SEPARABLE SYSTEM FOR APPLYING COMPRESSION AND THERMAL TREATMENT

• US 20110257565A1
• Filed: 04/18/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulsar Scientific, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pulsar Scientific, LLC
• Inventors: Lewis, John, Stein, Aaron, Wilford, Michael L., Ubidia, Fernando
• Granted Patent: US 8,979,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0092 with, or also with, a substance other than air
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• 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 2201/0157 portable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• 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: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776

Abstract

The invention relates to a separable device for the application of compression and thermal therapy to a patient. A first section includes a reservoir, liquid pump and a thermal exchange system for the application of thermal therapy as well as a dock. The second section of the device includes an air compressor and at least one controller for the application of compression therapy and can be operated independently from the first section. Additionally, the second section may be engaged with a dock of the first section.

Claims

1. A compression and thermal application device comprising:

a first section including a reservoir a liquid pump, a thermal exchange system, at least one port in fluid communication with said reservoir, and a first electrical connection plug;

a second section, physically separate from said first section, including an air compressor, at least one port in fluid communication with said air compressor, one or more controllers that control the operation of the air compressor, and a second electrical connection plug;

wherein, said second electrical connection plug is removably connected to, and in electrical communication with, said first electrical connection plug.

2. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 1 wherein

said first section further includes a dock, said dock defining a cavity that accommodates said second section and wherein said dock includes said first electrical connection plug;

said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug being oriented such that when said second section is docked in said dock of said first section, said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug are in electrical communication.

3. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 1 wherein

said second section includes a control panel in electrical communication with said controller.

4. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 1 wherein

one or more of said one or more controllers controls the operation of said air compressor, said liquid pump and said thermal exchange system when said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug are connected.

5. A compression and thermal application device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

at one or more memories connected to any of said one or more controllers, at least one of said memories being adapted to store data respecting the operation of any of said one or more controllers, said thermal transfer system, said liquid pump or said air compressor.

6. A compression and thermal application device as set forth in claim 5 wherein

at least one of said one or more memories is a removable memory.

7. A compression and thermal application device as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug each include a plurality of contacts and wherein one contact of the plurality of contacts has dimensions greater than the dimensions of each of the other contacts.

8. A compression and thermal application device as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug each include a plurality of contacts and wherein on contact of the plurality of contacts has dimensions greater than the dimensions of each of the other contacts, at least one of said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug being resiliently biased in at least one direction.

9. A compression and thermal application device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

A first section having a dock, said dock defining a cavity that accommodates said second section;

a resilient clip connected to said first section such that said resilient clip engages said second section when said second section is docked in said first section.

10. A compression and thermal application device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a first dock, said first dock defining a cavity in said first section that accommodates said second section;

A face plate having a control interface and a signal emitter, and a second dock, said second dock defining a cavity in said first section that accommodates said face plate;

wherein, at least one of said first section and said second section includes a controller and a signal receiver.

11. A compression and thermal application device comprising:

a first section including a reservoir, a liquid pump, a thermal exchange system, at least one port in fluid communication with said reservoir, a first control panel and a first electrical connection plug;

a second section, physically separate from said first section, including an air compressor, at least one port in fluid communication with said air compressor, one or more controllers, a second control panel in electrical communication with at least one of said controllers, and a second electrical connection plug wherein said second electrical connection plug is removably connected to, and in electrical communication with, said first electrical connection plug.

12. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 11 wherein

said first control panel is in electrical communication with said first electrical connection plug, said liquid pump, said thermal exchange system and at least one of said one or more controllers when said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug are connected together.

13. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 11 wherein

said first control panel is in electrical communication with said first electrical connection plug, said second electrical connection plug and at least one of said one or more controllers and any of said liquid pump, said thermal exchange system or said air compressor when said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug are connected together such that a control command input on said first control panel will be sent to said one or more controllers, said one or more controllers thereafter controlling the operation of at least one of said liquid pump, said thermal exchange system or said air compressor in accordance with said control command.

14. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 11 wherein

said second control panel is in electrical communication with said first electrical connection plug, said second electrical connection plug and at least one of said one or more controllers and any of said liquid pump, said thermal exchange system or said air compressor when said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug are connected together such that a control command input on said second control panel will be sent to said one or more controllers, said one or more controllers thereafter controlling the operation of at least one of said liquid pump, said thermal exchange system or said air compressor in accordance with said control command.

15. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 11 wherein

said first section further includes a dock, said dock defining a cavity that accommodates said second section and wherein said dock includes said first electrical connection plug;

wherein a user may input commands using said second control panel when said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug are connected.

16. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 11 wherein

said first section further includes a dock said dock defining a cavity that accommodates said second section and wherein said dock includes said first electrical connection plug;

wherein said dock obscures said second control panel when said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug are connected.

17. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 11 wherein

said first section further includes a dock said dock defining a cavity that accommodates said second section and wherein said dock includes said first electrical connection plug;

wherein said dock obscures said second control panel when said first electrical connection plug and said second electrical connection plug are connected; and

wherein said second section engages said first section when said second section is docked with said first section.

18. A compression and thermal application device as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

at one or more memories connected to any of said one or more controllers, at least one of said memories being adapted to store data respecting the operation of any of said one or more controllers, said thermal transfer system, said liquid pump or said air compressor.

19. A compression and thermal application device as in claim 11 wherein

said first section further includes a dock said dock defining a cavity that accommodates said second section;

and

wherein said first section includes one or more resilient clips, snaps, pins or screws that engage said second section when said second section is docked with said first section.

20. A method of storing a compression and thermal application device that comprises a first section including a dock, at least one first section port, a reservoir, a thermal exchange system, a liquid pump, one or more first controllers that control the operation of the liquid pump and thermal exchange system and a first section control panel in electrical communication with said one or more first controllers;

a second section including at least one second section port, a second section air compressor, one or more second controllers that control the operation of said air compressor and a second section control panel in electrical communication with said one or more second controllers wherein said dock accommodates said second section comprising;

inserting said second section into said dock of said first section such that said second section engages said dock.