TOURNIQUET FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY, AND METHOD OF USING SAME
First Claim
1. A thigh compression system for use with magnetic resonance imaging equipment, the thigh compression system comprising:
- a thigh compression device including;
first and second layers of flexible material welded together to form an air tight bladderwherein the bladder has two opposed faces, the faces each shaped as an angular sector of an annulus and joined to one another along four edges, the first edge being an outer arcuate edge of the sector, the second edge being an inner arcuate edge of the sector, and the third and fourth edges being radial edges of the sector, wherein the first edge is longer than the second edge,and wherein the bladder is inflatable by a fluid; and
multiple welds within the bladder that attach opposed sides of the bladder to one another and that restrict the amount that the bladder expands when inflated;
extension tubing coupled to the bladder; and
an inflation device, coupled to the extension tubing of the thigh compression device, to inflate the inflatable bladder.
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Abstract
A thigh compression device and technique to control, time, delay and/or prevent excessive early venous enhancement relative to arterial enhancement and thereby improve and/or enhance MRA images, including peripheral MRA images, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a curved strip of material which is longer on the superior edge and shorter along the inferior edge. When wrapped around the conical shape of the thigh of a subject, for example, a human, the thigh compression device more uniformly conforms to and/or fits around the thigh, providing more even/uniform compression as well as reducing, minimizing and/or eliminating significant movement of the thigh compression device towards the knees of the subject. A snug fit on the thighs may also enable the thigh compression device to be inflated with less fluid, which is faster and less cumbersome for the operator.
75 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A thigh compression system for use with magnetic resonance imaging equipment, the thigh compression system comprising:
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a thigh compression device including; first and second layers of flexible material welded together to form an air tight bladder wherein the bladder has two opposed faces, the faces each shaped as an angular sector of an annulus and joined to one another along four edges, the first edge being an outer arcuate edge of the sector, the second edge being an inner arcuate edge of the sector, and the third and fourth edges being radial edges of the sector, wherein the first edge is longer than the second edge, and wherein the bladder is inflatable by a fluid; and multiple welds within the bladder that attach opposed sides of the bladder to one another and that restrict the amount that the bladder expands when inflated; extension tubing coupled to the bladder; and an inflation device, coupled to the extension tubing of the thigh compression device, to inflate the inflatable bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An assembly comprising:
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a tubing constructed of MR-compatible materials, the tubing having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured for air tight attachment to an inflatable bladder; a pressure regulator having an output attached to the second end of the tubing, the pressure regulator being capable of maintaining the pressure in the inflatable bladder at a pressure of 60 mmHg; and a high-pressure air reservoir having; an output connected to an input of the pressure regulator; and an input configured for air tight attachment to a pressurized air source capable of inflating the high-pressure air reservoir to pressures higher than 60 mmHg.
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Specification