembly to the open setting in response to detection of said arterial pulse;
• and
• E. a pressure storage tank connected between the source of compressed gas and the valve assembly, said pressure storage tank having an inlet connected with the source of compressed gas and an outlet connected with the valve assembly.

An apparatus for improving circulation of blood in a patient's extremity, comprising:

• A. a rigid enclosure adapted to enclose the patient's extremity, said enclosure comprising an opening adapted to receive the patient's extremity into the rigid enclosure;
• B. a flexible enclosure within the rigid enclosure, said flexible enclosure configured to extend circumferentially around the patient's extremity when the extremity is inserted into the rigid enclosure;
• C. a source of compressed gas connected with the flexible enclosure, said source of compressed gas being operable to discharge gas and inflate the flexible enclosure with the gas;
• D. a pilot control valve connected between the source of compressed gas and the flexible enclosure, said pilot control valve operable in an open position to permit the flow of gas into the flexible enclosure, and a closed position to prevent the flow of gas into the flexible enclosure;
• E. a monitor operably connected with the pilot control valve, said monitor being operable to detect the patient's arterial pulse and open the pilot control valve in response to detection of said pulse;
• F. an adjustable control valve connected between the pilot control valve and the flexible enclosure, said adjustable control valve being adjustable to regulate the flow of compressed gas into the flexible enclosure;
• and
• G. a pressure storage tank connected between the source of compressed gas and the flexible enclosure.

A method for enhancing circulation in a patient's extremity, comprising the steps of:

• A. placing the extremity in a flexible enclosure adapted to surround the extremity;
• B. connecting the flexible enclosure to a source of compressed gas, said source of compressed gas being operable to inflate the flexible enclosure with gas to create an internal pressure in the flexible enclosure and apply external pressure to the patient's extremity;
• C. monitoring the patient's arterial pulse to detect the arrival of the arterial pulse into the extremity;
• D. inflating the flexible enclosure with gas to apply external pressure to the extremity after the arrival of the arterial pulse into the extremity;
• E. releasing gas from the flexible enclosure to remove external pressure from the patient's extremity;
• F. measuring the internal pressure in the flexible enclosure as external pressure is applied to and removed from the patient's extremity;
• and
• G. automatically adjusting the flow of gas into the flexible enclosure in response to the measured internal pressure in the flexible enclosure to maintain the internal pressure within a preferred pressure range.