Device for applying a pulsating pressure to a local region of the body and applications thereof

• US 7,833,179 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otivio AS
• Original Assignee: Otivio AS
• Inventors: Rein, Erling Bekkestad, Filtvedt, Marius
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US10/749,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,513 Days
• Field of Search: 602/14, 602/13, 601/48, 601/55, 601 76- 77, 601148-152, 601/154, 601165-167
• US Class Current: 601/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0029 Arm or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/02 heated or cooled
• 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 2201/0264 using heat exchanger, e.g. between fresh and used fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/02 immersed in liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage
• 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

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a device for applying a pulsating pressure to a local region of the body and applications thereof. The device may be used to increase the blood flow in a local region of the body, and in preferred embodiments provides a device for regulating the core body temperature of a patient.

Claims

1. A method of treating hypothermia in a human body by applying a pulsating pressure to a local region of that body comprising the steps of:

providing a pressure chamber;

introducing a limb in to the pressure chamber such that it is sealed from external conditions;

filling or partially filling the pressure chamber with a liquid;

immersing the limb in the liquid so that it is substantially surrounded by and in contact with the liquid;

circulating the liquid via a heat exchanger unit to heat the liquid to a temperature of 40°

C. or above; and

generating pulses of negative pressure within the chamber of between −

20 mmHg and −

80 mmHg (−

2.7 kPa and −

10.7 kPa), each pulse of negative pressure being generated for between 5 and 15 seconds and released for an interval of between 5 and 10 seconds the pulses of negative pressure and thermal energy in the liquid being transmitted simultaneously to the limb of the patient via the direct contact with the liquid.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid is maintained at a temperature approximately between 43.5°

C. and 45°

C. whilst the pulsating pressure is applied to the limb.

3. The method of treating hypothermia in a human body as claimed in claim 1, wherein the negative pressure is generated for 10 seconds and then released for 7 seconds.

4. The method of treating hypothermia in a human body as claimed in claim 1, wherein introducing the limb to the pressure chamber occurs before filling or partially filling the pressure chamber with liquid.

5. The method of treating hypothermia in a human body as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pulse of negative pressure is generated for about 10 seconds.

6. The method of treating hypothermia in a human body as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pulse of negative pressure is released for about 7 seconds.

7. A method of treating hyperthermia in a human body by applying a pulsating pressure to a local region of that body comprising the steps of:

providing a pressure chamber;

introducing a limb in to the pressure chamber such that it is sealed from external conditions;

filling or partially filling the pressure chamber with a liquid;

immersing the limb in the liquid so that it is substantially surrounded by and in contact with the liquid;

circulating the liquid via a heat exchanger unit to cool the liquid to a temperature of 30°

C. or less; and

generating pulses of negative pressure within the chamber of between −

20 mmHg and −

80 mmHg (−

2.7 kPa and −

10.7 kPa), each pulse of negative pressure being generated for between 5 and 15 seconds and released for an interval of between 5 and 10 seconds the pulses of negative pressure and thermal energy in the liquid being transmitted simultaneously to the limb of the patient via the direct contact with the liquid.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the liquid is maintained at a temperature approximately between 20°

C. and 25°

C. whilst the pulsating pressure is applied to the limp.

9. The method of treating hyperthermia in a human body as claimed in claim 7, wherein the negative pressure is generated for 10 seconds and then released for 7 seconds.

10. The method of treating hyperthermia in a human body as claimed in claim 7, wherein introducing the limb to the pressure chamber occurs before filling or partially filling the pressure chamber with liquid.

11. The method of treating hyperthermia in a human body as claimed in claim 7, wherein each pulse of negative pressure is generated for about 10 seconds.

12. The method of treating hyperthermia in a human body as claimed in claim 7, wherein each pulse of negative pressure is released for about 7 seconds.