Portable Device for the Enhancement of Circulation

• US 20080015630A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tylerton International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flowmedic Limited
• Inventors: Rousso, Benny
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 Leg
• 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 portable device for enhancing circulation in a limb by applying intermittent squeezing force on the limb, the device comprising at least one inflatable fluid-cell having a proximal face and a distal face; a rigid member juxtaposed with the distal face of the air-cell, the rigid member is having two lateral sides; at least one adjustable strap connectable to the lateral ends of the rigid member for encircling the limb; and a mechanism for intermittently inflating and deflating the at least one fluid cell.

Claims

1. A portable device for modulating blood or lymph fluids or enhancing circulation in the body by generating intermittent squeezing forces on a limb, the device comprising:

a actuating member having a proximal face and a distal face;

at least one adjustable strap or flap connectable to the lateral ends of a rigid member for encircling the limb; and

said actuating member provides controlled periodical change in volume of said actuating member such that the distal face of the actuating member moves relative to the position of the limb;

thereby applying intermittent squeezing forces on the limb and modulating blood or lymph flow within said limb.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuating member applying squeezing force to the limb.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuating member is an at least one inflatable cell.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the cell is inflatable or deflate able and can receive fluid.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the inflatable cell intermittently shorten and lengthen the circumference around the limb, thus providing cyclic transitions between a low-pressure relaxation phase and a high-pressure compression phase or high-pressure compression phase and a low-pressure relaxation phase

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the deflation of the cell generates a suction effect assisting in blood or lymph flow within the body.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein the inflation of the fluid cell generates pressure on the limb assisting in blood or lymph flow within the body.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein the deflating of said fluid is performed abruptly.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the suction effect comprises the generation of low pressure in the area proximal to a compression location and abruptly releasing said compression by releasing a strap or a flap or deflating the fluid cell.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a rigid member juxtaposed with the distal face of the fluid-cell, the rigid member is having two lateral sides.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the rigid member is applied to the limb.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the rigid member is a housing.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a power source for supplying energy to said device.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the power source is an at least one fluid compressor or a fluid pump.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the power source is an at least one motor for providing energy to an at least one fluid compressor.

16. The device of claim 14 further comprises a controller for controlling the operation of the actuating member.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the controller is a frequency regulator for the controlling of the frequency of the inflation deflation cycle.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the controller is a central processing unit attached to frequency regulator for the controlling of the frequency of the inflation deflation cycle.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the controller is a mechanical controller.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuating member comprising an at least one chamber.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the at least one chamber is rigid, or semi-rigid or flexible.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein at least one of the at least one chamber comprises a piston.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein at least one of the at least one chamber is elastic.

24. The device of claim 14 further comprising at least one valve for controlling fluid flow.

25. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one valve for controlling fluid flow.

26. The device of claim 1 further comprises at least one motor, at least one chamber and at least one cam.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein at least one of the at least one chamber is rigid.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the at least one of the at least one chamber further comprises a piston.

29. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one strap comprises at least one of the at least one inflatable fluid-cell.

30. The device of claim 1 further comprising a digital user interface.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein the digital user interface is positioned juxtaposed to the device.

32. The device of claim 30 wherein the digital user interface is positioned remotely from the device.

33. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one pivot, at least two cogwheels and at least one spring.

34. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one strap or flap are of varying width comprising one or more strips.

35. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one strap or flap is having at least one end thereof free to move around a corresponding connector such that the strap can be pulled by said end for tightening the strap around said limb.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the at least one strap or flap end is then anchored in the appropriate position by fastening means.

37. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one strap or flap is connected to an actuating device for pulling and releasing said at least one strap or flap thereby changing the circumference of limb.

38. The device of claim 3 wherein the cell is disposable or replaceable.

39. The device of claim 1 further comprising a reservoir chamber for holding fluid to be provided to the actuating member.

40. The device of claim 39 wherein the reservoir chamber comprises a piston.

41. The device of claim 39 wherein the reservoir chamber comprises one or more chambers.

42. The device of claim 39 wherein the reservoir chamber comprises an energy charged element.

43. The device of claim 39 wherein the reservoir chamber is a tank of constant volume.

44. The device of claim 14 further comprising a pressure gauge.

45. The device of claim 14 further comprising a pressure sensor.

46. The device of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum chamber for providing fast transition between inflated and deflated stats of said actuating member.

47. The device of claim 46 further comprising a vacuum pump to evacuate fluid from said vacuum chamber thus creating substantially a vacuum in said chamber.

48. The device of claim 46 further comprising at least one valve for opening a conduit between said actuating member and said vacuum chamber, wherein fluid within said actuating member abruptly exists said actuating member and enters the vacuum chamber, whereby actuating member is deflated abruptly.

49. The device of claim 48 further comprising a controller for controlling the position of said at least one valve.

50. A portable device for modulating blood or lymph fluids or enhancing circulation in the body by generating intermittent squeezing forces on a limb, the device comprising:

a first actuating member having a proximal face and a distal face;

said first actuating member provides controlled periodical change in volume of said actuating member such that the distal face of the actuating member moves relative to the position of the limb; and

a second actuator having a rolling motivation connected to at least one adjustable strap or flap connectable to the lateral ends of a rigid member for encircling the limb and for providing periodical movement such that the strap or flap is intermittently pulled in and out of said rolling actuator;

thereby applying intermittent squeezing forces on the limb and modulating blood or lymph flow within said limb.

51. The device of claim 50 further comprising a clutch for preventing said rotating actuator from releasing the at least one strap of flap.

52. The device of claim 51 wherein the releasing of the clutch will provide an abrupt motion of release of straps around limb, thereby creating a suction effect in the limb.

56. The method of claim 52 further comprises the step of intermittently shortening and lengthening the circumference around the limb, thus providing cyclic transitions between a low-pressure relaxation phase and a high-pressure compression phase or high-pressure compression phase and a low-pressure relaxation phase.

57. The method of claim 52 further comprising the step of generating a suction effect assisting in blood or lymph flow within the body.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the step of generating a suction effect comprises the steps of generation of low pressure in the area proximal to a compression location and abruptly releasing said compression by releasing a strap or a flap or deflating the fluid cell.

60. The method of claim 52 further comprising the step of applying the device to a limb.

61. The method of claim 52 further comprising the step of supplying energy to the device.

62. The method of claim 52 further comprises the step of controlling the operation of the actuating member.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of controlling further comprises the step of regulating the frequency of the inflation deflation cycle.

64. The method of claim 52 further comprises the step of opening or closing at least one valve for controlling fluid flow.

65. The method of claim 52 further comprises the step of controlling the fluid flow through an at least one valve.

66. The method of claim 52 further comprises the step of actuating the at least one strap or flap.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the step of actuating comprises the step of pulling and releasing said at least one strap or flap thereby changing the circumference of limb.

68. The method of claim 52 further comprises the step for holding fluid to be provided to the actuating member within a reservoir chamber.

69. The method of claim 68 further comprising the step of driving a piston within said reservoir chamber so to inflate or deflate the cell.

70. The method of claim 68 further comprising the step of charging an energy element within said reservoir chamber.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the energy element is a spring.

72. The method of claim 52 further comprising the step of evacuating fluid from a vacuum chamber using a vacuum pump thus creating substantially a vacuum in said chamber.

73. The method of claim 72 further comprising the step of opening a conduit between said actuating member and said vacuum chamber, wherein fluid within said actuating member abruptly exists said actuating member and enters the vacuum chamber, whereby actuating member is deflated abruptly.

53. A method for modulating blood or lymph fluids or enhancing circulation in the body by generating intermittent squeezing forces on a limb, the method comprising the steps of:

actuating an actuating member having a proximal face and a distal face;

encircling a limb with at least one adjustable strap or flap connectable to the lateral ends of a rigid member; and

providing controlled periodical change in volume of said actuating member such that the distal face of the actuating member moves relative to the position of the limb;

thereby applying intermittent squeezing forces on the limb and modulating blood or lymph flow within said limb.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the actuating member is an at least one inflatable cell.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the cell is inflatable or deflate able and can receive fluid.

58. The method of claim 54 wherein the deflating of said fluid is performed abruptly.

74. A device for modulating and/or enhancing blood and/or lymph flow in the body by generating intermittent squeezing forces on a limb, the device comprising:

an inflatable cell;

at least one fastening element for fastening said inflatable cell to the limb; and

an actuator for intermittently inflating and deflating said inflatable cell;

thereby applying intermittent squeezing forces on the limb and modulating blood and/or lymph flow within said limb.

75. The device of claim 74 wherein said actuator is mounted on said limb.

76. The device of claim 74 wherein said actuator is mounted on a body part other than said limb.

77. The device of claim 74 wherein said actuator is located remotely from the user body.

78. The device of claim 74 wherein said actuator comprises a mechanism responsible for inflating and deflating the inflatable cell and a power source for supplying power to said mechanism.

79. The device of claim 74 wherein said inflatable cell is dimensioned to be in contact with only part of the limb circumference.