High-efficiency external counterpulsation apparatus and method for performing the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An external counterpulsation system which compresses a limited area of the lower limbs and buttocks;
- does not require high inflation pressures;
reduces skin irritation; and
reduces or eliminates the need for bladder deflation during a premature ventricular contraction, comprising;
six air pressurizable bladders, wherein each said air bladder has a compression surface area of about forty square inches;
a right and left lower thigh cuff, each said lower thigh cuff adapted for holding one said air bladder against the lower thigh of a patient and transmitting force generated by pressurization of said bladder to said patient through said compression surface area;
a right and left upper thigh cuff, each said upper thigh cuff adapted for holding one said air bladder against the upper thigh of said patient and transmitting force generated by pressurization of said bladder to said patient through said compression surface area;
a buttock cuff adapted for holding two said air bladders against the buttocks of said patient and transmitting force generated by pressurization of said bladders to said patient through said compression surface areas;
wherein said cuffs are no more than six inches in width;
an air compressor for pressurizing said bladders;
a pressure regulator for limiting the pressurization of said bladders to no greater than 240 mm Hg;
a plurality of valves for controlling the timing of said pressurization of said bladders;
an ECG signal from an external ECG monitor connected to said patient;
an ECG signal input connector that is capable of accepting ECG signals from different external ECG monitors;
a programmable logic controller programmed to receive said ECG signal and generating valve timing signals from peaks in said ECG signal;
wherein said programmable logic controller is programmed not to terminate the valve timing signals upon detection of a premature ventricular contraction.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An external counterpulsation apparatus has an efficient cuff and bladder system. Embodiments of this system generally allow effective treatment at lower pressures and a reduced total body surface area being compressed. An accurate and reliable combination of automatic and preset timing for inflation and deflation of the bladder system is used to simplify use of the apparatus.
-
Citations
65 Claims
-
1. An external counterpulsation system which compresses a limited area of the lower limbs and buttocks;
- does not require high inflation pressures;
reduces skin irritation; and
reduces or eliminates the need for bladder deflation during a premature ventricular contraction, comprising;six air pressurizable bladders, wherein each said air bladder has a compression surface area of about forty square inches; a right and left lower thigh cuff, each said lower thigh cuff adapted for holding one said air bladder against the lower thigh of a patient and transmitting force generated by pressurization of said bladder to said patient through said compression surface area; a right and left upper thigh cuff, each said upper thigh cuff adapted for holding one said air bladder against the upper thigh of said patient and transmitting force generated by pressurization of said bladder to said patient through said compression surface area; a buttock cuff adapted for holding two said air bladders against the buttocks of said patient and transmitting force generated by pressurization of said bladders to said patient through said compression surface areas; wherein said cuffs are no more than six inches in width; an air compressor for pressurizing said bladders; a pressure regulator for limiting the pressurization of said bladders to no greater than 240 mm Hg; a plurality of valves for controlling the timing of said pressurization of said bladders; an ECG signal from an external ECG monitor connected to said patient; an ECG signal input connector that is capable of accepting ECG signals from different external ECG monitors; a programmable logic controller programmed to receive said ECG signal and generating valve timing signals from peaks in said ECG signal; wherein said programmable logic controller is programmed not to terminate the valve timing signals upon detection of a premature ventricular contraction.
- does not require high inflation pressures;
-
2. A method for performing external counterpulsation which compresses a limited area of the lower limbs and buttocks;
- does not require high inflation pressures;
reduces skin irritation; and
reduces or eliminates the need for bladder deflation during a premature ventricular contraction, comprising;providing an external counterpulsation apparatus having a plurality of cuffs and bladders, a pressure source for pressurizing said bladders, a physiological sensor and a pressure controller, wherein said bladders each have a compression surface area of less than about 40 square inches and the total compression surface area of said bladders is less than about 240 square inches.; attaching said bladders to a patient; sensing heart activity in said patient; limiting the pressure of said bladders to no greater than 240 mm Hg; and compressing said patient with said bladders in coordination with said heart activity; wherein said compressing step comprises compression of the lower thighs, the upper thighs and the buttocks of said patient; and said compressing step does not require compression of other areas on the lower limbs or pelvic region.
- does not require high inflation pressures;
-
3. An external counterpulsation system, comprising:
-
a plurality of pressurizable bladders, said bladders each having a compression surface area for transmitting pressure; wherein said compression surface area of each said bladder is generally less than about 80 square inches and the total compression surface area of said bladders is less than about 600 square inches; a plurality of cuffs adapted for holding said bladders against the body of said patient; a pressure source for pressurizing said bladders; an ECG signal source for providing an ECG signal; a valve controller for receiving said ECG signal and generating at least one control signal; a plurality of valves for receiving said control signals and controlling pressurization of said bladders; and said valves having a first position that allows depressurization of said bladders and a second position that allows pressurization of said bladders by said pressure source. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. An external counterpulsation system, comprising:
-
a plurality of pressurizable bladders, said bladders each having a compression surface area for transmitting pressure of about 40 square inches or less; a bladder selector capable of inactivating at least one of said bladders to limit the total compression surface area of bladders used during a treatment to less than about 240 square inches; a plurality of cuffs adapted for holding said bladders against the body of said patient; a pressure source for pressurizing said bladders; an ECG signal source for providing an ECG signal; a valve controller for receiving said ECG signal and generating at least one control signal; a plurality of valves for receiving said control signals and controlling pressurization of said bladders; and said valves having a first position that allows depressurization of said bladders and a second position that allows pressurization of said bladders by said pressure source. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. An external counterpulsation system, comprising:
-
a plurality of compression members, each said compression member having a compression surface area for transmitting pressures; wherein said compression surface areas of each said compression member has a compression surface area generally less than about 40 square inches and the total compression surface area of said compression members is less than about 240 square inches; wherein said compression members have a first position that is capable of applying compression against said body and a second position that relieves compression of said body, a plurality of cuffs for holding said compression members against the body of said patient; wherein said cuffs are generally about 6 inches or less in width; a energy source for activating said compression members; an ECG signal source for providing an ECG signal; a main controller for receiving said ECG signal and generating at least one control signal; and a plurality of compression member controllers for receiving said control signals and controlling said position of said compression members. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
42. An external counterpulsation system, including:
-
pressurizable bladders for compressing the superior-posterior knee regions, the inguinal regions and buttocks but not the remaining portions of the legs and pelvic regions of the patient; and retention members adapted to hold said bladders against the body of said patient; wherein said retention members comprise cuffs and said cuffs comprise pockets for holding said bladders.
-
-
43. An external counterpulsation system, including:
-
pressurizable bladders for compressing the superior-posterior knee regions, the inguinal regions and buttocks but not the remaining portions of the legs and pelvic regions of the patient; and retention members adapted to hold said bladders against the body of said patient; wherein said retention members comprise cuffs and friction or slip-resistant pads.
-
-
44. An external counterpulsation system, including:
-
pressurizable bladders for compressing the superior-posterior knee regions, the inguinal regions and buttocks but not the remaining portions of the legs and pelvic regions of the patient; and retention members adapted to hold said bladders against the body of said patient; wherein said retention, members comprise cuffs and protective padding.
-
-
45. A compression system for an external counterpulsation system, including:
-
compression members for compressing the body of a patient; and retention members adapted to hold said compression members against the superior-posterior knee regions, the inguinal regions and buttocks but not the remaining portions of the legs and pelvic regions of the patient; wherein said compression members comprise electromechanical actuators. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
-
-
48. A compression system for an external counterpulsation system, including:
-
compression members for compressing the body of a patient; and retention members adapted to hold said compression members against the superior-posterior knee regions, the inguinal regions and buttocks but not the remaining portions of the legs and pelvic regions of the patient; wherein said retention members comprise cuffs. - View Dependent Claims (49)
-
-
50. A method for performing external counterpulsation, comprising the steps of:
-
providing an external counterpulsation apparatus, the apparatus comprising a pressurized fluid source;
a plurality of valves, a valve controller, a physiological sensor and a plurality of active bladders each having a compression surface of less than about 40 square inches and having a total compression surface area of less than about 480 square inches;applying said compression surface areas of said active bladders to a patient; attaching at least one physiological sensor to said patient; detecting the systolic and diastolic phases of heart contraction from said physiological sensor; pressurizing said active bladders during said diastolic phase to no greater than about 220 mm Hg; compressing said patient with said compression surface areas of said active bladders during said diastolic phase; and deflating said bladders. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
-
-
62. A method for performing external counterpulsation, comprising:
-
providing an external counterpulsation apparatus having a plurality of activateable compression members, an energy source for activating said compression members, a physiological sensor and a compression member controller; attaching said compression members to a patient; sensing heart activity in said patient; compressing said patient with said activateable compression members in synchrony with said heart activity; wherein said compressing step comprises less than about 10 percent of the total body surface area of said patient; and wherein said compression members each have a compression surface area of less than about 40 square inches and the total compression surface area of said compression members is less than about 240 square inches. - View Dependent Claims (63)
-
-
64. A method for performing external counterpulsation, comprising:
-
providing an external counterpulsation apparatus having a plurality of activateable compression members, an energy source for activating said compression members, a physiological sensor and a compression member controller; attaching said compression members to a patient; sensing heart activity in said patient; compressing said patient with said activateable compression members in synchrony with said heart activity; wherein said compressing step comprises less than about 10 percent of the total body surface area of said patient; and wherein said compressing step comprises temporarily occluding the femoral veins of said patient at about the inguinal ligament. - View Dependent Claims (65)
-
Specification