Device, system and method for compression treatment of a body part

• US 9,248,074 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swelling Solutions, Inc. (Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Swelling Solutions, Inc. (Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Toth, Landy
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, RACHEL T
• Application Number:
  US14/299,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20150011922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/085 Openable readjustable
• 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 11/00 Belts, strips or combs for massage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2011/005 with belt or strap expanding and contracting around an encircled body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0111 watertight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1207 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/149 rotation-linear or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1654 Layer between the skin and massage elements, e.g. fluid or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1688 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1695 Enhanced pressure effect, e.g. substantially sharp projections, needles or pyramids
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1697 Breathability of the material
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/30 Blood pressure A61H2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor

Abstract

A device for compressive treatment of a body part includes a compression member, adapted to at least partly encircle the body part, and an actuation unit, arranged to tighten the compression member to provide a compressive force to the body part. Methods are provided for its therapeutic, cosmetic and non-therapeutic use and operation.

Claims

1. A device for compressive treatment of a body part of a user, the device comprising:

a compression member dimensioned to at least partly encircle the body part; and

an actuation unit cooperating with the compression member to tighten the compression member and provide a compressive force to the body part, wherein the actuation unit is configured to provide one or more compression strokes to provide the compressive force to the body part, wherein each of the one or more compression strokes results from operation of the actuation unit performing a cyclic motion over a plurality of cycles, wherein at least hundreds of cycles are used to provide the compression stroke.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of 0.2 kHz to 20 kHz.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of about 20 kHz to 1 MHz.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuation unit cooperates with at least a portion of the compression member or a portion of a connection member connected to the compression member, and wherein the compression member or the connection member connected to the compression member is moved during each cycle less than about 100 microns.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuation unit cooperates with at least a portion of the compression member or a portion of a connection member connected to the compression member, and wherein the compression member or the connection member connected to the compression member is moved during each cycle in a range of about 100 microns to 1 mm.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuation unit comprises a rotatable part, which is rotatably arranged about a substantially central axis.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the actuation unit comprises a spindle rotatable about the central axis, wherein at least a portion of the compression member or a portion of a connection member connected to the compression member is windable onto the spindle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuation unit comprises:

an active material actuator;

a gripping member connected to the actuator to perform the cyclic motion over a plurality of cycles; and

a movable member engaged by the gripping member and connected to the compression member.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the movable member during a first part of the cyclic motion is movable with the gripping member and during a second part of the cyclic motion is movable relative to the gripping member.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is sized and adapted to form a sleeve around the body part.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors are arranged to provide a feedback signal from the one or more sensors to a control unit representative of at least the compressive force being provided to the body part, wherein the control unit is configured to provide a control signal to the actuation unit of the device based thereon.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the control unit and the one or more sensors are at least partially integrated with the device.

13. A device for compressive treatment of a body part of a user, the device comprising:

a compression member dimensioned to at least partly encircle the body part; and

an actuation unit cooperating with the compression member to tighten the compression member and provide a compressive force to the body part, wherein the actuation unit is configured to cooperate with at least a portion of the compression member or a portion of a connection member connected to the compression member to provide one or more compression strokes to provide the compressive force to the body part, wherein each of the one or more compression strokes results from operation of the actuation unit performing a cyclic motion over a plurality of cycles, wherein at least hundreds of cycles are used to provide the compression stroke, wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of about 0.2 kHz to 1 MHz, and further wherein the compression member or the connection member connected to the compression member is moved during each cycle less than about 100 microns.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the actuation unit comprises an element rotatable about a central axis, wherein at least a portion of the compression member or a portion of a connection member connected to the compression member is windable onto the rotatable element.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is sized and adapted to form a sleeve around the body part.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the device comprises one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors are arranged to provide a feedback signal from the one or more sensors to a control unit representative of at least the compressive force being provided to the body part, wherein the control unit is configured to provide a control signal to the actuation unit of the device based thereon.

17. A device for compressive treatment of a body part of a user, the device comprising:

a compression member dimensioned to at least partly encircle the body part; and

an actuation unit cooperating with the compression member to tighten the compression member and provide a compressive force to the body part, wherein the actuation unit is configured to cooperate with at least a portion of the compression member or a portion of a connection member connected to the compression member to provide one or more compression strokes to provide the compressive force to the body part, wherein each of the one or more compression strokes results from operation of the actuation unit performing a cyclic motion over a plurality of cycles, wherein at least hundreds of cycles are used to provide the compression stroke, wherein a frequency of the cyclic motion is in the range of about 0.2 kHz to 1 MHz, and further wherein the compression member or the connection member connected to the compression member is moved during each cycle in a range of about 100 microns to 1 mm.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the actuation unit comprises an element rotatable about a central axis, wherein at least a portion of the compression member or a portion of a connection member connected to the compression member is windable onto the rotatable element.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the device is sized and adapted to form a sleeve around the body part.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the compression member comprises one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors are arranged to provide a feedback signal from the one or more sensors to a control unit representative of at least the compressive force being provided to the body part, wherein the control unit is configured to provide a control signal to the actuation unit of the device based thereon.