Therapeutic intermittent compression system with inflatable compartments of differing pressure from a single source

• US 5,496,262 A
• Filed: 07/25/1995
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aircast, Inc. (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aircast, Inc. (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: McCarthy, Mark J., McVicker, Henry J., Johnson, Glenn W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARK, JEANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/505,520
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 601/148-152, 602/13, 128/DIG. 20
• US Class Current: 601/152
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/20 Inflatable splint

Abstract

A system for intermittent, sequential, graduated compression of a multicompartment inflatable cuff by means of a single pulsing air pump and a single air tube connecting the pump to the cuff. Each more proximal compartment is inflated through a fluid restrictor communicating with its adjacent more distal compartment. The maximum pressure in the most proximal compartment is limited by a fluid restrictor bleeding air to atmosphere and the pressure in the most proximal compartment is always less than the pressure in the adjacent more distal compartment. The maximum pressure in the most distal compartment is controlled by a pressure relief valve. In a second embodiment, deflation is through a restrictor located in the supply line to the cuff and deflation of each more proximal compartment is through a one-way check-valve that permits flow of air from a proximal compartment to a distal compartment but not in the reverse direction.

Claims

1. A therapeutic intermittent and sequential compression system for application to a limb comprising:

a cuff-like member adapted to be applied to the limb of a user, said member enclosing at least two inflatable chambers, a first one of said at least two inflatable chambers enveloping a second one of said at least two inflatable chambers;

a pressure source for providing intermittent pressure pulses;

a single tube coupling said pressure source to said first one of said inflatable chambers for inflating said first one of said at least two inflatable chambers at a predetermined rate during a pulse cycle;

fluid connection means coupling said at least two inflatable chambers such that the rate of inflation of said second one of the said at least two chambers is less than the rate of inflation of said first one of said at least two inflatable chambers; and

fluid exhaust means for continuously exhausting the fluid in both chambers to atmosphere, said exhaust means being of a capacity small enough to permit pressurization during said pressure pulses and large enough to permit depressurization between said pulses, whereby said at least two inflatable chambers dissipate the fluid pressure in the time cycle between the intermittent pressure pulses and thereby cause said at least two inflatable chambers to deflate.

2. The therapeutic intermittent sequential compression system as in claim 1, wherein said at least two inflatable chambers further comprise:

a plurality of inflatable chambers;

adjacent ones of said plurality of inflatable chambers including a preceding inflatable chamber and a succeeding inflatable chamber;

said preceding inflatable chamber enveloping said succeeding inflatable chamber of each of said adjacent ones of said plurality of inflatable chambers; and

fluid connection means coupling said preceding inflatable chamber to said succeeding inflatable chamber of each of said adjacent ones of said plurality of inflatable chambers such that the rate of inflation of said succeeding inflatable chamber is less than that of said preceding inflatable chamber so as to cause a graduated amount of compression provided by said plurality of inflatable chambers.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said fluid connection means coupling said at least two inflatable chambers comprises a first restrictor and said fluid exhaust means comprises a second restrictor which has a flow capacity of about one fourth the volume of said first restrictor.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said first restrictor is about 0.031" i.d. and 0.875" long and said second restrictor is about 0.031" i.d. and 3.750" long.

5. The therapeutic intermittent compression system as in claim 1, further comprising a one-way check-valve coupling said at least two inflatable chambers such that compressed fluid is allowed to pass from said second chamber to said first chamber only during a deflation cycle.

6. The therapeutic intermittent compression system as in claim 5 further comprising a restrictor valve forming part of the single tube and exhausting to atmosphere, such that during the deflation cycle said at least two inflatable chambers may be deflated.

7. The therapeutic intermittent and sequential compression system as in claim 1, wherein said cuff-like member further comprises:

a sealed chamber having a first length;

an inflatable compartment having a greater length than said sealed chamber of said first length and surrounding the sealed chamber to form an air cell; and

said at least two inflatable chambers also being enclosed within said first inflatable compartment, and means separate from said pressure source for inflating said compartment to a desired level.

8. The therapeutic intermittent and sequential compression system as in claim 7, wherein said second one of said at least two inflatable chambers having a length corresponding to, and being adjacent, said sealed chamber, said first one of said at least two inflatable chambers being substantially coextensive with said inflatable compartment.

9. The therapeutic intermittent and sequential compression system of claim 7, wherein said sealed chamber includes a compressible foam member therein.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said inflatable compartment also includes a compressible foam member disposed therein.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said cuff-like member includes an outer wall of relatively rigid material.

12. A therapeutic intermittent compression system comprising:

a multicompartment inflatable cuff with compartments each having fluid retaining volumes being arranged one within another'"'"'s fluid retaining volume from an outermost compartment to an innermost compartment in fluid receiving sequence;

a source of intermittent pressure pulses coupled with a single tube to one of said compartments; and

a fluid restrictor coupled between adjacent ones of said compartments such that the pressure in succeeding ones of said compartments are always less than the pressure in preceding ones of said compartments in the sequence, and means for continuously exhausting said compartments to atmosphere, said means being of a capacity small enough to permit pressurization of said compartments during said pressure pulse and large enough to permit depressurization of said compartments between said pressure pulses.

13. An intermittent sequential compression system for engagement with at least a portion of an associated human limb, comprising:

pump means for periodically producing pulses of fluid under pressure;

cuff means adapted to be applied to the associated limb of a user;

single tube means coupling said pump means to said cuff means;

said cuff means including at least a first inflatable chamber having fluid retaining volumes and a second inflatable chamber with said second inflatable chamber being disposed within said first inflatable chamber'"'"'s fluid retaining volume;

restrictor coupling means disposed between said first and second inflatable chambers, permitting constant sequential fluid communication between said chambers;

said coupling means being in communication with said first chamber; and

means associated with said second chamber for permitting continuous exhaustion of fluid from said first and second chambers to atmosphere, whereby said pressure in said chamber dissipates between the intermittent pressure pulses.

14. A therapeutic intermittent and sequential compression system for application to a limb comprising:

a cuff-like member adapted to be applied to the limb of a user, said member comprising a sealed chamber having a first length,

an inflatable compartment having a length greater than said first length of said sealed chamber and enclosing said sealed chamber to form an air cell, and

at least two inflatable chambers also being enclosed within said inflatable compartment;

a pressure source for providing intermittent pressure pulses;

means separate from said pressure source for inflating said compartment to a desired level;

a single tube coupling said pressure source to a first one of said inflatable chambers for inflating said first inflatable chamber at a predetermined rate during a pulse cycle;

fluid connection means coupling said at least two inflatable chambers such that the rate of inflation of a second one of said chambers is less than the rate of inflation of said first chamber; and

fluid exhaust means for continuously exhausting the fluid in said inflatable chambers to atmosphere, whereby said inflatable chambers dissipate the fluid pressure in the time cycle between the intermittent pressure pulses and thereby cause said inflatable chambers to deflate.

15. The therapeutic intermittent compression system as in claim 14, wherein said at least two inflatable chambers are enclosed successively one within the other from an innermost inflatable chamber to an outermost inflatable chamber, said inner most inflatable chamber having a length corresponding to and being adjacent to said sealed chamber, and said outermost inflatable chamber being substantially coextensive with said inflatable compartment.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said sealed chamber includes a compressible foam like member therein.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said inflatable compartment also includes a compressible foam like member disposed therein.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said cuff-like member includes an outer wall of relatively rigid material.