Computer-based control for a counterpulsation device using noncompressed air

• US 20030050551A1
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cpca2000 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cpca2000 Incorporated
• Inventors: D. Ferguson, Willard Jr., D. Smith, Timothy, Shabty, Paul, Ferguson, Willard D. Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,923,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. E.G.C., blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/008 Supine patient supports or bases, e.g. improving air-way access to the lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776

Abstract

A counterpulsation device that operates without the use of compressed air or pressurized gas includes at least one inflatable cuff that is adapted to be placed about a selected portion of the patient'"'"'s body. A first conduit connects the inflatable cuff to an air transfer device so that noncompressed air can be transferred from the air transfer device to the cuff through the first conduit to inflate the cuff. A second conduit connects the cuff to the air transfer device so that air can flow through the second conduit to deflate the cuff. The system is controlled using a computer-based controller that requires a series of initialization procedures before it will operate the system. A patient profile database includes historical treatment data for each patient and is automatically updated with each counter pulsation therapy session.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a counterpulsation therapy system that includes a computer that controls the operation of the system, comprising the steps of:

(A) defining a plurality of procedures to be performed by an operator of the system;

(B) prompting the operator, using the computer, to perform the plurality of procedures from step (A);

(C) verifying that each of the procedures is completed, using the computer; and

(D) operating the counterpulsation therapy system only when the verification from step (C) is complete.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (A) includes assigning a preselected order in which the plurality of procedures must be performed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (C) includes verifying that the procedures were completed in the preselected order.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (B) includes providing a computer screen display that visually indicates the procedures to be performed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (B) includes providing a different computer screen display for each of the plurality of procedures and wherein each said display includes visible instructions that guide the operator through the procedure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (C) includes requiring the operator to provide a predefined input to the computer that indicates that the procedures have been completed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (C) includes requiring the operator to provide a separate predefined input to the computer that each indicate that a respective one of the procedures has been completed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (A) includes assigning a preselected order in which the plurality of procedures must be performed and wherein steps (B) and (C) are performed in sequence for each of the procedures and wherein the method includes not permitting an operator to continue on from a current procedure to a subsequent procedure until the operator provides an indication that the current procedure is satisfactorily completed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the procedures from step (A) includes arranging and initiating an external device for monitoring a condition of the patient and wherein step (C) includes providing the computer with a signal from the external device verifying that the external device has been properly arranged and is operational.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the procedures of step (A) include

entering a patient identifier;

entering current patient status including one or more of the group consisting of current blood pressure, current heart rate, current body temperature, current weight, current condition of the skin on the portion of the body about which the cuff is placed;

arranging an electrocardiogram device such that the device provides an indication of the patient'"'"'s heart beat to the computer; and

arranging a plethysmograph device such that the device provides an indication of the patient'"'"'s blood pressure to the computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (C) includes verifying that the procedures of step (A) are performed sequentially in the order listed in claim 10.

12. A counterpulsation therapy system, comprising:

at least one inflatable cuff that is adapted to be placed about a selected portion of a patient'"'"'s body;

an air moving device;

a conduit coupling said cuff to said air moving device;

a valve coupled to said conduit and selectively controllable to selectively control inflation and deflation of said cuff by permitting selected air movement through said conduit; and

an electronic controller that controls said air moving device and said valve, said controller also including a program module that prompts an operator of the system through a plurality of initialization procedures and verifies that each of said procedures is completed before said controller will operate said air moving device and said valve.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said controller prompts the operator through a preselected series of said procedures in a preselected order and wherein said controller requires verification that each of said procedures is completed before allowing an operator to perform a subsequent procedure and wherein said controller will not permit said air moving device and said valve to be operational until each of said procedures is completed in said preselected order.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a computer display screen and wherein said controller prompts the operator through said procedures by controlling visible images on the display screen that are indicative of the required procedures.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of cuffs, a plurality of conduits and a plurality of valves and wherein said controller controls each of said valves to selectively inflate and deflate said cuffs in a preselected order.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an electrocardiogram that provides a first signal indicative to the patient'"'"'s heartbeat and a plethysmograph that provides a second signal indicative of the patient'"'"'s peripheral blood pressure wave and wherein said controller communicates with said electrocardiogram and said plethysmograph such that said controller times the inflation and deflation of said cuffs responsive to at least one of said first and second signals.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said controller further comprises a memory portion including a historical patient database that includes a plurality of patient files each having a unique patient identifier and therapy session data, each patient file including an indicator of each therapy session and recorded data that is indicative of the effects of the therapy sessions.

18. A computer readable medium encoded with a data structure, comprising:

an operations program module that controls the operation of a counterpulsation therapy system that includes at least one inflatable cuff, an air moving device, a conduit coupling the cuff to the air moving device and at least one valve that selectively permits air flow through the conduit, said operations program module controlling the operation of the air moving device and the valve to thereby control inflation and deflation of the cuff; and

a patient profile data module including a plurality of patient files that each include

a patient identifier,

patient condition indicators associated with each therapy session,

therapy session identifiers, and

data recorded during each therapy session; and

wherein

said operations program module automatically updates said patient profile data module during a therapy session.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said patient condition indicators include heart rate and blood pressure readings taken prior to initiating a therapy session and a descriptor indicative of an observable condition of the portions of the patient'"'"'s body about which the inflatable cuff is placed.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said data recorded during each therapy session includes an electrocardiogram signal profile indicative of the heart rate and function of the patient'"'"'s heart and a plethysmographic wave signal profile indicative of the blood pressure of the patient.