Suprapatellar external counterpulsation apparatus

• US 8,579,792 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Anthony Pickett, James Russell Lusk
• Original Assignee: David Anthony Pickett, James Russell Lusk
• Inventors: Pickett, David Anthony, Lusk, James Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morales, Jon Eric C
• Application Number:
  US13/415,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20120165711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 600 16- 17, 601/149, 601/152
• US Class Current: 600/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/006 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows for compressive stressing of a part of the skeletal structure, e.g. for preventing or alleviating osteoporosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5056 pneumatically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0456 Supine
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. E.G.C., blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/008 Supine patient supports or bases, e.g. improving air-way access to the lungs
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A compression system for external counterpulsation comprising:

at least three separate compression members for compressing the body of a patient, one of said compression members configured to be attached to a left thigh portion of a patient, one of said compression members configured to be attached to a right thigh portion of said patient, and one of said compression members configured to be attached to a buttocks portion of said patient; and

a plurality of retention members adapted to hold said compression members against the body;

wherein the external counterpulsation system is configured to not decompress the compression members during a premature ventricular contraction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an inflation pressure for each of said compression members is no more than 220 mm Hg.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said retention members comprise cuffs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the compression members and retention members are integrally formed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said compression members and one of said retention members comprise the same material.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising at least five inflatable compression members, one of said compression members configured to be attached to a lower left thigh portion of the patient, one of said compression members configured to be attached to an upper left thigh portion of the patient, one of said compression members configured to be attached to a lower right thigh portion of the patient, one of said compression members configured to be attached to an upper right thigh portion of the patient, and one of said compression members configured to be attached to the buttocks portion of the patient.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide compression only to superior-posterior knee regions, the inguinal regions and buttocks, and no other parts of the body.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the compression members comprise inflatable bladders.

9. A method of counterpulsation, comprising:

providing a system for external counterpulsation comprising at least three separate compression members for compressing the body of a patient, one of said compression members configured to be attached to a left thigh portion of a patient, one of said compression members configured to be attached to a right thigh portion of said patient, and one of said compression members configured to be attached to a buttocks portion of said patient; and

attaching a plurality of retention members to a patient'"'"'s body along the left thigh, right thigh, and buttocks to hold said compression members against the body;

sensing heart activity in said patient;

compressing said patient with said compression members; and

maintaining compression of the compression members during a premature ventricular contraction without decompressing the compression members.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the compression members comprise inflatable bladders.