Extremity pump apparatus
US5437610A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 10, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 10, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/20
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A portable, hydraulic extremity pump apparatus for treatment of edema is disclosed. The apparatus consists of a flexible compression unit that wraps around an individual's extremity. The compression unity has a plurality of prefill bladders each containing a separate compression bladder. The bladders are connected to a hydraulic pump through valves. Pressure sensors are connected to prefill bladders. The valves, the pump and the pressure sensors are all connected to a programmable control processor to operate the valves and pump and to monitor the bladder pressures. The valves to the prefill bladders are closed at an appropriate pressurization and the pump is shut down to mold the compression unit around the extremity. The occurrence of edema may then be detected by the monitoring of the pressure in the prefill bladders. Upon detecting an increase in pressure, indicating edema, the control processor activates the pump and opens the valves connected to the compression bladders in a sequential manner to create a sequential pressurization and a wave of compression moving proximally on the extremity. The pressure sensors and control processor continue to monitor the pressures after eac…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.