Therapeutic device and system

• US 7,691,084 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Embro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Embro Corporation
• Inventors: Fiegel, Vance D., Knighton, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US12/055,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 604/133, 604/9, 601/150, 601/152, 602/13, 602/3, 585/4, 571/3, 567/1
• US Class Current: 604/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12118 for positioning in conjunction with a stent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12181 formed by fluidized, gelatinous or cellular remodelable materials, e.g. embolic liquids, foams or extracellular matrices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/085 Openable readjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/077 having means to fill the space between stent-graft and aneurysm wall, e.g. a sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/025 by direct air flow on the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0278 by chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0292 with microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 : computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5056 : pneumatically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 : Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 : Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 : Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 : Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 : Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/02 : using microwaves

Abstract

Therapeutic devices that provide support or pressure to tissue. Devices contain a material that is capable of being contracted from its relaxed state to an evacuated state. The material applies pressure to the tissue of a patient when the material is in its relaxed state. Reduction of pressure by application of a vacuum results in a contracted state of the device, so that the device can be applied or delivered to a patient. Release of vacuum results in a return to the relaxed state, thus providing a maximum desirable pressure to tissue and avoiding the possibility of over-pressure which can result in tissue damage or necrosis.

Claims

1. A foot covering comprising:

a body portion including an inner surface defining a foot receiving cavity and an outer surface, an interior of the body portion being between the inner and outer surfaces, the body portion having a relaxed state when the interior of the body portion is at ambient pressure and having a contracted state when the interior of the body portion is at a pressure which is less than ambient pressure, the body portion being configured to apply a predetermined amount of pressure to tissue of a foot received within the foot receiving cavity when the body portion is in the relaxed state, the interior of the body portion adapted to contain a fluid; and

a fluid controller fluidly connected to the interior of the body portion for removing fluid contained in the interior of the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the relaxed state to the contracted state upon removal of fluid from the interior of the body portion, the body portion applying less than the predetermined amount of pressure to tissue of the foot received in the foot receiving compartment when the body portion is in the contracted state.

2. The foot covering of claim 1 wherein the interior of the body portion comprises foam.

3. The foot covering of claim 2 wherein the foam comprises open cell foam.

4. The foot covering of claim 1 wherein the inner and outer surfaces comprise a fluid impermeable outer coating.

5. The foot covering of claim 1 further comprising a fluid source and a valve, the valve being connected between the interior of the body portion and the fluid source, the valve having a first position for connecting the interior of the body portion to the fluid controller and a second position for connecting the interior of the body portion to the fluid source.

6. The foot covering of claim 5 wherein the valve is programmable.

7. The foot covering of claim 6 wherein the valve is programmed to switch between the first position and the second position.

8. The foot covering of claim 1 wherein the fluid controller is a vacuum source.

9. The foot covering of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises air.

10. The foot covering of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises a liquid.