Peripheral vein dilation device and method
First Claim
1. A vein dilation device, comprising:
- a chamber having an interior for receiving a portion of a body, said chamber having at least one inlet for admitting a fluid into said chamber;
a fluid supply connected to said at least one inlet, to enable the fluid to be supplied into said chamber via said at least one inlet;
a suction source connected to said chamber to apply suction to said interior of said chamber;
a heater positioned to be able to heat the fluid being supplied into said chamber by said fluid supply; and
a control system constructed such as to enable said vein dilation device to be operated by actuating said heater and said fluid supply to cause heat to be applied to the portion of the body at a first time, said heater and/or fluid supply are then controlled to terminate application of heat to the portion of the body, after which said suction source is actuated to apply suction to the portion of the body at a second time after termination of the heating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device suitable for vein dilation includes a chamber having an interior for receiving a portion of a body, and having at least one inlet for admitting a fluid into the chamber. A fluid supply is connected to that inlet to enable the fluid to be admitted into the chamber. A suction source is connected to the chamber such as to be able to apply suction to the interior of the chamber, and a heater is positioned to be able to heat the fluid being supplied to the chamber by the fluid supply. In use, a portion of a body may be massaged and heated (one possibility is to use a fluidized bed formed in the chamber while the body portion is in the chamber), and a vacuum is applied to the portion of the body after performance of the massaging and heating step. Alternatively, the massaging may be omitted, and the body portion heated first and then subjected to a period of suction.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A vein dilation device, comprising:
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a chamber having an interior for receiving a portion of a body, said chamber having at least one inlet for admitting a fluid into said chamber;
a fluid supply connected to said at least one inlet, to enable the fluid to be supplied into said chamber via said at least one inlet;
a suction source connected to said chamber to apply suction to said interior of said chamber;
a heater positioned to be able to heat the fluid being supplied into said chamber by said fluid supply; and
a control system constructed such as to enable said vein dilation device to be operated by actuating said heater and said fluid supply to cause heat to be applied to the portion of the body at a first time, said heater and/or fluid supply are then controlled to terminate application of heat to the portion of the body, after which said suction source is actuated to apply suction to the portion of the body at a second time after termination of the heating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A vein dilation device, comprising:
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a chamber having an interior for receiving a portion of a body, said chamber having at least one inlet for admitting a fluid into said chamber;
a fluid supply connected to said at least one inlet, to enable the fluid to be supplied into said chamber via said at least one inlet;
a suction source connected to said chamber to apply suction to said interior of said chamber; and
a heater positioned to be able to heat the fluid being supplied into said chamber by said fluid supply, and having a blower/vacuum pump which serves as both said fluid supply and said suction source.
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6. A method of vasodilation for a portion of a human or other body, comprising the steps of:
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positioning the portion of the body in a sleeve;
massaging the portion of the body by managing movement of a wall of the sleeve and heating the portion of the body during the massaging; and
applying a vacuum to the portion of the body after performance of said massaging and heating step.
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7. A method of vasodilation for a portion of a human or other body, comprising the steps of:
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positioning the portion of the body in a chamber;
supplying heat to the portion of the body; and
after termination of said supplying step, applying vacuum suction to the portion of the body. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification