Method and system for thermal and compression therapy relative to the prevention of deep vein thrombosis

• US 9,192,539 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Parish, Overton L., Quisenberry, Tony, Balachandran, Niran, McSpadden, Sam K.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US14/279,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20140249455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 607104-112, 607/114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0039 Leg or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0043 Lower leg, calf
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0044 Ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0045 Foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0091 inflatable
• 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: A61F 7/0085 Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids
• 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 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/106 for the lower legs
• 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 control unit coupled to a thermal therapy device, a compression therapy device and DVT therapy devices is provided. The thermal therapy device includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The compression therapy device includes an gas bladder for providing compression to a patient. The DVT therapy devices provide pulsed compression in coordination with the compression therapy device.

Claims

1. A method for addressing aspects of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in a patient utilizing compression applied to the patient, the method comprising:

providing a control unit adapted to thermally condition a heat transfer fluid to a temperature within a range of about 37°

F. and about 105°

F., and adapted to provide compressed gas at a pressure of at least 25 mmHg greater than an ambient atmospheric pressure;

providing a thermal compression device for securement to the patient and adapted to receive at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid and at least a portion of the compressed gas from the control unit;

providing first and second DVT compression devices for securement to the patient, each being adapted to receive at least a portion of the compressed gas from the control unit;

coupling the thermal compression device, the first DVT compression device, and the second DVT compression device to the control unit; and

programming the control unit to coordinate distribution of the compressed gas between the thermal compression device and the first and the second DVT compression devices so that the thermal compression device receives compressed gas at a different time than when the first DVT compression device receives compressed gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second DVT compression devices are secured to a left ankle and a right ankle of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermal compression device is secured to a knee of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

monitoring a condition of the patient in at least partial dependence on the compressed gas being provided to the thermal compression device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the compressed gas provided to the thermal compression device is varied based on the conditioned monitored.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fluid is heated from about 49°

F. to about 105°

F. and applied to a skin area of the patient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fluid is cooled from about 105°

F. to about 49°

F. and applied to a skin area of the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fluid is cooled from an ambient temperature of about 77°

F. to a temperature of about 37°

F. within a 90 minute period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to provide the compressed gas at a pressure in the range of about 0 to about 120 mm Hg.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein compressed gas is provided to the first DVT compression device during a first pulse for a user-specified length of time and compressed gas is provided to the second DVT compression device during a second pulse for user-specified length of time.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising providing the compressed gas to the thermal compression device, the first DVT compression device, and the second DVT compression device at one or more user-specified pressures.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising applying the first DVT compression device to a first foot of the patient and applying the second DVT compression device to a second foot of the patient.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising applying compressed gas to three or more bladders within the thermal compression device.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising:

providing a first pulse of compressed gas to a first bladder of the thermal compression device;

providing a second pulse of compressed gas to a second bladder of the thermal compression device; and

providing a third pulse of compressed gas to a third bladder of the thermal compression device.