Method to augment blood circulation in a limb
US6231532A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61H2205/10
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for augmenting blood circulation in the limb of a patient is provided by customizing the compression cycle based upon patient venous characteristics. The method measures the venous refill time of the patient for use with an intermittent pneumatic compression device. A limb such as a leg is wrapped with a compression sleeve having at least one pressurizable chamber. The chamber is pressurized for a predetermined period of time to compress the limb and cause blood to flow out of the limb. The chamber is depressurized until the pressure in the chamber reaches a lower value, and the chamber is closed. The pressure in the chamber is sensed and the venous refill time, the time for the limb to refill with blood, is determined by sensing when the pressure reaches or will reach a plateau. The venous refill time is used as the basis for the time between subsequent compression pulses of the compression device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.