METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING BLOOD CIRCULATION

• US 20080132976A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AVAcore Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CareFusion 2200 Inc (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: KANE, John Roy, Christensen, Scott A., Hamilton, Nathan, Williams, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,603,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0029 Arm or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0036 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0039 Leg or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0045 Foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0086 with a thermostat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• 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 9/0007 Pulsating
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/04 Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding , i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0082 : Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/753 : Medical equipment; Accessories therefor bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a method and a device for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal by applying a desired pressure to extremities of a mammal. The device generally includes one or more collapsible and pliant body elements, capable of expanding from a first volume into an expanded second volume so the device can receive a portion of an extremity of the mammal therein and then be reduced from the expanded second volume into a pressurized third volume to conformably enclose the portion of the extremity. One or more thermal exchange units can be positioned in the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements. Accordingly, the temperature of the extremity of a mammal can be regulated by providing a heated or cooled fluid medium or electric thermal energy to the one or more thermal exchange units. Next, by evacuating the region in which the extremity is enclosed the contact surface area between the extremity of a mammal and the one or more thermal exchange units is increased, due to the external atmospheric pressure acting on the pliant body elements against the skin of the extremity of the mammal. The application of pressure assures that sufficient contact and thermal heat transfer (heating or cooling) is provided to the extremity of the mammal.

Claims

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

a body element having one or more walls that enclose an internal region;

an opening formed in the body element that is adapted to receive an extremity of a mammal and allow a portion of the extremity to be positioned within the internal region;

one or more thermal exchanging units that are disposed in the internal region; and

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

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the internal region is maintained at a pressure between about −

3 mmHg and about −

80 mmHg relative to the pressure outside the one or more walls of the body element.

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 portion of the extremity 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 body element 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 electric pads.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the extremity 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 of the body elements is a material selected form the group consisting of urethane, polyurethane, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, and poly(vinyl chloride).

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the body element comprises a first body element section and a second body element section that can be positioned to at least partially enclose the internal region by use of an enclosing clip.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the enclosing clip is selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a plurality of snaps, hydrogel coated tabs, Velcro fasteners and buttons.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a device 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.

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

a body element having one or more walls that enclose an internal region;

an opening formed in the body element that is adapted to receive an extremity of a mammal and allow a portion of the extremity to be positioned within the internal region;

one or more thermal exchanging units that are disposed in the internal region;

a manifold having a first fittings that is in fluid communication with the internal region 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 changer 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;

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 using inputs received from the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor, and control the first pump.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the controller system further comprises a pressure controlling device and an inflatable cuff which is positioned over a portion of the extremity, wherein the pressure controlling device is adapted to adjust the pressure in an internal region of the inflatable cuff.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the one or more thermal exchange units are electric pads.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the extremity 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.

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

positioning an extremity of a mammal in an internal region that is formed using one or more walls of a body element;

disposing one or more thermal exchanging units on a surface of the extremity that is positioned within the internal region;

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

adjusting the pressure in the internal region to cause 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.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising sealing a portion of the body element to the extremity to enclose the internal region.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein adjusting the pressure in the internal region comprises evacuating the internal region to a pressure between about −

3 mmHg and about −

20 mmHg.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling the temperature of the one or more thermal exchange units comprises providing 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.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising applying a compression force to the extremity of the mammal.

22. The method of claim 17, 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 the one or more thermal exchange units and the pressure in the internal region.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising sequentially applying a compression force to the extremity of the mammal.

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

disposing a thermal exchanging unit over a region of skin of a mammal so that the thermal exchange unit is in thermal communication with the region of skin;

positioning a body element over the thermal exchange unit and forming a seal between the body element and the region of skin to form an internal region in which at least a portion of the thermal exchange unit is disposed;

controlling the temperature of the thermal exchange unit; and

adjusting the pressure in the internal region to cause at least a portion of the body element to urge the thermal exchange unit against the region of skin of the extremity.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the region of skin can be found on a part of the mammal selected from the group consisting of a chest, back, hand, a forearm, a forearm with an elbow, a hand with a wrist, a foot, a leg, a calf, and an ankle.