Compression device with ventilated sleeve

A device for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb from a source of pressurized fluid, comprising:

• an elongated pressure sleeve for enclosing a length of the patient's limb, said sleeve having a plurality of laterally extending separate fluid pressure chambers progressively arranged longitudinally along the sleeve from a lower portion of the limb to an upper portion of the limb proximal the patient's heart relative to said lower portion, and ventilation means comprising a plurality of laterally extending ventilation channels having a width substantially less than the width of said chambers, with said ventilation channels having opening means for facing the patient's limb, and with said ventilation channels being located intermediate different pairs of adjoining pressure chambers, and said ventilation means having a connecting channel extending along the side of said pressure chambers and communicating with said ventilation channels;
• and
• control means for intermittently inflating and deflating said pressure chambers and for passing air into the ventilation means to ventilate the patient's limb through said opening means.