Fitting of Compression Garment

• US 20110190675A1
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vess, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,257,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/085 Openable readjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1647 the anatomy of a particular individual
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0092 Cuffs therefor

Abstract

Optimizing fit of a compression garment for use with a patient receiving compression therapy. Sensors formed on the garment detect characteristics of the fit of the garment in the vicinity of each sensor. The fit sensors may be capacitive disks imprinted on the garment. A controller computes overall fit of the garment on the patient based on signals from the sensors.

Claims

1. A system for applying compression treatment comprising:

a garment sized and shaped to be wrapped around substantially a body part of a wearer, said garment comprising one or more selectively inflatable bladders for applying compression to the body part upon inflation;

one or more fasteners for securing the garment in a self-retaining wrapped configuration around the body part;

at least one capacitive sensor formed on the garment, said sensor generating a signal indicative of a gap between the garment and the body part when the garment is in the wrapped configuration; and

a compression control unit, said control unit comprising;

a pump for pressurizing fluid;

an outlet port in fluid communication with the pump, said outlet port having fluid tubing connected thereto for delivering pressurized fluid to the inflatable bladders; and

one or more processors receiving and responsive to the signal from the capacitive sensor for evaluating an overall fit of the garment on the body part based on the gap between the garment and the body part.

2. The compression system of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor is a printed-on conductive element formed on the garment.

3. The compression system of claim 1, wherein each inflatable bladder has at least one capacitive sensor formed thereon.

4. The compression system of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises one or more areas of local fit, and wherein each area of local fit has at least one corresponding capacitive sensor formed thereon.

5. The compression system of claim 4, wherein an adjustable fastener is formed near each capacitive sensor to adjust the local fit of the garment in the vicinity of the corresponding capacitive sensor.

6. The compression system of claim 5, where the adjustable fastener comprises at least one of the following:

a hook and loop strap, a looped hook and loop strap, a hook and loop wrap, and a belt and buckle.

7. The compression system of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a radio frequency (RF) signal generator for transmitting RF signals to each capacitive sensor.

8. The compression system of claim 7, wherein each capacitive sensor generates RF absorption current as a function of the gap between the capacitive sensor and the body part, said RF absorption current being indicative of local fit of the garment in the vicinity of the capacitive sensor.

9. The compression system of claim 7, wherein each capacitive sensor forms an oscillator circuit with the RF signal generator, wherein a resonant frequency of the oscillator circuit varies as a function of the gap between the capacitive sensor and the body part, said resonant frequency being indicative of local fit of the garment in the vicinity of the capacitive electrode.

10. The compression system of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a fit indicator.

11. The compression system of claim 10, wherein the fit indicator comprises a plurality of visual indicators, each of said visual indicators corresponding to one of the capacitive sensors and being indicative of local fit of the garment in the vicinity of the corresponding capacitive sensor.

12. The compression system of claim 11, wherein the visual indicator is a light emitting diode.

13. The compression system of claim 10, wherein the fit indicator is an audible tone that increases in pitch as a function of overall fit of the garment.

14. A compression garment assembly comprising:

a compression garment adapted for placement on a body part, said garment having at least one selectively inflatable bladder for applying compression to the body part upon inflation;

a plurality of capacitive sensors formed on the garment, each of said capacitive sensors generating a signal indicative of a gap between the garment and the body part when the garment is placed thereon, said sensors defining one or more areas of local fit specified for proper operation, said areas each having at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors formed thereon, wherein the generated signal from each of the capacitive sensors is indicative of a gap between the garment and the body part in the respective area of local fit; and

a compression control unit for selectively inflating the bladder, said control unit comprising a processor operatively connected to the plurality of capacitive sensors, said processor configured for indicating proper fit of each of the one or more areas of local fit on the body part as a function of the generated signals from the plurality of capacitive sensors and thereby improving efficacy of compression treatment.

15. The compression garment of claim 14, wherein the capacitive sensors are printed-on conductive elements formed on the compressive garment.

16. The compression garment of claim 14, wherein an adjustable fastener is formed near each capacitive sensor to adjust the local fit of the corresponding area to achieve proper fit.

17. The compression garment of claim 16, where the adjustable fastener comprises as least one of the following:

a hook and loop strap, a looped hook and loop strap, a hook and loop wrap, and a belt and buckle.

18. The compression garment of claim 14, further comprising a radio frequency (RF) signal generator for transmitting RF signals to each capacitive sensor.

19. The compression garment of claim 18, wherein each capacitive sensor generates RF absorption current as a function of the gap between the capacitive sensor and the body part of the patient in the corresponding area of local fit.

20. The compression garment of claim 18, wherein each capacitive sensor forms an oscillator circuit with the RF signal generator, wherein a resonant frequency of the oscillator circuit varies as a function of the gap between the capacitive sensor and the limb of the patient in the corresponding area of local fit.

21. The compression garment of claim 14, wherein the controller further comprises a fit indicator.

22. The compression garment of claim 21, wherein the fit indicator comprises a plurality of visual indicators, each of said visual indicators corresponding to one of the plurality of capacitive sensors and being indicative of proper fit of the garment in the corresponding area of local fit.

23. The compression garment of claim 21, wherein the visual indicator is a light emitting diode.

24. The compression garment of claim 21, wherein the fit indicator is an audible tone that increases in pitch as a function of overall fit of the compressive garment to the limb.

25. A method of monitoring use of a compression garment by a patient, said method comprising:

receiving a signal generated by a capacitive sensor formed on the garment, said signal being indicative of a gap between the garment and the patient during use;

evaluating said signal from the one or more sensors to determine an overall fit of the garment on the limb based on the gap between the garment and the patient;

determining use of the compression garment by the patient; and

generating compliance efficacy data as a function of the determined overall fit and the determined garment use.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said evaluating further comprises determining if the garment is appropriately sized for the patient.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said garment comprises an adjustable fastener securing the garment on the patient, said method further comprising:

forming, by the adjustable fastener during use, a variable capacitor;

evaluating capacitance of the variable capacitor;

indicating that the garment is too big for the patient when the capacitance is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum;

indicating that the garment is too small for the patient when the capacitance is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum; and

indicating that the garment is appropriately sized for the patient when the capacitance is between the prescribed maximum and the prescribed minimum.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the adjustable fastener comprises a pair of overlapping hook and loop tabs, each tab having a conducting strip printed thereon, wherein the evaluated capacitance is a function of an area of overlap between the conducting strips of the overlapping hook and loop tabs.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the evaluated capacitance is further a function of a relative alignment between the conducting strips of the overlapping hook and loop tabs.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the compression garment comprises a plurality of critical areas of desirable fit, wherein each critical area has at least one capacitive sensor formed thereon, wherein overall fit of the garment is determined as a function of the plurality of sensors corresponding to the plurality of critical areas.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

monitoring variations in the received signal from the capacitive sensor, said monitored variations being indicative of variations in the gap between the garment and the patient caused by systemic blood circulation in the patient;

calculating a venous refill time (VRT) value as a function of the monitored variations; and

triggering a caution indicator indicative of non-compliance when the VRT value falls below a predetermined lower limit.