Automatic fluid compress and circulating system

A device for treating an injured knee of a leg comprising:

• compress means for applying therapeutic fluid cold and compression only to the general area of the suprapatellar pouch and to the general area of the leg alongside the knee;
• compression controlling means forming part of the compress means for applying simultaneously a first level of compression to the general area of the leg alongside and below the knee, a second significantly greater level of compression to the general area of only the suprapatellar pouch, and a third level of compression at the back of the leg opposite the suprapatellar pouch that is significantly less than the second level of compression applied to the suprapatellar pouch;
• and
• said compression controlling means including fastening means for attaching the compress means to the knee of the leg.

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

• a fluid impervious chamber formed of flexible material and having a transverse portion and arms depending from and substantially perpendicular to the transverse portion;
• the transverse portion adapted to encompass 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 and 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 strap means for holding the transverse portion of the chamber in encompassing engagement with the portion of the limb above the knee;
• second elastic strap 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;
• and
• compression controlling means for causing the portion of said chamber encompassing the limb above the knee to limit the compression applied to the limb above the knee to a first level of compression and for causing a second level of compression to be applied to the limb along the sides of an below the knee that is significantly less than said first compression applied to the limb above the knee.

An automatic system for the application of a non-ambient temperature to the leg of a mammal, the system comprising:

• a substantially U-shaped hollow chamber for applying therapeutic fluid cold and compression only to the general area of the suprapatellar pouch and the general area alongside the knee;
• compression controlling means forming part of the hollow chamber for providing simultaneously a first compression to the general area of the leg alongside and below the knee, a second substantially higher level of compression to the general area of only the suprapatellar pouch, and a third compression at the back of the leg opposite the suprapatellar pouch that is significantly less than the second compression applied to the suprapatellar pouch;
• first and second straps forming a part of the hollow chamber for attaching the cold and compression applying hollow chamber to the knee;
• a fluid container in fluid communication with said hollow chamber;
• a motor driven pump operatively coupled to said fluid container to provide pressurized air thereto;
• and
• cycling means coupled to the air pump motor to cause the air pump to cycle ON and OFF for predetermined periods of time such that during the ON cycle said air pump pressurizes said container to force fluid from said fluid container into said hollow chamber and, during the OFF cycle, fluid is allowed to flow back to the container from the hollow chamber.

An automatic system for the application of a non-ambient temperature to a limb of a mammal, the system comprising:

• a hollow body compress having inner and outer walls:
• a transverse portion of said hollow body compress adapted to encompass substantially only the suprapatellar pouch above the knee;
• first and second spaced arms depending from the transverse portion and adapted to encompass at least a portion of the limb along the sides of the knee, said arms being separated to accommodate the patella of the knee;
• compression controlling means forming part of the hollow body compress for applying a first compression to the general area of the leg alongside the knee while simultaneously applying a second significantly greater level of compression to the general area of the suprapatellar pouch and for providing a third compression at the back of the leg opposite the suprapatellar pouch that is significantly less than the second compression applied to the suprapatellar pouch, said compression controlling means including fastening means for attaching the hollow body compress to the leg;
• a fluid container;
• a fluid conduit coupled between the fluid container and the hollow body for supplying said fluid thereto;
• a motor driven air pump operatively coupled to said fluid container to provide pressurized air thereto;
• and
• cycling means coupled to the air pump motor to cause the air pump to cycle ON and OFF for predetermined periods of time such that during the ON cycle said air pump pressurizes the container to force fluid from said fluid container into said hollow body compress and, during the OFF cycle, fluid is allowed to flow back to the container from the hollow body compress.