Pressurized medical device

• US 7,947,003 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swelling Solutions, Inc. (Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Convatec Incorporated (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Inventors: Bonnefin, Wayne Lee, Fernandez, Arsenio, Landhal, Henrik, Rowley, Duncan John, Larsson, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Quang D
• Application Number:
  US11/626,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20070249977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 601/148, 601/149, 601/150, 601/151, 601/152, 602/13, 606/201, 606/202
• US Class Current: 601/150
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0119 Support for the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0146 Mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1628 Pelvis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle hand-held, A61H2201/0153; fore-arm support, A61H2003/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• 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: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776

Abstract

A pressurized medical device comprising an inflatable element arranged to contact a part of a patient; a fluid connector attached to the element and arranged to deliver fluid to the element; a control system arranged to control flow of fluid in the device; a first element pressure sensor arranged to measure the pressure exerted by the element on the part of the patient; and detection means arranged to detect malfunctioning of the first element pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A pressurized medical device for a limb of a patient comprising:

a. an inflatable sleeve arranged to surround the limb and exert pressure on the limb, said sleeve comprising one or more individually inflatable cells wherein each cell has an associated pressure sensor arranged to determine the pressure exerted by the cell;

b. a fluid connector comprising a conduit attached to the sleeve and arranged to deliver fluid to the sleeve;

c. detection means arranged to detect malfunctioning of a pressure sensor, the detection means comprising a reference pressure sensor arranged to independently measure the pressure exerted by the sleeve on the limb of the patient; and

d. a control system arranged to control flow of fluid in the device to reduce the exerted pressure to substantially zero if a pressure sensor detects a pressure exceeding a first predefined amount, and to reduce the exerted pressure to substantially zero if the reference pressure sensor detects a pressure exceeding a second predefined amount, said second predefined amount being greater than the first predefined amount.

2. The pressurized medical device of claim 1 for the limb of a mobile patient.

3. The pressurized medical device of claim 1, wherein the detection means is arranged to check for malfunctioning of a pressure sensor periodically, continuously, from time to time at preset or random intervals, every time the device is used or at any other suitable time when the device is used.

4. The pressurized medical device of claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a first processor arranged to determine whether the pressure exceeds the first predefined amount and a second processor, distinct from the control system, arranged to determine whether the pressure exceeds the second predefined amount.

5. The pressurized medical device of claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a first processor arranged to determine whether the pressure exceeds the first pre-defined amount and a hardware unit, distinct from the control system, is arranged to determine whether the pressure exceeds the second pre-defined amount.