System for performing remote ischemic preconditioning

• US 9,119,759 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hospital For SICK Children
• Original Assignee: Hospital For SICK Children
• Inventors: Caldarone, Christopher, Redington, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US12/789,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 600/481, 600/483, 600/485, 600490-499, 600500-503, 600/323, 600/328, 606201-203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/132 Tourniquets sphygmomanometer A61B5/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1355 Automated control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/30 Blood pressure A61H2230/04 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0092 Cuffs therefor

Abstract

A system for remote ischemic preconditioning that includes a cuff, and actuator, and a controller that operates the actuator according to a treatment protocol. The treatment protocol includes a plurality of treatment cycles that each comprise cuff actuation, an ischemic duration, cuff release, and a reperfusion duration.

Claims

1. A method for reducing ischemic injury to tissue in a subject during subsequent ischemic episodes by performing remote ischemic preconditioning on the subject at a location remote from the tissue using a cuff system configured to be positioned about a limb of the subject, wherein the remote ischemic preconditioning is performed as a treatment protocol that includes a plurality of sequentially actuated treatment cycles, wherein the cuff system comprises:

a single cuff having a single bladder configured to retract about the limb of a subject;

an actuator connected to the cuff and that, when actuated, causes the cuff to contract about the limb of the subject to reduce blood flow there through; and

a controller that controls the actuator to operate according to the treatment protocol that includes the plurality of sequentially actuated treatment cycles, each treatment cycle comprising;

cuff actuation during which the actuator contracts the cuff about the limb of the subject to a pressure to occlude blood flow through the limb;

an ischemic duration of more than one minute, during which the actuator maintains the cuff contracted about the limb at a set point to occlude blood flow through the limb;

cuff release, during which the actuator releases the cuff to allow blood flow through the limb; and

a reperfusion duration of more than one minute, during which the cuff is maintained about the limb in an at least partially relaxed state to allow blood flow through the limb.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue is in heart, brain, kidney, pancreas, lung, intestine, or liver of the subject.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein blood is occluded for a period of time that ranges from more than 1 minute to up to 20 minutes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein blood is allowed to flow through the limb for a period of time that ranges from more than 1 minute to up to 20 minutes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment cycle is performed two or more times and comprises more than 1 minute, at least 2 minutes, at least 3 minutes, at least 4 minutes, or at least or about 5 minutes of occlusion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment cycle is performed two or more times and comprises more than 1 minute, at least 2 minutes, at least 3 minutes, at least 4 minutes, or at least or about 5 minutes of blood flow/reperfusion through the limb after occlusion.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting percentage of haemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen using a pulse oximeter.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising continuously monitoring a cuff pressure during each of the plurality of sequentially actuated treatment cycles.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising actuating the actuator during the ischemic duration to increase the cuff pressure in response to a signal received during monitoring of the cuff pressure.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising releasing pressure from the cuff during the reperfusion duration if sufficient blood flow is not occurring through the limb.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising activating a safety release to allow rapid removal of pressure from the cuff when a pressure release criterion is met.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein pressure release criteria include system power failure, system power spikes or a cuff pressure exceeding an undesirable level.