Methods and Apparatus for Adjusting Blood Circulation

• US 20080132816A1
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AVAcore Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AVAcore Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamilton, Nathan, Williams, Stephen J., Christensen, Scott A., Kane, John Roy
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/025 by direct air flow on the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 without substantial movement between the skin and the device

Abstract

A method and device for increasing blood flow by applying positive pressure to extremities of a mammal and/or controlling the temperature of the mammal. The device includes one or more collapsible and pliant body elements capable of expanding and flexibly applying pressurized compression forces to the extremity of the mammal by attaching one or more pressure-applying gas plenums as close to the extremity as possibly. The flexible extremity device can be used independently or can be used in conjunction with thermal pads disposed to the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements. Alternatively, the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements can be manufactured into thermal pads.

Claims

1. A device for increasing blood flow and controlling body temperature, comprising:

a plenum having one or more walls that enclose an internal region, wherein at least one of the one or more walls is adapted to be disposed over a region of a patient;

one or more thermal exchanging units that are disposed between the one or more walls and the region of the patient; and

a pump that is adapted to control the pressure within the internal region to urge the one or more thermal exchanging units against a surface of the region of the patient to improve the thermal contact between the one or more thermal exchange units and the region of the patient.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the internal region is maintained at a pressure between about 0.1 mmHg and about 80 mmHg.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid source that is in fluid communication with a heat exchanging plenum in one of the one or more thermal exchanging units; and

the one or more thermal exchanging units are formed from a flexible and compliant material.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a controller unit connected to the one or more pressure ports and the one or more thermal exchange units.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface area of contact between the one or more thermal exchange units and the surface of the region of the patient is less than about 410 square inches (0.264 m²).

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sealing member that is adapted to form a seal between the one or more walls and a portion of the extremity, wherein the sealing member comprises a material selected form the group consisting of hydrogel, urethane and combinations thereof.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more thermal exchange units are one or more electric pads.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the region comprises a portion of an extremity that is selected from the group consisting of a hand, a forearm, a forearm with an elbow, a hand with a wrist, a foot, a leg, a calf, and an ankle.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the material from which the one or more walls of the plenum are formed is selected from the group consisting of urethane, polyurethane, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, and poly(vinyl chloride).

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pump that is in fluid communication with the internal region of an inflatable cuff which is positioned over a portion of the extremity, wherein the device is adapted to adjust the pressure in the internal region of the inflatable cuff.

11. A device for increasing blood flow and controlling body temperature in a mammal, comprising:

a plenum having one or more walls that enclose an internal region, wherein at least one of the one or more walls is adapted to be disposed over a region of a patient;

one or more thermal exchanging units that are disposed between the one or more walls and the region of the patient;

a manifold having a first fittings that is in fluid communication with the internal region of the plenum and a second fitting that is in fluid communication with a fluid plenum formed in one of the one or more thermal exchanging units; and

a controller system comprising;

a first pump that is adapted to control the pressure within the internal region when it is in fluid communication with the first fitting;

a fluid heat exchanger having a thermal exchanging fluid that is adapted to control the temperature of the one or more thermal exchanging units when it is in fluid communication with the one or more thermal exchanging units;

a pressure sensor that is in fluid communication with the internal region of the plenum;

a temperature sensor that is adapted to measure a temperature of the mammal; and

a controller that is adapted to control the temperature of the fluid heat exchanging fluid and the pressure of the internal region of the plenum using inputs received from the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor, and control the first pump.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the one or more thermal exchange units are electric pads.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the region comprises a portion of an extremity that is selected from the group consisting of a hand, a forearm, a forearm with an elbow, a hand with a wrist, a foot, a leg, a calf, and an ankle.

14. A method of increasing blood flow and controlling body temperature in a mammal, comprising:

disposing a plenum assembly over a portion of an extremity of a mammal, wherein the plenum assembly comprises one or more walls that enclose an internal region;

disposing one or more thermal exchanging units on a surface of the portion of the extremity;

controlling the temperature of the one or more thermal exchange units; and

adjusting the pressure in the internal region to cause at least one of the one or more walls to urge at least one of the one or more thermal exchange units against the surface of the extremity.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising sealing at least one of the one or more walls of the plenum assembly to the extremity to form an enclosed region that substantially isolates the portion of the extremity from the external environment.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein adjusting the pressure in the internal region comprises delivering a fluid to the internal region until a pressure between about 3 mmHg and about 25 mmHg is achieved.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein controlling the temperature of the one or more thermal exchange units comprises causing a surface of the one or more thermal exchange units that is in contact with the extremity to be at a temperature between about 0°

C. and about 43°

C.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising applying a compression force to the extremity of the mammal.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

connecting the one or more thermal exchange units to a fluid controller;

connecting the internal region to a pump; and

controlling the temperature of a surface of the one or more thermal exchange units to be at a temperature between about 0°

C. and about 43°

C. and the pressure in the internal region to a pressure between about 0.1 mmHg and about 25 mmHg.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

applying a first positive pressure to a portion of the extremity between about 0 mmHg and about 15 mmHg for a first period of time; and

applying a second positive pressure to the portion of the extremity between about 20 mmHg and about 60 mmHg for a second period of time.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first period of time is between about 60 seconds and 2 minutes and the second period of time is between about 10 seconds and 5 minutes.