Counterpulsation device using noncompressed air
First Claim
1. An assembly for administering external counterpulsation therapy to a patient, comprising:
- an inflatable cuff that is adapted to be placed about a selected portion of the patient'"'"'s body;
an air moving device comprising a cylinder and a moving member that moves in reciprocating strokes in a first and second direction respectively within said cylinder to move noncompressed air;
an inflate conduit interconnecting said cuff and said air moving device that permits noncompressed air to move through said inflate conduit toward said cuff in a first direction to selectively inflate said cuff;
a deflate conduit interconnecting said cuff and said air moving device that permits noncompressed air to move through said deflate conduit in a second direction to selectively deflate said cuff;
an inflate valve responsive to said reciprocating movement of said moving member wherein said inflate valve selectively couples said cuff to said inflate conduit to selectively inflate said cuff during either of said reciprocating strokes of said moving member; and
a deflate valve responsive to said reciprocating movement of said moving member wherein said deflate valve selectively couples said cuff to said deflate conduit to selectively deflate said cuff during either of said reciprocating strokes of said moving member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A counterpulsation device that operates without the use of compressed air or pressurized gas includes at least one inflatable cuff that is adapted to be placed about a selected portion of the patient'"'"'s body. A conduit connects the inflatable cuff to an air transfer device so that noncompressed air can be transferred from the air transfer device to the cuff through the conduit to inflate the cuff. The conduit also connects the cuff to the air transfer device so that air can flow through the conduit to deflate the cuff. Another conduit is coupled to the first so that the air in the system can be selectively vented into the atmosphere. A series of valves are placed on the conduit to selectively control whether air is supplied to or withdrawn from the inflatable cuff. The air moving device preferably is a cylinder having a piston that moves through the cylinder to move the air from within the cylinder through the conduit and into or out of the cuff as desired. The piston moves through the cylinder through the use of a linear servo actuator that is controlled by an appropriately programmed electronic controller so that the inflation of the cuff is timed with portions of the patient'"'"'s EKG signal and peripheral plethysmographic wave.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An assembly for administering external counterpulsation therapy to a patient, comprising:
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an inflatable cuff that is adapted to be placed about a selected portion of the patient'"'"'s body;
an air moving device comprising a cylinder and a moving member that moves in reciprocating strokes in a first and second direction respectively within said cylinder to move noncompressed air;
an inflate conduit interconnecting said cuff and said air moving device that permits noncompressed air to move through said inflate conduit toward said cuff in a first direction to selectively inflate said cuff;
a deflate conduit interconnecting said cuff and said air moving device that permits noncompressed air to move through said deflate conduit in a second direction to selectively deflate said cuff;
an inflate valve responsive to said reciprocating movement of said moving member wherein said inflate valve selectively couples said cuff to said inflate conduit to selectively inflate said cuff during either of said reciprocating strokes of said moving member; and
a deflate valve responsive to said reciprocating movement of said moving member wherein said deflate valve selectively couples said cuff to said deflate conduit to selectively deflate said cuff during either of said reciprocating strokes of said moving member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A counterpulsation therapy assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable cuff that is adapted to be placed about a selected portion of a patient'"'"'s body;
a conduit in communication with said cuff;
a fluid moving device including a housing having a first port and a second port and a moving member that moves within said housing in a first direction to move noncompressed fluid out of said housing through said first port and moves within said housing in a second direction to move noncompressed fluid out of said housing through said second port; and
a transient suppressor responsive to said movement of said moving member wherein said transient suppressor selectively couples said conduit to said first port when said moving member moves in said first direction and selectively couples said conduit to said second port when said moving member moves in said second direction such that the noncompressed fluid exiting from the housing moves into and at least partially through said conduit toward said cuff whenever said moving member moves within said housing;
said transient suppressor having a pair of valves for controlling said fluid movement into and at least partially through said conduit toward said cuff. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification