Controller for an extremity hyperbaric device

• US 20090120433A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AOTI, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AOTI, Inc.
• Inventors: Hovorka, George, Loori, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 8,939,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/02 with artificial climate; with means to maintain a desired pressure, e.g. for germ-free rooms dust-free laboratory rooms B01L1/04; decompression arrangements B63C11/32; arrangements or adaptations in aircraft B64D13/00; air-conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/023 Rooms for the treatment of patients at over- or under-pressure or at a variable pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/026 for hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0057 Suction suction kneading A61H7/008
• 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: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04

Abstract

A controller is operable to selectively supply gas to, and evacuate gas from, regions of a hyperbaric wound treatment chamber. The controller operates to inflate a passage or rib of the device to provide that the device is made sufficiently rigid for inserting a limb therethrough, and inflate an inflatable cuff to create a seal against the limb. The controller also operates to evacuate ambient air trapped within the chamber, and optionally partially evacuate the passage or rib, after the seal is created by the inflatable cuff, and then introduce oxygen into the chamber, and optionally inflate the passage or rib. The cuff, when inflated and creating a seal against a limb, optionally is at least partially within the chamber, and the treatment gas is supplied to the chamber to maintain the seal of the cuff against the limb.

Claims

1. A controller for controlling a hyperbaric wound treatment device comprising:

a gas conveyance assembly operable for creating a negative pressure; and

a control device coupled to the gas conveyance assembly and operable to control the gas conveyance assembly for;

providing that a portion of the gas conveyance assembly is in fluid communication with the treatment device; and

creating a negative pressure within the treatment device by evacuating gas at least partially from within the treatment device.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the control device is operable to control the gas conveyance assembly for:

providing that the portion of the gas conveyance assembly is in fluid communication with a chamber of the treatment device within which a limb of a patient is received; and

creating a negative pressure within the chamber by evacuating gas at least partially from within the chamber.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the control device is operable to control the gas conveyance assembly for:

providing that a gas source and the treatment device are in fluid communication; and

supplying a gas from the source under pressure to the treatment device, after the evacuating of gas at least partially from treatment device.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the evacuating is from, and the supplying of the gas is to, a chamber of the treatment device within which a limb of a patient is received.

5. The controller of claim 3, wherein the treatment device comprises a collapsible bag including an inflatable rib for retaining the bag in a rigid state, and wherein the control device is operative for evacuating an interior of the rib.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the gas conveyance assembly includes at least one of a pump and a control valve.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the gas conveyance assembly includes a valve in fluid communication with the treatment device.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the valve is controllable to provide that the valve is in fluid communication with at least one of a treatment chamber and a passageway in the treatment device, wherein the control device is operable to control the valve for:

creating a negative pressure within at least one of the chamber and the passageway by evacuating gas at least partially from at least one of the chamber and the passageway.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the treatment device comprises a collapsible bag and the passageway is an inflatable rib for retaining the bag in a rigid state.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the gas conveyance assembly includes a plurality of ports and is operable for at least one of:

supplying a gas under pressure to the treatment device through a selected at least one of the ports; and

creating a negative pressure in the treatment device through a selected at least one of the ports by evacuating gas at least partially from the treatment device through at least one of the ports.

11. A hyperbaric wound treatment control apparatus comprising:

a means for creating a negative pressure within at least a portion of a hyperbaric wound treatment device;

a controller coupled to and operable for controlling the means for;

providing that the means is in fluid communication with the portion of the device; and

creating a negative pressure within the portion of the device by evacuating gas at least partially from within the portion of the device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the portion is a treatment chamber, and wherein the means is further for supplying a treatment gas from a gas supply under pressure, and wherein the controller controls the means for supplying the treatment gas to the chamber under pressure, following the evacuation at least partially of gas from the treatment chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gas evacuated from the treatment chamber is ambient air.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller cycles the treatment gas in the treatment chamber between ambient pressure and a pressure exceeding ambient pressure.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the treatment device includes a treatment chamber having an open end and a sleeve for sealing against a limb of patent at the open end of the treatment chamber,

wherein the means is further for selectably conveying gas into and out of the device, and

wherein the controller is operable for controlling the means for selectably conveying gas into and out of the treatment chamber and the sleeve.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device comprises a collapsible bag including an inflatable rib for retaining the bag in a rigid state;

and

wherein the controller controls the means for inflating the rib before a limb is inserted through the open end into the bag.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller controls the means for at least partially evacuating gas from the rib, before a treatment gas is supplied to the bag.

18. A method of conveying gas to and from a hyperbaric wound treatment device comprising:

creating a negative pressure in a treatment chamber of the device after inserting a limb through an open end of the treatment chamber and sealing the chamber at the open end;

evacuating gas at least partially from within the treatment chamber; and

supplying a treatment gas to the treatment chamber following the evacuation of the gas from the treatment chamber.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the device comprises a collapsible bag including an inflatable rib for retaining the bag in a rigid state, the method further comprising:

inflating the rib;

inserting the limb into the treatment chamber and sealing the treatment chamber at the open end; and

evacuating gas from the rib before supplying the treatment gas to the treatment chamber.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the bag includes a sleeve adjacent the open end of the treatment chamber, the method further comprising:

inflating the sleeve for at least partially sealing the sleeve against the limb.

21. A method of controlling flow of gas to and from a collapsible hyperbaric wound device, wherein the device includes an inflatable rib for retaining the device in a rigid state, a treatment chamber with an open end and an inflatable sleeve for receiving a limb of a patient and sealing against the limb at the open end of the chamber when the sleeve is an inflated condition, the method comprising:

inflating the rib with a gas at least partially before inserting the limb into the chamber;

inflating the sleeve for at least partially sealing the sleeve against the limb at the open end of the chamber;

evacuating gas at least partially from at least one of the chamber and rib; and

supplying a treatment gas to the chamber, after the evacuating.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the supplying includes:

supplying a gas to the rib after the evacuating of the gas from the rib.

23. A controller for controlling gas flow to and from a collapsible hyperbaric wound treatment device, wherein the device includes an inflatable rib for retaining the device in a rigid state, a treatment chamber with an open end for receiving a limb of a patient and an inflatable sleeve for sealing against the limb at the open end of the chamber when the sleeve is an inflated condition, the controller comprising:

first, second and third control valves adapted for coupling to the inflatable sleeve, the treatment chamber and the inflatable rib, respectively;

a processor for selectively controlling the control valves and for selectively providing that at least one of the first, second and third control valves is in fluid communication with a gas source or a pump, wherein the processor is operable;

for controlling the third valve for inflating the rib with a gas at least partially, before the limb is received in the chamber;

for controlling the first valve for inflating the sleeve for at least partially sealing the sleeve against the limb at the open end of the chamber;

for controlling the second valve for evacuating gas at least partially from the chamber based on operation of the pump and after the inflating of the sleeve for sealing the sleeve against the limb; and

for controlling the second valve for supplying a treatment gas to the chamber from the gas source.

24. The controller of claim 23, wherein the processor is operable:

for controlling the third valve for evacuating gas at least partially from the rib based on operation of the pump, before treatment gas is supplied to the chamber.

25. The controller of claim 23, wherein the processor is operable:

for controlling the third valve for supplying a gas to the rib during or after the evacuation of gas from the treatment chamber.

26. A hyperbaric wound treatment apparatus comprising:

a chamber having an interior and an open end in communication therewith;

an inflatable limb sleeve configured for receiving a limb and coupled to the chamber, wherein the sleeve is positionable at least partially within the interior of the chamber adjacent the open end;

a gas conveyance assembly coupled to the sleeve and the interior of the chamber and for creating a negative pressure; and

a control device coupled to the gas conveyance assembly operable for controlling the gas assembly for;

inflating the sleeve to an inflated condition for at least partially sealing against the limb adjacent the open end of the chamber, with the sleeve at least partially within the interior of the chamber at the open end; and

creating a negative pressure within the interior of the chamber by evacuating gas from the interior of the chamber, after the inflating of the sleeve.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the gas conveyance assembly is operable for supplying a treatment gas to the interior of the chamber from a treatment gas supply, following the evacuating of the interior of the chamber.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the treatment gas is supplied to the interior of the chamber to maintain the interior of the chamber at a pressure exceeding the pressure within the sleeve in the inflated condition.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the pressure maintained in the interior of the chamber exceeds the pressure within the sleeve in the inflated condition, such that the pressure in the interior of the chamber contributes to the sealing of the sleeve against the limb.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sleeve includes an outer wall defining an outer diameter and an inner wall defining an inner diameter, and wherein, in the inflated condition with the limb received in the sleeve, the inner wall is in sealing contact with the limb and the outer wall defines a portion of the interior of the chamber.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the outer wall has a thickness greater than a thickness of the inner wall.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein, in the inflated condition of the sleeve, the inner diameter of the inner wall is less than the inner diameter of the inner wall prior to inflation of the sleeve to the inflated condition and the outer diameter of the outer wall is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the outer wall prior to inflation of the sleeve to the inflated condition.

33. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein, when the sleeve is in the inflated condition, a pressure within the sleeve is less than a pressure in the interior of the chamber.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sleeve includes an outer wall and an inner wall forming an interior therebetween, and wherein the gas conveyance assembly includes a valve means through which a gas is conveyable into and out of the interior of the sleeve and the chamber, respectively.

35. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the chamber comprises a collapsible bag having an opening at the open end of the chamber and sized and shaped to receive the limb and an inflatable rib for retaining the bag in a rigid state, wherein the control device is operable to control the gas conveyance assembly for:

inflating the rib at least partially before the inflating of the sleeve to the inflated condition.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the control device is operable to control the gas conveyance assembly for:

supplying a gas to the rib under pressure during or after the evacuation of gas from the interior of the chamber.

37. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the gas conveyance assembly includes at least one of a pump and a control valve.

38. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the control device is operable to control the gas conveyance assembly for:

supplying a gas from a gas source under pressure to the chamber, after the evacuating of the gas at least partially from the interior of the chamber.

39. A method of providing a treatment gas to a hyperbaric wound treatment device, wherein the device includes a chamber having an interior and an open end in communication therewith and an inflatable sleeve coupled to the chamber and positionable at least partially within the interior of the chamber adjacent the open end, the method comprising:

after inserting a limb through the sleeve and into the interior of the chamber, inflating the limb sleeve to an inflated condition for creating at least a partial seal between the limb and the sleeve adjacent the open end, with the sleeve at least partially within the interior of the chamber;

after creating the seal, evacuating at least partially gas from within the interior of the chamber; and

supplying a treatment gas to the interior of the chamber, following the evacuation of the gas from the interior of the chamber.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the chamber comprises a collapsible bag including an inflatable passageway for retaining the bag in a rigid state, the method further comprising:

evacuating gas at least partially from the inflatable passageway before supplying the treatment gas to the interior of the chamber.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the inflatable passageway is an inflatable rib.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the treatment gas is supplied to the interior of the chamber to maintain the interior of the chamber at a pressure exceeding the pressure within the sleeve in the inflated condition.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the pressure maintained in the interior of the chamber exceeds the pressure within the sleeve in the inflated condition, such that the pressure in the interior of the chamber contributes to creating the seal between the sleeve and the limb.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the sleeve includes an outer wall defining an outer diameter and an inner wall defining an inner diameter, and wherein, in the inflated condition with the limb received in the sleeve, the inner wall is in sealing contact with the limb and the outer wall defines a portion of the interior of the chamber.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the outer wall has a thickness greater than a thickness of the inner wall.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein, in the inflated condition of the sleeve, the inner diameter of the inner wall is less than the inner diameter of the inner wall prior to inflation of the sleeve to the inflated condition and the outer diameter of the outer wall is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the outer wall prior to inflation of the sleeve to the inflated condition.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein, when the sleeve is in the inflated condition, a pressure within the sleeve is less than a pressure in the interior of the chamber.

48. The method of claim 39, wherein the chamber comprises a collapsible bag having an opening at the open end of the chamber and sized and shaped to receive the limb and an inflatable rib for retaining the bag in a rigid state, the method further comprising:

inflating the rib at least partially before the limb is inserted through the sleeve and into the interior of the chamber.

49. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

supplying a gas to the rib under pressure during or after the evacuation of gas the interior of the chamber.