Portable device for the enhancement of circulation of blood and lymph flow in a limb

• US 20060074362A1
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tylerton International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flowmedic Limited
• Inventors: Lilach, Nir, Eliachar, Eliahu, Rousso, Benny, Avni, Yuval
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 11/02 Massage devices with strips oscillating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2011/005 with belt or strap expanding and contracting around an encircled body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0169 Noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/14 Special force transmission means, i.e. between the driving means and the interface with the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1418 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1436 Special crank assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/149 rotation-linear or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/106 for the lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable device for enhancing circulation in a limb comprising at least one strap for encircling the limb, a motor and a mechanism driven by said motor for intermittently actuating a first transition from a relaxed state to a strained state of the strap and a second transition from the strained state to the relaxed state. The mechanism includes at least one energy storing element operatively disposed between the motor and the strap and at least one energy releasing mechanism coupling between the energy storing element and the strap. The energy releasing mechanism enables fast release of energy stored in said storing element and the use of the energy so released to effectuate at least one abrupt transition between said relaxed and strained states.

Claims

1. A portable mechanical device for enhancing circulation in a limb, the device comprising an actuator for providing intermittent transitions between a contraction and a relaxation of a closure in contact with a limb and at least one attaching element for attaching said actuator to said closure.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises at least one energy chargeable element and at least one energy releasing mechanism, said energy releasing mechanism enables a fast release of energy stored in said chargeable element and the use of the energy so released to effectuate at least one abrupt transition between said relaxed and strained states.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said actuator further comprises a charging mechanism for charging the at least one energy chargeable element.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said at least one energy chargeable element is charged when the closure is in the relaxed phase.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein energy charging is performed over a period longer than the transition time of the energy release.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is applying to the limb a pressure profile.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is capable to select a desired pressure profile.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the pressure profile characteristics comprise selecting at least one desired value for at least one of the following:

peak pressure, pressure release transient, release transient, relaxed pressure, transition time, maximal transition slope, duty cycle, compressed state duration, relaxed state duration, cycle duration, variation thereof.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the pressure profile comprises sharp transition reaching at least 20 mmHG change in under 300 milliseconds.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the pressure profile comprises sharp transition reaching at least 20 mmHG change in less then 100 milliseconds.

11. The device of claim 6 wherein the pressure profile comprises sharp transition reaching at least 20 mmHG change in less then 50 milliseconds.

12. The device of claim 6 wherein the pressure profile comprises sharp transition reaching at least 20 mmHG change in less then 20 milliseconds.

13. The device of claim 6 wherein the pressure profile comprises sharp transition reaching at least 20 mmHG change in less then 10 milliseconds.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the contraction and relaxation of the closure generate a compression and relaxation profiles that are not symmetric.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is adapted to apply intermittent compression to the leg.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the device is adapted to be placed around the calf muscle of said leg.

17. The device of claim 2 wherein energy chargeable element comprise at least one of a linear spring or a torque spring or an elastic component.

18. The device of claim 8 wherein the cycle duration is less then about 10 seconds and greater then about 300 seconds.

19. The device of claim 8 wherein the cycle duration is less then about one half of a second and greater then about 10 seconds.

20. The device of claim 8 wherein the pressure release transient occurs substantially in less than about 0.2 second.

21. The device of claim 8 wherein the release transient is selected to allow the production of a suction effect in the distal veins.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein the said actuator and said closure are within a self contained device.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein the said actuator and said closure are within a self contained device.

24. The device of claim 1 for use to induce a suction effect wherein the first transition is in the range of about 30 milliseconds to about 15 seconds, a first time interval is in the range of about 300 milliseconds to about 15 seconds, a second transition is in the range of about 30 milliseconds to about 200 seconds and a full cycle is in the range of about 5-60 seconds.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprise a strap or a sleeve attached to the limb and mechanism mounted on said strap or sleeve.

26. The device of claim 1 further comprising a power source allowing operation of 1 hour or more and having dimensions allow continuous wearing of the device on said limb.

27. A portable device for enhancing circulation in a limb comprising:

at least one adjustable strap for encircling the limb;

a motor and a mechanism driven by said motor for intermittently actuating a first transition from a relaxed state of said at least one strap to a strained state of said at least one strap and a second transition from the strained state to the relaxed state, the mechanism includes at least one energy chargeable element operatively disposed between the motor and the at least one strap, and at least one energy releasing mechanism coupling between said at least one energy chargeable element and said at least one strap, said energy releasing mechanism enables fast release of energy stored in said chargeable element and the use of the energy so released to effectuate at least one abrupt transition between said relaxed and strained states.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the first transition is followed by a first time interval of a strain phase, and the second transition is followed by a second time interval of a relaxation phase.

29. The device of claim 27 wherein said at least one abrupt transition is of less than 10 seconds.

30. The device of claim 27 wherein said at least one abrupt transition is of less than 1 second.

31. The device of claim 27 wherein said at least one abrupt transition is of less than 300 milliseconds.

32. The device of claim 27 wherein said at least one abrupt transition is of less than 30 milliseconds.

33. The device of claim 27 wherein said at least one abrupt transition is the first transition.

34. The device of claim 27 wherein said at least one abrupt transition is the second transition.

35. The device of claim 27 wherein said first transition is in the range of 300 milliseconds to 15 seconds.

36. The device of claim 27 wherein a full cycle, comprising the first transition and the second transition are in the range of 0.5 to 300 seconds.

37. The device of claim 27 further comprising a frequency regulator.

38. The device of claim 27 wherein a pressure in the range of 15-180 mmHg is applied on the limb during the strained phase.

39. The device of claim 27 further comprising a force adjustment mechanism for adjusting the force applied on the limb during the first transition.

40. The device of claim 27 wherein said at least one energy chargeable element is charged during the relaxation phase.

41. The device of claim 27 wherein said at least one energy chargeable element is a spring.

42. The device of claim 27 wherein the mechanism further comprises at least one second energy chargeable element and at least one second energy releasing mechanism coupling between said at least one second energy chargeable element and said at least one strap, said second energy releasing mechanism enables fast release of energy stored in said second energy chargeable element and the use of the energy so released to effectuate a second abrupt transition opposite in direction to said at least one abrupt transition.

43. The device of claim 42 wherein at least a portion of the energy released by the first energy storing element is used to charge the second energy chargeable element.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein the second energy chargeable element is a spring.

45. The device of claim 27 for use to induce a suction effect wherein the first transition is in the range of 30 milliseconds to 15 seconds, the first transition is in the range of 300 milliseconds to 15 seconds, the second transition is in the range of 30 milliseconds to 200 seconds and a full cycle is in the range of 5-60 seconds.

46. The device according to claim 27 wherein the motor operates continuously.

47. The device of claim 27 further comprising an electric control unit for controlling the voltage applied to the motor for modulating the motor output for optimizing the motor efficiency.

48. The device of claim 27 further comprising a microcontroller for allowing a user to preset operational parameters of the device.

49. The device according to claim 48 wherein the operational parameters include the force applied on the limb during the contraction phase, the first and second transitions and the frequency.

50. The device of claim 27 wherein said mechanism and motor are encased in a housing.

51. The device of claim 50 wherein the housing further encases a power source for supplying power to the motor.

52. The device of claim 51 wherein said power source is at least one rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery.

53. The device of claim 27 further comprising a retraction mechanism couples to said at least one strap for applying a predetermined tension force on the strap.

54. The device of claim 53 further comprising an auto-locking mechanism coupled to said retraction mechanism for locking the retraction mechanism before the first transition and unlocking the retraction mechanism after the second transition.

55. The device of claim 27 wherein the mechanism includes two linearly moveable arms each connectable to one end of the strap, the first transition is actuated by moving the two moveable arms toward each other and the second transition is actuated by moving the two arms away from each other.

56. The device of claim 27 wherein at least one end of the at least one strap is secured to a roller and wherein said first and second transitions are actuated by alternately rotating said roller in opposite directions to wind and unwind the strap around the roller.

57. The device of claim 27 wherein the at least one strap is retractably wound about a strap roller provided with a retraction mechanism.

58. The device of claim 57 wherein the retraction mechanism is automatically locked before the first transition to retain the available length of the strap constant and automatically unlocked after the second transition to allow continuous adjustment of the strap to the limb during the relaxation phase.

59. A portable device for enhancing circulation in a limb, comprising:

at least one element in contact with the limb;

at least one motor;

an element contraction mechanism comprising at least one first chargeable element and at least one first energy releasing mechanism for enabling a fast release of energy stored in said first energy storage element and the use of the energy so released to effectuate a first sudden transition from relaxation to strain of said at least one element; and

an element releasing mechanism comprising at least one second chargeable element and at least one second energy releasing mechanism for enabling fast release of energy stored in said second chargeable element and the use of the energy so released to effectuate a second sudden transition from strain to the relaxation of the at least one element in contact with the limb.

60. The portable device of claim 59 wherein the element is indirect contact with the limb.

61. The portable device of claim 59 wherein a portion of the energy released by the first chargeable element by means of the first energy releasing mechanism is used for charging the second chargeable element.

62. The portable device of claim 59 wherein a portion of the energy released by the second chargeable element by means of the second energy releasing mechanism is used for charging the first chargeable element.

63. The portable device of claim 59 wherein the at least one first chargeable element is a spring.

64. The portable device of claim 59 wherein the at least one second chargeable element is a spring.

65. The device of claim 59 further comprising at least one controllable decelerating mechanism coupled to at least one of the energy releasing mechanisms for controlling the pressure gradient profile during the first or the second sudden transitions.

66. A portable device for enhancing circulation in a limb by intermittently contracting and relaxing a strap encircling the limb, the device comprising:

at least one element for encircling the limb;

a motor;

two linearly moveable elements, each having a proximal end directed toward the other arm and a distal end connectable to one end of the strap;

a contraction mechanism for actuating an abrupt inward movement of said two linearly moveable elements toward each other, thereby effectuating a first transition from a relaxed state to a contracted state of the at least one element encircling the limb;

a release mechanism, coupled to the contraction mechanism, for actuating an abrupt outward movement of said two linearly moveable elements away from each other, thereby effectuating a second transition from the contracted state to the relaxed state.

67. The device of claim 66 wherein the two linearly moveable elements are two arms.

68. The device of claim 66 wherein the two linearly moveable elements are two cables.

69. The device of claim 66 wherein the at least one element for encircling the limb is a strap.

70. The portable device of claim 66 wherein the contraction mechanism comprises a contraction timing disk interposed between the proximal ends of the linearly moveable elements and two loaded springs configured to push the linearly moveable elements inwardly toward each other.

71. The device of claim 70 wherein the contraction timing disk is having a perimeter comprising two arcs of constant radius interrupted by two recesses.

72. A portable device for enhancing circulation in a limb by intermittently contracting and relaxing a strap encircling the limb, the device comprising:

at least one element for encircling the limb;

a motor;

two linearly moveable elements, each arm is having a proximal end directed toward the other arm and a distal end connectable to one end of the strap;

a strap contraction timing disk interposed between the proximal ends of the moveable arms, the disk having a perimeter comprising two arcs of constant radius interrupted by two recesses;

two linearly moveable strap releasing arms;

a strap releasing timing disk interposed between said two moveable releasing arms, the disk having a perimeter comprising two arcs of increasing radius, each ending with a cusp;

two first spring assemblies, each comprising a first coiling spring and a first rotatable arm connected thereto, the first rotatable arm having one end engaged with one of the moveable arm and a second end engaged with one of the strap releasing arms, the first coiling springs are configured to push the moveable arms inwardly against the strap contraction disk via said first rotatable arm; and

two second spring assemblies, each comprising a second coiling spring and a second rotatble arm, the second rotatble arm is engaged with the strap releasing arm;

the second coiling springs are configured to push the strap releasing arms inwardly against the strap releasing timing disk via said second rotatble arm;

wherein the force exerted on the first rotatable arm by the second coiling springs is higher than the force exerted on the first arm by the first coiling spring.

73. The device of claim 72 wherein the at least one element for encircling the limb is a strap.

74. The device of claim 72 wherein the two linearly moveable elements are arms.

75. The device of claim 72 wherein the two linearly moveable elements are cables.

76. The device of claim 72 wherein during operation the contracting timing disk and the releasing timing disk are continuously revolving and wherein the disks are configured such that when the linearly moveable elements are sliding against the constant radius arcs of the strap contracting timing disk, the releasing arms slide against the increasing radius arcs of the strap releasing timing disk, and wherein the cusps of the strap releasing timing disk reach a position opposite the strap releasing arms after the strap contracting arms fall into the recesses of the strap contracting timing arms.

77. The device of claim 73 wherein the ends of the strap are connected to the moveable arms by means of rotating elements pivotally mounted at the distal ends of the moveable arms.

78. The device of claim 73 wherein the strap is retractably wound around a strap roller mounted at the distal end of one of the moveable arm, the strap roller is provided with a retraction mechanism.

79. The device of claim 78 wherein the strap roller is further provided with a retraction lock mechanism to automatically lock the retraction mechanism before the moveable arms are moved inwardly and to unlock the retraction mechanism after the moveable arms are moved outwardly.

80. The device of claim 79 wherein the retraction lock mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel mounted at one end of the strap roller and a latch biased to be engaged with the ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of the strap roller.

81. The device of claim 80 wherein the rotating arm of one of the second spring assemblies is provided with a wing configured to disengage said latch and ratchet wheel substantially when the cusps of the strap releasing timing disk reach a position opposite the releasing arms.

82. The device of claim 72 further comprising a force adjusting mechanism to adjust the force applied on the limb when the two moveable arms are moved inwardly.

83. The device of claim 82 wherein the force adjusting mechanism comprises a force adjustment gear assembly coupled to the first coiling springs to load the first coiling spring to obtain a desired torque.

84. The device of claim 83 further comprising a force adjusting scale to allow a user to adjust pressure to a desired value.

85. A portable device for enhancing circulation in a limb, the device comprising:

at least one motor;

at least two parallel rollers;

at least one strap comprising two portions for encircling the limb, each portion is having one end secured to one of the said at least two rollers and a second free end connectable to the free end of the other portion; and

a mechanism driven by the motor for intermittently rotating the rollers in opposite directions to wind and unwind the strap around the rollers.

86. The device of claim 85 further comprising a housing for accommodating the rollers, motor and mechanism.

87. The device of claim 86 further comprising a power source encased in the housing.

88. The device of claim 85 wherein the mechanism comprises:

a mainspring having one end coupled to the motor via a planetary transmission by means of mainspring clutch and a second end secured to a mainspring gear, the mainspring is configured to be loaded by the motor;

a transmission gear assembly for transferring rotational motion of the mainspring gear to the rollers, the transmission assembly is configured to rotate the rollers in opposite directions, the transmission gear assembly is provided with a strap contraction clutch mechanism configured to prevent rotational motion of the rollers when the clutch is locked;

a strap returning spring driven by the transmission gear assembly configured to be loaded when the mainspring is unloaded; and

a timing assembly configured to unlock the strap contraction clutch for effectuating an abrupt winding of the strap around the rollers at a first predetermined time and to unlock mainspring clutch for effectuating an abrupt unwinding of the strap at a second predetermined time.

89. The device of claim 88 wherein the timing assembly comprises a timing shaft, a first cam mounted on said timing shaft adapted to be engaged with the strap contraction clutch to unlock the clutch at said first predetermined time and a second cam adapted to be engaged with the mainspring clutch to unlock the mainspring clutch at said second predetermined time.

90. The device of claim 89 wherein the timing shaft is driven by a second motor.

91. The device of claim 90 wherein the device further comprises a microcontroller for controlling the operation of the at least one motor and the second motor.

92. The device of claim 85 further comprising at least one encoder for reading operational parameters.

93. The device of claim 85 wherein the two strap portions are connected by a fastener.

94. The device of claim 85 further comprising a sleeve-like garment to be worn around the limb and wherein the strap portions are fastened to said sleeve-like garment.

95. A device for enhancing circulation in a limb by applying a cyclic pressure change on the limb, the cyclic pressure change comprises an at least first transition from a low pressure state to high pressure and an at least second transition from the high pressure to the low pressure state wherein at least one of the transitions is a fast transition.

96. The device of claim 95 wherein the device is portable.

97. The device of claim 95 wherein said fast transition is of less than 1 second.

98. The device of claim 95 wherein said fast transition is of less than 500 milliseconds.

99. The device of claim 95 wherein said fast transition is of less than 200 milliseconds.

100. The device of claim 95 for the use of inducing suction effect wherein the fast transition is said second transition.

101. The device of claim 95 wherein the first and the second transitions are of less than 1 second.

102. A method for inducing suction effect for enhancing circulation in a limb comprising applying pressure to the limb and fast releasing the pressure applied on said limb.

103. The method of claim 102 wherein the releasing of the pressure applied to the limb is performed in less than 1 second.

104. The method of claim 102 wherein the releasing of the pressure applied to the limb is performed in less than 300 milliseconds.

105. The method of claim 102 wherein the releasing of the pressure applied to the limb is performed in less than 30 milliseconds.

106. A method for enhancing circulation in a limb through the use of a portable mechanical device having an actuator for providing intermittent transitions between contraction and relaxation of an at least one closure in contact with a limb and at least one attaching element for attaching said actuator to said closure.

107. The method of claim 106 further comprising the step of releasing energy stored in a first energy storage element to effectuate a first sudden transition from the relaxed state to the strained state of the at least one closure in contact with the limb of a user.

108. The method of claim 106 further comprising the step of charging the energy storage element.

109. The method of claim 106 wherein the device is wearable.

110. The method of claim 106 wherein the device is wearable on a leg of a user.

111. The method of claim 106 wherein the device is wearable on a leg of a user.

112. The method of claim 107 wherein the duration of the first sudden transition is less then 100 milliseconds.

113. The method of claim 107 wherein the duration of the first sudden transition is less then 10 seconds.

114. The method of claim 107 further comprising the step of charging the energy storage element when the closure is in a relaxed state.

115. The method of claim 106 further comprising the step of releasing energy stored in the first energy storage element and to effectuate a sudden transition from strain to relaxation of said at least one closure.

116. The method of claim 106 further comprising the step of releasing energy stored in a second energy storage element and to effectuate an at least one sudden transition from strain to relaxation of said at least one closure.

117. The method of claim 116 further comprising the step of charging the second energy storage element through the use of a portion of the energy released by the first chargeable element.

118. The method of claim 116 further comprising the step of charging the first chargeable element through the use of a portion of the energy released by the second energy storage element.

119. The method of claim 116 further comprising the step of controlling the pressure gradient profile during the at least one of the sudden transition.

120. The method of claim 116 wherein energy charging is performed over a period longer than the transition time of the energy release.

121. The method of claim 116 further comprising the step of wherein applying to the limb a pressure profile.

122. The method of claim 116 further comprising the step of selecting a desired pressure profile.

123. The method of claim 122 wherein the step of selecting a pressure profile comprise selecting at least one desired value for at least one of the following:

peak pressure, relaxed pressure, transition time, pressure release transient, release transient, maximal transition slope, duty cycle, compressed state duration, relaxed state duration, cycle duration, variation thereof.

124. The method of claim 123 wherein the pressure profile comprises sharp transition reaching at least 20 mmHG change in less then 300 milliseconds.

125. The method of claim 107 wherein the sudden transition reaches at least 20 mmHG change in less then 100 milliseconds.

126. The method of claim 107 wherein the sudden transition reaches at least 20 mmHG change in less then 50 milliseconds.

127. The method of claim 107 wherein the sudden transition reaches at least 20 mmHG change in less then 20 milliseconds.

128. The method of claim 107 wherein the sudden transition reaches at least 20 mmHG change in less then 10 milliseconds.

129. The method of claim 106 wherein the contraction and relaxation of the closure generate a compression and relaxation profiles that are not symmetric.

130. The method of claim 106 wherein the device is adapted to apply intermittent compression to the leg.

131. The method of claim 106 wherein the device is adapted to be placed around the calf muscle of said limb.

132. The method of claim 107 wherein energy chargeable element comprise at least one of a linear spring or a torque spring or an elastic component.

133. The method of claim 123 wherein the cycle duration is less then about 10 seconds and greater then about 300 seconds.

134. The method of claim 123 wherein the cycle duration is less then about one half of a second and greater then about 10 seconds.

135. The method of claim 123 wherein the pressure release transient occurs substantially in less than about 0.2 second.

136. The method of claim 123 wherein the release transient is selected to allow the production of a suction effect in the distal veins.

137. The method of claim 123 wherein the device produces a pressure of at least 20 mmHg repeatedly at a cycle time of 10 seconds to 5 minutes, with compression duration of less than one third of the cycle time.