Therapeutic device and system

• US 6,551,280 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Embro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Embro Corporation
• Inventors: Fiegel, Vance D., Knighton, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): FASTOVSKY, LEONID M
• Application Number:
  US09/607,719
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 604/133, 604/9, 601/150, 601/152, 602/13, 602/3, 585/4, 571/3, 567/1
• US Class Current: 604/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12118 for positioning in conjunction with a stent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12181 formed by fluidized, gelatinous or cellular remodelable materials, e.g. embolic liquids, foams or extracellular matrices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/085 Openable readjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/077 having means to fill the space between stent-graft and aneurysm wall, e.g. a sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/025 by direct air flow on the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0278 by chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0292 with microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 : computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5056 : pneumatically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 : Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 : Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/10 : Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/12 : Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 : Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/02 : using microwaves

Abstract

Therapeutic devices that provide support or pressure to tissue. Devices contain a material that is capable of being contracted from its relaxed state to an evacuated state. The material applies pressure to the tissue of a patient when the material is in its relaxed state. Reduction of pressure by application of a vacuum results in a contracted state of the device, so that the device can be applied or delivered to a patient. Release of vacuum results in a return to the relaxed state, thus providing a maximum desirable pressure to tissue and avoiding the possibility of over-pressure which can result in tissue damage or necrosis.

Claims

1. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising:

a body portion having an expanded position and a contracted position, the body portion being in a relaxed state when in the expanded position, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue in the relaxed state, the body portion adapted to contain a fluid; and

a fluid controller fluidly connected to the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the expanded position to the contracted position upon removal of fluid from the body portion.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the body portion comprises foam.

3. The medical device of claim 2 wherein the body portion comprises open cell foam.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the body portion includes a fluid impermeable outer coating.

5. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a fluid source and a valve, the valve being connected between the body portion and the fluid source and fluid controller, the valve having a first position for connecting the body portion to the fluid controller and a second position for connecting the body portion to the fluid source.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the fluid controller is a vacuum source.

7. The medical device of claim 5 wherein the valve is programmable.

8. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the valve is programmed to switch between the first position and the second position.

9. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a bladder fluidly connected to a liquid wherein the liquid is hot or cold.

32. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the body portion includes a fluid impermeable outer coating.

10. A medical device for applying pressure to a human or animal limb comprising:

a body portion having a substantially cylindrical shape sized to fit over the limb, the body portion being adapted to contain a fluid and further having an expanded position and a contracted position, the body portion being in a relaxed state when in the expanded position, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to the limb in the relaxed state, and

a fluid controller fluidly connected to the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the expanded position to the contracted position upon removal of fluid from the body portion.

11. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the body portion comprises open cell foam.

12. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the body portion includes a fluid impermeable outer coating.

13. The medical device of claim 10 further comprising a fluid source and a valve, the valve being connected between the body portion and the fluid source and fluid controller, the valve having a first position for connecting the body portion to the fluid controller and a second position for connecting the body portion to the fluid source.

14. The medical device of claim 13 further comprising a cooling member to cool the fluid in the fluid source.

15. The medical device of claim 13 further comprising a heating member to heat the fluid in the fluid source.

16. The medical device of claim 13 wherein the valve is programmable.

17. The medical device of claim 16 wherein the valve is programmed to switch between the first position and the second position.

18. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising:

a body portion having at least two separate compartments, each compartment having an expanded position and a contracted position, each compartment being in a relaxed state when in the expanded position, and being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue in the relaxed state, the compartments being adapted to contain a fluid, and

a fluid controller fluidly connected to each compartment of the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, each compartment being configured to contract from the expanded position to the contracted position upon removal of fluid from the compartment.

19. The medical device of claim 18 wherein the body portion comprises open cell foam.

20. The medical device of claim 18 wherein the body portion includes a fluid impermeable outer coating.

21. The medical device of claim 18 further comprising valves, the valves being connected between each compartment and the fluid source and fluid controller and having a first position for connecting the compartment to the fluid controller and a second position for connecting the compartment to the fluid source.

22. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the at least two valves are programmable.

23. The medical device of claim 22 wherein the at least two valves is programmed to switch between the first position and the second position.

24. The medical device of claim 21 wherein each compartment is separately cycled between the first and second position of the at least one valve in a sequence so as to apply pressure to tissue in a peristaltic manner.

26. The medical device of claim 22 wherein the pressure of the first and second regions forms a gradient.

25. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising:

a body portion having a first region configured to apply a first pressure to tissue and a second region configured to apply a second pressure to tissue, each region having an expanded position and a contracted position, each of the first and second regions being in a relaxed state when in the expanded position, and being capable of applying a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue in the relaxed state, the regions being adapted to contain a fluid,

a fluid controller fluidly connected to the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, each region being configured to contract from the expanded position to the contracted position upon removal of fluid from the compartment,

wherein the first pressure is not equal to the second pressure.

27. A method of applying pressure to tissue comprising:

supplying, adjacent to the tissue, a device having a body portion, the body portion having a fluid impermeable exterior and a fluid containing interior;

applying vacuum to the interior of the body portion to remove the fluid such that the body portion is in a contracted state; and

removing the vacuum to the interior of the body portion to allow fluid to enter the interior such that the body portion is caused to expand to a relaxed state, the body portion in the relaxed state applying a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to the adjacent tissue.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising alternately applying and removing vacuum to the interior of the body portion such that pressure is alternately applied and removed from the tissue.

29. A method of supporting a patient'"'"'s body in a bed or chair comprising:

supplying a patient supporting structure having a plurality of compartments, each compartment having a fluid impermeable outer portion and a fluid containing inner portion;

applying a vacuum to the inner portion of a first compartment such that the first compartment is in a contracted state and pressure between a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body and the outer portion of the first compartment is reduced;

removing the vacuum from the inner portion of the first compartment such that the first compartment is caused to expand to a relaxed state such that increased pressure is applied to the first portion of the patient'"'"'s body by the outer portion of the first compartment;

applying a vacuum to the inner portion of a second compartment such that the second compartment is in a contracted state and pressure between a second portion of the patient'"'"'s body and the outer portion of the second compartment is reduced;

removing the vacuum from the inner portion of the second compartment such that the second compartment is caused to expand to a relaxed state such that increased pressure is applied to the second portion of the patient'"'"'s body by the outer portion of the second compartment; and

cycling between the applying steps and the removing steps in the first and second compartments so that the pressure applied to the first and second portions of the patient'"'"'s body is varied.

30. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising:

a body portion having a relaxed position and a contracted position, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue in the relaxed position, the body portion having an exterior surface and an interior portion adapted to contain a fluid; and

a vacuum source connected to the interior portion of the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the relaxed position to the contracted position upon removal of fluid from the body portion.

31. The medical device of claim 30 wherein the body portion comprises open cell foam.

33. A medical device for applying pressure to a human or animal limb comprising:

a body portion having a substantially cylindrical shape sized to fit over the limb, the body portion being adapted to contain a fluid and further having a relaxed position and a contracted position, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue in the relaxed position, and

a vacuum source connected to the interior portion of the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the relaxed position to the contracted position upon removal of fluid from the body portion.

34. The medical device of claim 33 further comprising a fluid source and a valve, the valve being connected between the body portion and the fluid source and vacuum source, the valve having a first position for connecting the body portion to the vacuum source and a second position for connecting the body portion to the fluid source.

35. The medical device of claim 34 further comprising a cooling member to cool the fluid in the fluid source.

36. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising:

a body portion having at least two separate compartments, each compartment having a relaxed position and a contracted position, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue in the relaxed position, the compartments being adapted to contain a fluid, and

a vacuum source connected to the interior portion of the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the relaxed position to the contracted position upon removal of fluid from the body portion.

37. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising:

a body portion having a first region configured to apply a first pressure to tissue and a second region configured to apply a second pressure to tissue, each region having a relaxed position and a contracted position, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue in the relaxed position, the regions being adapted to contain a fluid; and

a vacuum source connected to the interior portion of the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the relaxed position to the contracted position upon removal of fluid from the compartment,

wherein the first pressure is not equal to the second pressure.

38. The medical device of claim 37 wherein the pressure of the first and second regions forms a gradient.