DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPRESSION TREATMENT OF A BODY PART

• US 20100056966A1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swelling Solutions, Inc. (Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Swelling Solutions, Inc. (Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Toth, Landy
• Granted Patent: US 8,764,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/085 Openable readjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 11/00 Belts, strips or combs for massage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2011/005 with belt or strap expanding and contracting around an encircled body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0111 watertight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1207 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/149 rotation-linear or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1654 Layer between the skin and massage elements, e.g. fluid or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1688 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1695 Enhanced pressure effect, e.g. substantially sharp projections, needles or pyramids
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1697 Breathability of the material
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/30 Blood pressure A61H2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor

Abstract

A device for compressive treatment of a body part comprises a compression member, adapted to at least partly encircle the body part, and an actuation unit, arranged to tighten the compression member to provide a compressive force to the body part. The actuation unit comprises an active material actuator. There is also disclosed a system comprising such a device and methods for its therapeutic, cosmetic and non-therapeutic use and operation.

Claims

1-117. -117. (canceled)

118. A device for compressive treatment of a body part, the device comprising:

a compression member, adapted to at least partly encircle the body part, and

an actuation unit, arranged to tighten the compression member to provide a compressive force to the body part,

the actuation unit comprising an active material actuator

wherein a gripping member is connected to the actuator to perform a cyclic motion, and

wherein the gripping member is arranged to engage a movable member, connected to the compression member.

119. The device as claimed in claim 118, wherein the actuation unit is arranged to stepwise tighten the compression member.

120. The device as claimed in claim 118, wherein the movable member, during a first part of the cyclic motion is movable with the gripping member, and during a second part of the cyclic motion is movable relative to the gripping member.

121. The device as claimed in claim 118, wherein during the first part of the cyclic motion, the gripping member is in a force-transferring engagement with the movable member, and wherein, during the second part of the cyclic motion, the force-transferring engagement is eliminated or substantially reduced.

122. The device as claimed in claim 118, wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of about 1 to 200 Hz, about 0.2 to 20 kHz or about 20 kHz to 1 MHz.

123. The device as claimed in claim 118, further rectification means for providing a one-way motion of the movable member.

124. The device as claimed in claim 118, wherein the movable member comprises a rotatable part, which is rotatably arranged about a substantially central axis, and wherein the gripping member is arranged to act on a surface of said rotatable part.

125. The device as claimed in claim 124, wherein the gripping member is arranged to engage a surface of the rotatable part, at a distance from the central axis,

wherein a spindle is rotatable about said central axis and connected to the rotatable part, and

wherein the compression member or a connection member, connected to the compression member, is windable onto the spindle.

126. The device as claimed in claim 125, wherein effective diameters of the rotatable part and the spindle member are different.

127. The device as claimed in claim 124, wherein the actuation unit comprises two actuators, which are individually drivable.

128. The device as claimed in claim 118, wherein the device is sized and adapted to form a sleeve around the body part.

129. The device as claimed in claim 118, wherein the actuation unit and the compression member, if any, form an active layer, and wherein the device comprises at least one of:

a sensor layer, arranged between the active layer and the body part;

an inner layer, arranged between the sensor layer, or the active layer, and the body part; and

an outer layer, arranged outside the active layer.

130. The device as claimed in claim 129, wherein the inner layer and the sensor layer are integrated to form a disposable layer.

131. The device as claimed in claim 130, wherein said disposable layer comprises means for mechanically and/or electrically connecting with the active layer.

132. The device as claimed in claim 129, wherein said disposable layer comprises means for transferring a signal from the disposable layer to the active layer or to an control unit, which is external to the device.

133. The device as claimed in claim 129, wherein the inner layer is in the form of a disposable stocking.

134. A system comprising a device as claimed in claim 118, and a control unit, connected to the device and arranged to provide a control signal to the device.

135. The system as claimed in claim 134, comprising a sensor layer including at least one sensor element, and wherein the control unit is arranged to receive a feedback signal from the sensor.

136. The system as claimed in claim 134, wherein the control unit is at least partially integrated with the device.