Self-sealing Pressurized Limb Enclosure
AssigneeMedici Technologies LLC
InventorsMark Ries Robinson, Elena A Allen, Fahimeh Salehpour
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and system are provided for creating a self-sealing pressurized limb enclosure for the assessment of pressure effects on the limb. Embodiments can be self-sealing in that the seal is created by the positive pressure in the enclosure relative to the external environment and does not necessitate contact pressure at the seal location that exceeds the pressure in the enclosure. The seal accounts for anatomical size differences as well as deformations in the size and shape of the limb due to pressure. Furthermore, the seal maintains function in the presence of skin and tissue movement. In operation, the system can be used by an individual without external assistance.
Claims32
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A sealing apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the sleeve comprises a material that has a non-positive angular progression at pressures relative to ambient of 30 cm H2O or more.
A sealing apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the sleeve comprises a flexible material that comprises one or more of latex or silicone, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, nylon fabric, Kevlar fabric, and terylene fabric.
A sealing apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising a plurality of contact sensors disposed relative to the sleeve and the pressurizable enclosure such that they sense contact between the limb and a rigid portion of the sealing apparatus or the pressurizable enclosure.
A sealing apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising a plurality of pressure sensors disposed relative to the sleeve and the pressurizable enclosure such that they sense pressure exerted on the limb by a rigid portion of the sealing apparatus or the pressurizable enclosure.
A sealing apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the sleeve further comprises a plurality of battens, each batten being stiff in the axial direction, mounted with the sleeve such that the battens resist deformation of the sleeve out of the pressurizable enclosure.
A sealing apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the sleeve has an axial rigidity that is greater near the engagement with the opening than distal from the engagement with the opening.
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A sealing apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the sleeve is configured with accordion folds and has resistance to folding such that pressure above ambient in the volume compresses the accordion folds.
A sealing apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the sleeve comprises a flexible material that comprises thin silicone, thick silicone, or a combination thereof.
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A limb seal apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the sleeve is configured such that the limb extends past the distal end of the sleeve into the enclosure.
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The limb seal apparatus of claim 27 where the seal changes its physical configuration to obtain a non-positive angular progression configuration at pressures less than 30 cm H20.
The limb seal apparatus of claim 27 where the sleeve does not exert pressure above a predetermined threshold when the enclosure is pressurized above ambient.
The limb seal apparatus of claim 27 wherein the flexible sleeve is attached to the enclosure and is subject to increasing axial tension due to increasing pressure.
A limb seal apparatus for use with a pressurizable enclosure, comprising a flexible sleeve that allows a limb to pass through the sleeve where the sleeve changes its physical configuration to create an air flow restriction responsive to a pressure gradient between the inside and outside of the enclosure, wherein the air flow restriction is sufficient to result in transmural pressure of zero in the veins of a limb in the enclosure.
A limb seal apparatus for use with a pressurizable enclosure, comprising a flexible sleeve that allows a limb to pass through the sleeve where the sleeve changes its physical configuration to create an air flow restriction responsive to a pressure gradient between the inside and outside of the enclosure, wherein sleeve mounts with the enclosure with a gap between an opening in the enclosure and the limb, and wherein the force due to friction between the seal and the limb when the enclosure is pressurized plus the sleeve's resistance to axial deformation is at least equal to the force on the seal due to pressure on the gap at pressures above a first predetermined threshold.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.