METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS PREVENTION

• US 20080195005A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhugra, Kern, Horst, Robert W., Fogarty, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0218 Drawing-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0266 Foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1418 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/149 rotation-linear or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1676 Pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5069 Angle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/08 for ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/085 by rotational movement of the joint in a plane substantially parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

Portable devices and methods for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by assuring that the ankle is flexed and extended sufficiently to promote blood flow in the lower leg are disclosed. The device includes an actuator with a free movement mode that allows a patient to move freely between activations or to initiate movement to delay a next automatic activation.

Claims

1. A device intended to reduce the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in a patient, the device comprising:

a portable power supply;

an embedded controller powered by the portable power supply;

an actuator with an output shaft, the actuator controlled by the embedded controller;

where the device has a free movement mode and a powered output mode;

a first attachment for coupling the actuator to a first portion of the patient; and

a second attachment for coupling the output shaft to a second portion of the patient.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a joint angle sensor.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a force sensor.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless recharger for the portable power supply.

5. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that power recharging is performed by power generation resulting from ankle movement.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a connection port to communicate patient movement.

7. The device of claim 6 further characterized in that communication of patient movement is used to control the operation of a personal computer.

8. The device of claim 6 further characterized in that communication of patient movement is used to control the operation of an electronic game.

9. An actuator providing substantially free movement or force to an output shaft comprising:

a motor driving a lead screw;

a nut driven by the lead screw;

an output shaft with at least one extension stop; and

wherein the nut driven by the lead screw may be moved to a first position allowing substantially free movement of the output shaft and a second position in which the nut engages the at least one extension stop and causes the output shaft to extend.

10. The actuator of claim 9 including at least one flexion stop attached to the output shaft with the nut in a third position in which the nut engages the flexion stop and causes the output shaft to retract.

11. A method intended to reduce the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in a patient, the method including:

configuring an ankle movement device with movement limits and frequency of operation;

attaching the device to an ankle of a patient;

determining a time interval between substantial ankle movements;

moving the ankle via the device when a maximum time between movements has been exceeded; and

allowing the ankle to move freely when the maximum time has not been exceeded.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the maximum time is a fixed elapsed time.

13. The method of claim 11 in which the maximum time is determined by a number of movements over a time period.

14. The method of claim 11 in which the maximum time is altered based on the patient'"'"'s active resistance to the movement.

15. The method of claim 11 in which the maximum time is altered based on the condition of the patient.

16. The method of claim 11 in which the programmed range of motion increases over time based as the patient'"'"'s range of motion increases.