Apparatus for application of pressure to a human body
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for applying external pressure variation to a given body portion of a user'"'"'s body comprising:
- a sheath means adapted to be retained with respect to the given body portion;
said sheath means including a flexible portion which is adapted to be formed into a selected shape which closely conforms with the given body portion to provide a closely form-fitting enclosure which envelopes the given body portion at essentially a minimum spacing therefrom when said sheath means is retained with respect to the given body portion;
said sheath means including seal means which is operable to engage the user'"'"'s body to form within said form-fitting enclosure an enclosed space intermediate said sheath means and the given body portion;
connection means communicating with said enclosed space and adapted to be connected to a pressure medium source for applying the pressure of a pressure medium at variance from ambient atmospheric pressure within said enclosed space; and
means operable for selectively rigidifying said flexible portion when retained with respect to the given body portion in a manner that upon said selectively rigidifying, said flexible portion is maintained in said selected shape to provide said closely form fitting enclosure at said essentially minimum spacing throughout application of pressure within said enclosed space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A respirator, resuscitator, wrap or sheath, breathing mask or the like which provides a closely form-fitting shell adapted to be disposed adjacent a portion of a human body to form intermediate the shell and the human body portion a thin section, minimal volume pressure containment chamber which receives pressures varying from ambient pressure for therapeutic purposes, and a corresponding method.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying external pressure variation to a given body portion of a user'"'"'s body comprising:
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a sheath means adapted to be retained with respect to the given body portion; said sheath means including a flexible portion which is adapted to be formed into a selected shape which closely conforms with the given body portion to provide a closely form-fitting enclosure which envelopes the given body portion at essentially a minimum spacing therefrom when said sheath means is retained with respect to the given body portion; said sheath means including seal means which is operable to engage the user'"'"'s body to form within said form-fitting enclosure an enclosed space intermediate said sheath means and the given body portion; connection means communicating with said enclosed space and adapted to be connected to a pressure medium source for applying the pressure of a pressure medium at variance from ambient atmospheric pressure within said enclosed space; and means operable for selectively rigidifying said flexible portion when retained with respect to the given body portion in a manner that upon said selectively rigidifying, said flexible portion is maintained in said selected shape to provide said closely form fitting enclosure at said essentially minimum spacing throughout application of pressure within said enclosed space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for enclosing a selected body portion of a human body comprising:
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an enclosing means which is adapted to confront the selected body portion; seal means associated with said enclosing means and operable to encompass a peripheral extent of the selected body portion and to sealingly engage said peripheral extent in a manner to define an enclosed space which extends adjacent the selected body portion and is enveloped by said enclosing means; said enclosing means including a flexible portion which is adapted to be formed into a selected shape which closely conforms with at least a corresponding adjacent part of the selected body portion to provide a closely form-fitting enclosure which envelopes said corresponding adjacent part of the body portion at essentially a minimum spacing therefrom; means operable for selectively rigidifying said flexible portion in a manner that upon said selective rigidifying said flexible portion is maintained in said selected shape; and pressure medium connection means communicating with said enclosed space and adapted to be connected to a pressure medium source to provide within said enclosed space pressure at variance from ambient atmospheric pressure for application to the selected body portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for enclosing a selected body portion of a human body comprising:
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an enclosing means which is adapted to confront the body portion; said enclosing means including a flexible portion which is adapted to be formed into closely conforming relation with respect to at least a corresponding adjacent part of the body portion; first rigidifying means selectively operable to temporarily rigidify said flexible portion to maintain said closely conforming relation of said flexible portions with said corresponding adjacent part of the body portion; and second rigidifying means operable to maintain the rigidity of said flexible portion in said closely conforming relation with said corresponding adjacent part of the body portion after release of said first rigidifying means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification