US 5,314,455 A · Thermal compress system

Abstract

A thermal compress cuff for treating an injured knee has a fluid impervious chamber of flexible material with an upper transverse portion and depending arms extending from the transverse portion. The transverse portion is adapted to encompass a portion of the limb above the knee and the depending arms are adapted to encompass the limb along the sides of the knee and a portion of the limb below the knee while exposing the patella of the knee. The chamber preferably is divided into inner and outer compartments with thermal fluid received by and contained in the inner compartment for abutting contact with the encompassed portion of the limb. An open-cell urethane foam material is contained in the outer compartment for insulating the underlying inner compartment and for enhancing uniform conformance to the limb. The walls of the inner compartment in the distal area of the arms are restrained from movement away from each other so as to restrict expansion of the inner compartment in the arm distal areas and to cause a greater amount of thermal fluid to remain in the proximal arm area and in the transverse portion to lessen venous constriction in the limb below the knee. A hand-held pump is provided for pressurizing the outer compartment to force the inner compartment with the thermal fluid against the areas of the limb being treated. An elastic strap connects the arms around the limb below the knee to minimize venous constriction.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A thermal compress device adapted to encompass at least a portion of a limb of a person and comprising:

a substantially fluid impervious chamber of flexible material having an upper transverse portion and a pair of spaced arms having distal ends, said arms depending from the upper portion, said upper transverse portion for contacting the general area of only the suprapatella pouch and the depending arms contacting substantially only the respective sides of the knee, said chamber being divided into inner and outer fluid tight compartments, each having an outer wall and a common wall;
means forming part of said chamber for restricting expansion of the inner compartment in the distal area of the arms to cause a greater amount of thermal fluid to remain in the transverse portion area for greater compression and to allow less thermal fluid in the distal area of the arms, for less compression thereby to lessen venous constriction below the knee;
the inner compartment adapted for receiving and containing a thermal fluid of a desired temperature and for abutting contact with the encompassed portion of the person's limb;
resilient material in the outer compartment for insulating the underlying inner compartment and for maintaining the shape of the device while permitting conformation of the device to the person's limb;
and
selectively closable means attached to the outer compartment for permitting pressurized fluid to be introduced therein sufficient to force the inner compartment with its thermal fluid in pressure engagement with the encompassed portion of the human limb.

3 more elements

A thermal compress cuff for treating an injured knee of a limb, said cuff comprising:

a fluid impervious chamber formed of flexible material having a transverse portion and a pair of arms having distal ends, said arms depending from the transverse portion, the transverse portion adapted to encompass substantially a portion of the limb above the knee and the depending arms adapted to encompass at least a portion of the limb along the sides of the knee and a portion of the limb below the knee, said arms being separated to expose the patella of the knee;
said chamber being adapted for receiving and containing a thermal fluid for treatment of said knee and for abutting contact with the encompassed portion of the limb;
first means for holding the transverse portion of the chamber in encompassing engagement with substantially only the portion of the limb above the knee so as to allow some constriction of the limb above the knee;
second means for holding the depending arms of the chamber in encompassing engagement with at least a portion of the limb along the sides of and below the knee with the patella being positioned between the depending arms so as to limit constriction of the leg below the knee to an amount less than the constriction above the knee;
and
means independent of the first and second holding means associated with said chamber for applying pressure to the fluid in the chamber.

3 more elements

A device for treating an injured knee of a human limb comprising:

a therapeutic cold and compression applying means including a cuff-like device having a liquid-tight chamber with inner and outer walls and formed with a transverse portion and first and second spaced hollow dependent arms having distal ends, the transverse portion being intended for contact with the general area of only the suprapatella pouch and the first and second hollow arms extending generally along and in contact with the respective sides of the knee;
means for attaching the cold and compression applying means to the knee;
means for applying a pressurized fluid to the cuff-like device;
and
means coupled to the compression applying means for limiting the compression applied to the general area alongside and below the knee and no compression behind the knee thereby limiting venous constriction below the knee while simultaneously enabling a different level of compression to be applied to the general area of the suprapatella pouch and independent of the means for attaching the cold and compression applying means to the knee.

2 more elements

A device for treating an injured knee of a human limb comprising:

a therapeutic cold and compression applying means including a cuff-like device having a liquid-tight chamber with inner and outer walls and formed with a transverse portion and first and second spaced hollow dependent arms, the transverse portion being intended for contact with the general area of only the suprapatella pouch and the first and second hollow arms extending generally along and in contact with the respective sides of the knee;
means for attaching the cold and compression applying means to the knee, said attaching means comprising
(a) a first adjustable inelastic strap attached to one side of the chamber transverse portion and extending to another side of the chamber transverse portion and adapted to be positioned under the leg and above the knee to allow constriction of the leg above the knee;
(b) a second adjustable elastic strap attached to an outer edge of one of the arms and extending to an outer edge of the other arm and adapted to be positioned under the leg and below the knee to limit constriction of the leg below the knee to an amount less than the constriction above the knee;
and
(c) a third adjustable strap attached to an inner edge of one of the arms and extending to an inner edge of the other arm and adapted to be positioned over the leg and below the knee;
means for applying a pressurized fluid to the cuff-like device;
and
means coupled to the compression applying means for limiting the compression applied to the general area alongside and below the knee and no compression behind the knee thereby limiting venous constriction below the knee while simultaneously enabling a different level of compression to be applied to the general area of the suprapatella pouch and independent of the means for attaching the cold and compression applying means to the knee.

6 more elements

A thermal compress cuff for treating an injured knee of a limb, said cuff comprising:

a fluid impervious chamber formed of flexible material and having a transverse portion and a pair of arms having distal ends, said arms depending from the transverse portion, the transverse portion adapted to encompass substantially only a portion of the limb above the knee and the depending arms adapted to encompass at least a portion of the limb along the sides of the knee and a portion of the limb below the knee, said arms being separated to expose the patella of the knee;
said chamber being adapted for receiving and containing a thermal fluid for treatment of said knee and for abutting contact with the encompassed portion of the limb;
first means for holding the transverse portion of the chamber in encompassing engagement with substantially only the portion of the limb above the knee so as to allow some constriction of the limb above the knee;
second means for holding the depending arms of the chamber in encompassing engagement with at least a portion of the limb along the sides of and below the knee with the patella being positioned between the depending arms so as to limit constriction of the leg below the knee to an amount less than the constriction above the knee, said second means comprising
(a) a length of strap material attached to and extending transversely inwardly from an inner edge of the distal end of one of the arms and having a length sufficient to pass over the limb below the knee to be releasably secured to the other arm to hold the depending arms in spaced relationship along the sides of and below the knee,
(b) an elongated elastic strap attached to and extending transversely from an outer edge of the distal end of one of the arms for passing under the limb below the knee,
(c) means on the distal end of the other one of said arms for releasably receiving the elongated elastic strap in a fastening relationship as it passed under the limb and below the knee for holding the depending arms snugly against the encompassed area of the limb;
and
means independent of the first and second holding means associated with said chamber for applying pressure to the fluid in the chamber.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermal compress system

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Thermal compress system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29