Deep vein pulsator leggings

• US 20070179416A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shannon Obrien, Vincent Obrien
• Original Assignee: Shannon Obrien, Vincent Obrien
• Inventors: Obrien, Shannon, Obrien, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US10/575,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179416A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/00 Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
• 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 device for preventing a medical condition known as deep vein thrombosis comprising of a pair of specially designed leggings (4) designed to be worn in conjunction with a power source to be worn attached to a belt (1) or as in post operative care; the power source (2) can be remotely located to power the leggings that will in turn massage the lower section of the legs at predetermined intervals that will in turn result in keeping the blood in the arteries and veins of the venus return system in the legs from congealing thereby causing the onset of a condition commonly known as deep vein thrombosis.

Claims

1. A device for preventing deep vein thrombosis, said device comprising:

at least one sleeve adapted to be disposed substantially around a lower limb of a wearer, each sleeve comprising a bladder adapted to substantially encapsulating said lower limb of said wearer, said bladder section being divided into a plurality of inflatable chambers arranged co-axially to form a sequence of chambers, wherein said inflatable chambers are in fluid communication with each other in a manner such that fluid in any one of said chambers is allowed to pass to a next chamber in said sequence of chambers once a fluid pressure reaches a predetermined value; and

a pneumatic pressure source, in fluid communication with a first inflatable chamber in said sequence of chambers of each sleeve, for periodically inflating and deflating said chambers of said sleeves.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein each sleeve further comprises an inelastic outer casing thereby restricting expansion of said chambers during inflation to an inwardly direction.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said pneumatic pressure source comprises:

a compressor for supplying pneumatic pressure; and

at least one solenoid for controllably communicating said pneumatic pressure to said at least one sleeve.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each sleeve further comprises tension straps for adjusting said sleeve to fit the shape of said lower limb of said wearer.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said pneumatic pressure source is portable.

6. A method of preventing deep vein thrombosis, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a sleeve for substantially encapsulating a lower limb of a wearer, said sleeve comprising a bladder being divided into a plurality of inflatable chambers arranged co-axially to form a sequence of chambers;

inflating a first chamber located at a distal end of said lower limb of said wearer;

sequentially inflating subsequent chambers until all chambers of said bladder are inflated, thereby providing a source of compression pressure to said lower limb which grows substantially continuously from said distal end towards a proximal end of said limb; and

deflating said chambers.

7. A device for preventing deep vein thrombosis substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.