COMPUTERIZED PORTABLE DEVICE FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF CIRCULATION

• US 20090118651A1
• Filed: 05/01/2005
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impact IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Flowmedic Limited
• Inventors: Rousso, Benny, David, Uri, Eliachar, Eliahu, Avni, Yuval
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 11/00 Belts, strips or combs for massage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 11/02 Massage devices with strips oscillating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces

Abstract

A portable limb-mounted device for enhancing blood and/or lymph flow in a limb and/or for preventing stasis related disorders, the device comprising an energy generating device, an actuator, one or more compressing elements for generating squeezing forces on the limb of a user, a sensor located adjacent to the body of the user and coupled to a transceiver device, and a transceiver device coupled to the sensor to receive signals generated by the sensor, to transfer the signals received from the sensor device to a computing device. The device further comprises a computerized control system including a microcontroller and a memory device to store activity related information for subsequent downloads to an external computer-based monitoring device.

Claims

1-61. -61. (canceled)

62. A portable device for modifying blood or lymph flow in a limb of a user, the device comprising:

an actuator configured for applying intermittent compression on said limb and an at least one sensor, located adjacent to the body of the user, to measure at least one physiological parameter of the user and to generate an electronic signal representing a measured value of said at least one parameter.

63. The device of claim 62 wherein the portable device is limb-mounted device.

64. The device of claim 62 further comprising a transceiver coupled to the at least one sensor to receive signals generated by the at least one sensor and to transmit the signals received from the at least one sensor to at least one computing device located within or remotely from said device.

65. The device of claim 64 wherein the at least one computing device controls the operation of said actuator based on signals received from the at least one sensor.

66. The device of claim 62 wherein the at least one sensor measures the user heart beat or the user body temperature.

67. The device of claim 62 wherein the at least one sensor measures any one of the following:

blood pressure, blood volume flow, blood peak velocity, pulsability index, tissue perfusion, capillary flow, tissue metabolism, oxygen supply, oxygen consumption, TCpO₂, Tissue Laser Doppler, NOH levels, blood flow dilation, NADH, CO₂, blood vessel condition, vasoconstriction, vasodilation, endothelial function, NO concentration, muscle activity, neuronal activity, blood flow constriction, patient daily activity, or patient'"'"'s walking distance.

68. The device of claim 65 wherein controlling the operation of said actuator based on said signals received the at least one sensor includes one or more of the following:

initiating activation of said actuator, suspending activation of said actuator, terminating the activation of said actuator, selecting operation parameters for said actuator or selecting a pre-stored program for applying a controlled intermittent pressure on said limb in order to obtain a desired effect.

69. The device of claim 68 wherein said operation parameters are one or more of the following:

cycle, pressure level, pressure duration, rest period, or pressure gradient at transients.

70. The device of claim 68 wherein said desired effect is any one of the following:

desired flow during compression, desired flow during recovery, or desired blood pressure.

71. The apparatus of claim 68 further comprising at least one second sensor for monitoring the activity of said actuator.

72. The device of claim 71 wherein the computing device further comprises a record means for recording data received from the at least one sensor and the at least one second sensor and for storing said data for later analysis.

73. The device of claim 63 wherein said limb-mounted device comprises a compressing element, a motor and a mechanism driven by said motor configured to effectuate intermittent movement of said compressing element to apply intermittent pressure on said limb.

74. A computerized device for modifying blood or lymph flow in a limb of a user, the apparatus comprising:

a limb mounted mechanical actuator adapted for generating intermittent pressure on said limb;

an at least one first sensor to measure an at least one physiological parameter of the user and to generate an electronic signal representing a measured value of said at least one parameter; and

a microcontroller adapted for receiving and processing said electronic signals and to control the operation of said actuator in accordance with said signal.

75. The device of claim 74 wherein the actuator comprises a motor coupled to said microcontroller, a compression element and a moving mechanism driven by said motor for actuating intermittent movement of said compressing element to apply intermittent pressure on said limb.

76. The device of claim 74 further comprising at least one second sensor for monitoring the operation or activity of said device.

77. A computerized device for modifying blood or lymph flow in a limb of a user, the apparatus comprising:

An at least one compressing element adapted for generating pressure on said limb;

an actuator configured for intermittently activating said at least one compressing element; and

a microcontroller comprising a memory for controlling the operation of said actuator; and

.

at least one sensor for monitoring the activity of said device.

78. The device of claim 77 wherein the device further comprises a communication interface to enable uploading and downloading information from or to an external monitoring computer device.

79. The device of claim 77 wherein monitoring the activity of said device includes collecting information relating to start and stop times of operation periods and to operation parameters during said periods.

80. The device of claim 77 wherein monitoring the activity of said device includes detecting an operational mode of said device.

81. The device of claim 80 wherein the operational mode of the device comprise any one of the following:

a power-up mode;

a run mode;

a fault mode;

an off mode;

a communication and charger mode; and

a power-off mode.

82. The device of claim 77 wherein monitoring the activity of said device includes detecting a loose strap condition and/or a tight strap condition and/or a malfunction condition.

83. A method monitoring the activity of a computerized portable device for enhancing blood and/or lymph flow in a limb and/or for preventing stasis related disorders, the method comprising:

accessing and downloading activity specific information recorded on the computerized portable device from an external monitoring device;

receiving and storing at least one health establishment information, physician information, and patient information on the external monitoring device; and

displaying historical treatment information of a patient performed via the computerized portable device on the external monitoring device.

84. A program product for monitoring the activity of a computerized portable device for enhancing blood and/or lymph flow in a limb and/or for preventing stasis related disorders, the program product comprising:

a device assignment to a patient screen to assign a portable device to a patient; and

a patient routine visit screen to view historical treatment information of the patient via the computerized portable device.

85. The program product of claim 84 further comprises at least one of:

a medical establishment data input screen for receive medical establishment information;

a physician'"'"'s login screen to allow for a physician to operate the program product;

a physician addition screen for receiving physician information;

a main screen to enable the selective performance of the related screens of the program product; and

a patient selection screen to enable to select a specific patient;