Support device with integrated pressure adjustment device and method of use

• US 20030028157A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Jusiak, Joel T., Flick, Roland E.
• Application Number:
  US10/195,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/313
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/012 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1697 Breathability of the material

Abstract

A protective and pressure normalizing device including a support member having an exterior wall and an interior wall which define a first chamber and a second chamber, and a pressure adjustment device sealed within at least a portion of the second chamber, the pressure adjustment device defining a third chamber and a medium transfer passageway interconnecting the first chamber and third chamber.

Claims

1. A protective and pressure normalizing device comprising:

a support member having an exterior wall and an interior wall which define a first chamber and a second chamber, and

a pressure adjustment device sealed within at least a portion of the second chamber, the pressure adjustment device defining a third chamber and a medium transfer passageway interconnecting the first chamber and third chamber.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the pressure adjustment device comprises a pump.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the pump is a manually actuated pump comprising a resilient member encapsulated within the third chamber and wherein the fluid passageway comprises a one-way check valve.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the resilient member is a foam member.

5. The device according to claim 3 wherein the pump further comprises an intake which extends between the second and third chambers.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the second chamber comprises an inlet opening adjustable between an open position and a closed position and wherein the inlet opening is connected to a medium source when in the open position.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the support member further comprises a release valve.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the support member further comprises a joint aperture.

9. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a wicking material layer adjacent the interior wall.

10. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a reinforcing material layer adjacent the exterior wall.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first chamber is filled with a medium to an internal pressure of about 0 mmHg to about 50 mmHg.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the medium is air.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first chamber comprises a single chamber.

14. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of interspaced non-support members in the support member.

15. The device according to claim 1 wherein the support member comprises:

a lower portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the lower portion contacts at least a portion of a lower region of a body part;

an intermediate portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the intermediate portion contacts at least a portion of an intermediate region of the body part; and

an upper portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the upper portion contacts at least a portion of an upper region of the body part.

16. The device according to claim 1 further comprising one or more securing devices, wherein the one or more securing devices attach at least a portion of a first edge of the support member to at least a portion of a second edge of the support member.

17. A protective and pressure normalizing device for a body extremity comprising:

a support member having an exterior wall and an interior wall which define a first chamber, a second chamber, and a joint aperture, and

a manually actuated pump sealed within at least a portion of the second chamber, wherein the manually actuated pump comprises a resilient member encapsulated within an envelope and wherein a portion of the envelope forms a one-way check valve in communication with the first chamber.

18. The device according to claim 17 wherein the pump further comprises an intake which extends between the second chamber and the envelope.

19. The device according to claim 17 wherein the second chamber comprises an inlet opening adjustable between an open position and a closed position and wherein the inlet opening is connected to a medium source when in the open position.

20. The device according to claim 17 wherein the support member further comprises a release valve.

21. The device according to claim 17 wherein the resilient member is a foam member.

22. The device according to claim 17 further comprising a wicking material layer adjacent the interior wall.

23. The device according to claim 17 further comprising a reinforcing material layer adjacent the exterior wall.

24. The device according to claim 17 wherein the first chamber is filled with a medium to an internal pressure of about 0 mmHg to about 50 mmHg.

25. The device according to claim 24 wherein the medium is air.

26. The device according to claim 17 wherein the first chamber comprises a single chamber.

27. The device according to claim 17 further comprising a plurality of interspaced non-support members in the support member.

28. The device according to claim 17 wherein the support member comprises:

a lower portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the lower portion contacts at least a portion of a lower region of a body part;

an intermediate portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the intermediate portion contacts at least a portion of an intermediate region of the body part; and

an upper portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the upper portion contacts at least a portion of an upper region of the body part.

29. The device according to claim 17 further comprising one or more securing devices, wherein the one or more securing devices attach at least a portion of a first edge of the support member to at least a portion of a second edge of the support member.

30. A method for protecting and normalizing the pressure on a structure comprising:

providing a support member having an exterior wall and an interior wall which define a first chamber and a second chamber and a pressure adjustment device sealed within at least a portion of the second chamber, the pressure adjustment device defining a third chamber and a medium transfer passageway interconnecting the first chamber and third chamber, and

positioning the structure in the support member.

31. The method according to claim 30 further comprising adjusting a pressure of a medium within the first chamber with the pressure adjustment device.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting the pressure of the medium to about 0 mmHg to about 50 mmHg.

33. The method according to claim 31 wherein the medium is air.

34. The method according to claim 30 wherein the pressure adjustment device comprises a pump.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein the pump is a manually actuated pump comprising a resilient member encapsulated within the third chamber and wherein the medium transfer passageway comprises a one-way check valve.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein the resilient member is a foam member.

37. The method according to claim 34 wherein the pump further comprises an intake which extends between the second and third chambers.

38. The method according to claim 30 wherein the second chamber comprises an inlet opening adjustable between an open position and a closed position and wherein the inlet opening is connected to a medium source when in the open position.

39. The method according to claim 30 wherein the support member further comprises a release valve.

40. The method according to claim 30 wherein the support member further comprises a wicking material layer adjacent the interior wall.

41. The method according to claim 30 wherein the support member further comprises a reinforcing material layer adjacent the exterior wall.

42. The method according to claim 30 wherein the first chamber comprises a single chamber.

43. The method according to claim 30 wherein the support member further comprises a plurality of interspaced non-support members in the support member.

44. The method according to claim 30 wherein the support member comprises:

a lower portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the lower portion contacts at least a portion of a lower region of a body part;

an intermediate portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the intermediate portion contacts at least a portion of an intermediate region of the body part; and

an upper portion, wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the upper portion contacts at least a portion of an upper region of the body part.

45. The method according to claim 30 wherein the support member further comprises a plurality of securing devices, wherein the securing devices attach at least a portion of a first edge of the support member to at least a portion of a second edge of the support member.