CAST AIR DELIVERY SYSTEMS, CAST VENTILATION SLEEVES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING CAST SLEEVES
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing cast ventilation sleeves, the method comprising:
- forming an elongated cylindrical sleeve from a breathable elastomeric material, the elongated sleeve having a sleeve length with a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end opposite from the first sleeve end and having a first major cross-sectional dimension, and wherein the elastomeric material is configured to expand to a second major cross-sectional dimension greater than the first major cross-sectional dimension;
providing at least one air delivery tube configured to receive pressurized air, the air delivery tube having a tube length with a first tube end and a second tube end opposite from the first tube end;
disposing a plurality of spaced apart holes in the air delivery tube, the holes positioned to disperse the pressurized air along the tube length; and
coupling the air delivery tube to the elongated sleeve to form a cast ventilation sleeve stock, wherein the air delivery tube is positioned to be generally parallel to the sleeve length such that the first tube end is oriented toward the first sleeve end and the second tube end is oriented toward the second sleeve end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cast air delivery systems, cast ventilation sleeves and methods of manufacturing cast sleeves are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing cast ventilation sleeves includes forming an elongated cylindrical sleeve from a breathable, elastomeric material. The method can further include providing an air delivery tube configured to receive pressurized air. The method can also include disposing a plurality of spaced apart holes in the air delivery tube, wherein the holes can be positioned to disperse the pressurized air along a tube length. Additionally the method can include coupling the air delivery tube to the elongated sleeve to form a cast ventilation sleeve stock. The air delivery tube can be positioned to be generally parallel to a sleeve length and the tube length can be generally equal to a sleeve length. The elongated sleeve can be cut to a selectable length for use under an orthopedic cast.
37 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing cast ventilation sleeves, the method comprising:
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forming an elongated cylindrical sleeve from a breathable elastomeric material, the elongated sleeve having a sleeve length with a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end opposite from the first sleeve end and having a first major cross-sectional dimension, and wherein the elastomeric material is configured to expand to a second major cross-sectional dimension greater than the first major cross-sectional dimension; providing at least one air delivery tube configured to receive pressurized air, the air delivery tube having a tube length with a first tube end and a second tube end opposite from the first tube end; disposing a plurality of spaced apart holes in the air delivery tube, the holes positioned to disperse the pressurized air along the tube length; and coupling the air delivery tube to the elongated sleeve to form a cast ventilation sleeve stock, wherein the air delivery tube is positioned to be generally parallel to the sleeve length such that the first tube end is oriented toward the first sleeve end and the second tube end is oriented toward the second sleeve end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of manufacturing stockinettes for ventilating orthopedic casts, the method comprising:
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providing an air delivery tube having a first open end and a second open end; perforating at least a portion of the air delivery tube to provide spaced apart holes between the first and second open ends; forming a flexible tubular sleeve having a sleeve length, and wherein the flexible tubular sleeve is formed from a material suitable to be worn next to a patient'"'"'s skin; and attaching the perforated air delivery tube to the flexible tubular sleeve such that the air delivery tube is positioned to align with the sleeve length. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A stock of flexible material for use as a liner between a patient'"'"'s skin and an orthopedic cast, the stock comprising:
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an elongated sleeve of breathable material having a sleeve length and having an inner sleeve surface and an outer sleeve surface; and an air delivery tube coupled to the elongated sleeve, the air delivery tube including a plurality of spaced apart holes along a tube length, wherein the air delivery tube is in an orientation generally parallel to the sleeve length, and wherein the air delivery tube is configured to receive pressurized air. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A cast ventilation system, the system comprising:
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a cast ventilation sleeve configured to be worn by a patient beneath an orthopedic cast, the cast ventilation sleeve including— an elastomeric material configured to be worn next to a patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the elastomeric material surrounds and expands to cover a patient body part; and an air delivery tube coupled to an outer surface of the elastomeric material, the air delivery tube having a plurality of spaced apart air dispersing holes, wherein the air dispersing holes are positioned to deliver air through the elastomeric material and toward the patient'"'"'s skin; wherein the cast ventilation sleeve is formed from a manufacturing process, the process including— (a) forming an elongated cylindrical sleeve from the elastomeric material, the elongated sleeve having a first length; (b) coupling the air delivery tube to the elongated sleeve such that the air delivery tube extends over the first length; and (c) cutting the elongated sleeve and the air delivery tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the first length to form the cast ventilation sleeve having a second length less than the first length, the second length selected to accommodate an orthopedic cast length; and an air supply releaseably connected to the air delivery tube for providing pressurized air to the air delivery tube. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification