Medical apparatus
OwnerJohn K. Whitneyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for the alleviation of operative and post operative deep venous thrombosis comprises a flexible pad for enwrappment about a mammalian limb such as a human leg. The pad comprises a first plurality of large, individual, fluid receiving pressure cells alternated with a second plurality of smaller, fluid receiving and releasing ventilating cells. Means are included for supplying fluid pressure to the cells.
Claims20
An apparatus for the alleviation of operative and post operative deep venous thrombosis comprising a flexible pad formed for external enwrappment about a mammalian limb, said pad comprising:
- a first plurality of relatively large, individual fluid receiving cells, said first cells being formed to receive and hold sufficient fluid to exert pressure upon said limb for a given period of time and to subsequently release said fluid;
- a second plurality of relatively smaller cells arrayed alternately with said first plurality of cells, said second plurality of cells being formed to receive and continuously release a supply of ventilating fluid;
- and means for supplying said fluid to said cells.
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.
An elongated sleeve for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb, comprising:
- a pair of flexible sheets of fluid impervious material;
- means for connecting said sheets together along lines defining a plurality of separate laterally extending inflatable 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 defining a plurality of laterally extending ventilation channels having a width substantially less than the width of said chambers, and a connecting channel communicating with the ventilation channels, with said ventilation channels being located between different pairs of adjoining pressure chambers and having opening means for facing the patient's limb, and with said connecting channel extending along the side of the inflatable pressure chambers;
- and
- means for releasably securing the sleeve about the patient's limb with said pressure chambers and ventilation channels encircling the limb.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.