Compression garment apparatus having support bladder
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A compression garment apparatus comprising:
- a compression garment including an inflatable therapeutic bladder and an inflatable support bladder, the compression garment being selectively positionable on a body part so the therapeutic bladder covers a target compression zone on the body part; and
a pressurizer operatively connectable to the therapeutic bladder and the support bladder for selectively pressurizing the bladders by increasing gas pressure within the bladders, the pressurizer including;
a sensor for sensing and generating signals representative of at least one physical characteristic selected from a group of characteristics consisting of an orientation of the body part, a motion of the body part, an acceleration of the body part, a motion of the garment relative to the target compression zone, a pressure in the therapeutic bladder, a pressure in the support bladder, a gas volume in the therapeutic bladder, and a gas volume in the support bladder; and
a controller operatively connected to the sensor, the controller cyclically directing pressurized gas to the therapeutic bladder to provide intermittent compression therapy to the target compression zone on the body part and non-cyclically directing pressurized gas to the support bladder in response to signals received from the sensor representing the physical characteristic to maintain the therapeutic bladder in position with respect to the target compression zone.
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Abstract
A compression garment apparatus includes a compression garment and a pressurizer. The pressurizer intermittently pressurizes a therapeutic bladder on the compression garment and pressurizes a support bladder on the compression garment to enhance the fit of the compression garment and maintain the therapeutic bladder in position with respect to a target compression zone on a body part on which the garment is worn. The support bladder may be selectively pressurized when needed based at least in part on sensed physical characteristics.
80 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A compression garment apparatus comprising:
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a compression garment including an inflatable therapeutic bladder and an inflatable support bladder, the compression garment being selectively positionable on a body part so the therapeutic bladder covers a target compression zone on the body part; and a pressurizer operatively connectable to the therapeutic bladder and the support bladder for selectively pressurizing the bladders by increasing gas pressure within the bladders, the pressurizer including; a sensor for sensing and generating signals representative of at least one physical characteristic selected from a group of characteristics consisting of an orientation of the body part, a motion of the body part, an acceleration of the body part, a motion of the garment relative to the target compression zone, a pressure in the therapeutic bladder, a pressure in the support bladder, a gas volume in the therapeutic bladder, and a gas volume in the support bladder; and a controller operatively connected to the sensor, the controller cyclically directing pressurized gas to the therapeutic bladder to provide intermittent compression therapy to the target compression zone on the body part and non-cyclically directing pressurized gas to the support bladder in response to signals received from the sensor representing the physical characteristic to maintain the therapeutic bladder in position with respect to the target compression zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21, 22)
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8. A method of providing compression therapy to a target compression zone of a body part of a human comprising:
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covering the target compression zone of the body part with a compression garment having an inflatable therapeutic bladder and an inflatable support bladder; sensing at least one characteristic selected from a group of characteristics consisting of an orientation of the body part, a motion of the body part, an acceleration of the body part, a motion of the garment relative to the target compression zone, a pressure in the therapeutic bladder, a pressure in the support bladder, a gas volume in the therapeutic bladder, and a gas volume in the support bladder; non-cyclically pressurizing the support bladder in response to the sensed characteristic to maintain the therapeutic bladder in position with respect to the target compression zone; and cyclically pressurizing the therapeutic bladder to provide intermittent compression therapy to the target compression zone of the body part. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24)
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16. A compression garment apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable therapeutic bladder sized and shaped for covering a target compression zone on a body part; an inflatable support bladder connected to the therapeutic bladder for holding the therapeutic bladder in position with respect to the target compression zone; and a pressurizer operatively connected to the therapeutic bladder and the support bladder, the pressurizer non-cyclically pressurizing the support bladder to hold the therapeutic bladder in position while selectively cyclically pressurizing the therapeutic bladder to provide intermittent compression therapy to the target compression zone on the body part. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification