Adjustable size and variable pressure regulated medical binder used by a patient after her or his body surgery

• US 5,391,141 A
• Filed: 11/10/1992
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Josef N. Hamilton
• Original Assignee: Josef N. Hamilton
• Inventors: Hamilton, Josef N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENEALY, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/974,139
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 128/96.1, 128/118.1, 128/874, 128/DIG. 20, 128/846, 602/13, 2/44, 601/148-152
• US Class Current: 601/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/03 Corsets or bandages for abdomen, teat or breast support, with or without pads trusses A61F5/24, pressure-pads A61F5/30; brassieres A41C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/34 Pressure pads filled with air or liquid valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; valves per se F16K

Abstract

After body surgery a patient has at her or his command the ability to create a suitable binding pressure in the locale of her or his body wound. An inflatable cushion, also referred to as an air bladder, is located over and beyond the wound. This positioning of the inflatable cushion is maintained by a strong netting which surrounds the body portion, and passes directly on and over the inflatable cushion. This surrounding netting is comfortably sized by the adjustment of selected spaced fasteners. The air pressure may be increased by the patient, or a person aiding the patient, by hand squeezing sequences of a hand gripping air bulb pump. Or the air pressure may be regulated by the patient, using the controls of equipment, preferably arranged on a self contained upright wheeled cart, having a battery electrical power source, an electric motor, an air compressor, a battery charger, and both an electrical switching control, and a pressurized air pressure reducing valve, arranged together in a control box, which is movable from the upright wheeled cart to a bed position, within the convenient reach of the patient, via the utilization of tethered pressure air line; and electrical circuit wires.

Claims

1. A hand truck supported assembly of intercooperating components, centering on the utilization of an adjustable size and variable pressure regulated medical binder used by a patient after her or his open heart surgery, comprising:

a. a hand truck having a vertical frame, a handle at the top of the frame, axle and wheels at the bottom of the frame, spaced shelves secured to the frame and extending horizontally out from the vertical frame;

b. an adjustable size and variable pressure regulated medical binder supported on the spaced shelves of the hand truck, comprising, in turn;

i. an inflatable air cushion for placement over the locale of the surgical wound during a healing period;

ii. an air compressing and pumping means to inflate the inflatable cushion to a pressure selected by the patient; and

iii. a strong netting arranged as a vest and having adjustable fastener assemblies for fitting closely over the inflatable cushion, when the inflatable cushion is over the locale of the surgical wound, and to continue on for fitting closely around a body portion of the patient, to thereby keep the inflatable cushion located over the locale of the surgical wound, when the inflatable air cushion is inflated to pressures selected by a patient, to assist the patient in reducing his or her pain, whenever coughing or other happenings occur, which tend to try to stress the healing wound;

c. wherein, said air compressing and pumping means is an assembly of an electric motor, an air compressor driven by the electrical motor, electrical wires connected between a source of electrical power and the electric motor and between the electric motor and a control box having an electrical switch, air conduits connected between the air compressor, the inflatable air cushion and an air valve in the control box, and control box including both the electrical switch comprising means for starting and stopping the electrical power used in operating the electric motor, and the air valve connected to the air conduits, which comprises means for releasing pressurized air from the air conduits, and the control box is positioned on a shelf of the hand truck, and there are sufficient lengths of electrical wires and air conduits so the control box can be placed within the convenient reach of a patient, when needed.

2. A hand truck supported assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air compressing and pumping means has:

a battery as a source of electrical energy and a battery charger for charging the battery, which are both supported on the shelves of the hand truck.