WO2020022973A2

WO2020022973A2 - Wearable anti-embolism stockings

Info

Publication number: WO2020022973A2
Application number: PCT/TR2018/000130
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aydin Sinan APAYDIN; Cevat AKINCI; Kaan AKTAS
Original assignee: Apaydin Aydin Sinan; Akinci Cevat; Aktas Kaan
Priority date: 2017-10-12
Filing date: 2018-12-26
Publication date: 2020-01-30
Also published as: TR201800664A2; WO2020022973A3; WO2020022973A8

Abstract

This invention is related to patients who are not dependent on bed and have vascular insufficiency problems in intensive care units of the hospitals, Physical Therapy, and Rehabilitation Centers and home-care.

Description

WEARABLE ANTI-EMBOLISM STOCKINGS TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is related to patients who are not dependent on bed and have vascular insufficiency problems in intensive care units of the hospitals, Physical Therapy, and Rehabilitation Centers and home-care.

STATE OF ART

It is currently being used to provide passive exercise for the patients with loss of strength in dorsiflexion, i.e. the pulling motion of the from wrist to body, and to reduce the risk of embolism in patients who are at risk of embolism (intravascular blood clot movement) in patients who are bedridden for a specific or indefinite time. In addition, in case passive exercise physical therapy method is not made sufficiently for patients with loss of strength, permanent contractures, i.e. joint stiffness in the ankles of the patients develop. Current anti-embolism stockings cannot effectively eliminate the risk of embolism.

Anti-embolism stockings and Kendall pneumatic stockings, recovery pump stockings and similar products are currently available on the market. In clinical anti-embolism stockings, it is not enough to act by only squeezing the applied leg without a patting motion. Therefore, despite the use of stockings operating with this system, the embolism problem is not eliminated.

Kendall pneumatic stockings are not wearable, they are wrapped around the leg and fastened with Velcro fasteners, tightening the leg with 3 separate sleeve systems, they use more pressure in the lower balloon system and less pressure in the upper balloon system and cannot encourage sufficient amount of blood upwards. Since when the pneumatic balloon system begins to inflate, the fastened Velcro fasteners can get loose and these fasteners may wear and lose

functionality after a period of time due to use, and since it causes inflating in the 3- stage system, these have an insufficient effect. However, it cannot prevent passive exercise movement and contracture in inactive patients.

Another system in the field is the Recovery pump sock system, which can be worn with a zip and can tighten the legs in a single movement. In this system, the patting does not provide sufficient effect like in the Kendall pneumatic stocking system.

Objectives of the Invention

An object of the invention is to reduce the formation of embolism to a minimum by wrapping the leg up to 360 degrees and performing a full patting motion in a sequential system starting from the distal (lower level of the leg) to the proximal (upper level of the leg).

Another object of the invention is to prevent the development of contractures by forcing the patient to dorsiflexion movement with a pneumatic system on the sole and to ensure the decrease of the current motor deficit (loss of strength) by performing sufficient muscle stimulation with this flexion movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system that ensures sufficient level of physical therapy by working with a wearable pneumatic system, reduces the risk of embolism to a minimum and improves the patient's comfort of life by concurrently preventing the formation of contractures. With this wearable pneumatic system, the patient is able to get physical therapy assistance at any time without the need for a physiotherapist.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to patients with vascular insufficiency problems developed to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages and provide new advantages to the relevant technical field. The system provides the upwards motion of the metatarsus and the toes by the inflation of pressurized fluid fed to the stocking starting from the sole part and performs the patting motion on the leg by the sequential inflation of the stocking from bottom to top.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention briefly summarized above and discussed in more detail below can be understood by reference to the exemplary embodiments described in the accompanying drawings.

It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings only illustrate the typical embodiments of the present invention and therefore, they will are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, since it may allow other equally effective embodiments.

Figure 1 - Applied form of the Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stockings. Figure 2 - An exploded view of the sections of the Wearable Anti-embolism

Pneumatic Stockings.

Figure 3 - Front top view of the zipped up Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stockings.

Identical reference numbers are used where possible to identify identical elements common in the figures to facilitate understanding. The figures are not drawn with a scale and can be simplified for clarity. It is contemplated that the elements and features of an embodiment may be usefully incorporated into other embodiments without further explanation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the invention, a positive pressure occurs in the positive pressure channels 4,6 after the stocking 1 is put on the leg to be treated and the pump (compressor, etc.) 3 is started. The positive pressure first inflates the sole balloon 12. During this inflation, the foot performs dorsiflexion. To facilitate this movement, the heel insole 16 is used, which is shaped like a heel and grasps the heel. After inflating the sole balloon 12, the fluid passing through the positive pressure relief valve 9 enters the balloons 8 inside the body of the stocking 1.

The pressure generated by the fluid is transferred to the other balloon joints 8 in the body by means of the positive pressure safety valves 9 located on each joint 8. In this way, the balloons 8 begin to inflate in order from bottom to top. This sequential inflation from the bottom to upward direction also allows the patting movement on the leg. After a period of time, the vacuum system starts. This time can be set via the control panel. When the inflation is completed, the pump 3 starts the suction and the negative pressure channels 5,7 reduce the pressure in the system. The absorbed fluid passes through the negative pressure safety valves 10 and then is discharged from the system. The sequential processes in which the process is pressurized occur in reverse order when the pressure is reduced.

The fluid passing through the negative pressure relief valves 10 deflates the balloon joints 8 in the body from the top to the bottom respectively, and finally, the sole balloon 12 deflates and the system returns to its initial state. This cycle is repeated as much as desired during the treatment period. When necessary, a simultaneous operation can be performed on both legs using a second stocking 1 with the other leg positive channels 6 and other leg negative pressure channels 7 of the pump 3. A control panel attachment is provided on the pump 3 for single-leg or both-leg application. The invention can also be operated by placing piezo actuators in the body 1 as an alternative to the operation of the system with fluid. Piezo actuators are materials that expand when fed with electrical energy and shrink when electrical energy is fed in the reverse direction. In the compression process of the leg, the piezo actuators which are fixed to the stocking 1 on one side and that can stretch or shorten when electrical energy is fed are placed in each balloon joint. Patting is ensured by means of sequential tightening loosening through piezo actuators that expand and shrink with the sequential electricity supply and therefore applying compression on the leg. Piezo actuators are sewn into the balloon joint 8 of the stocking 1. A programmable control board that supplies electrical energy to the piezo actuators is also included in the system. The system can also be used with a remote control if desired. A receiver and a transmitter can also be connected to the control panel to this end.

As an alternative to operating the system with the fluid and piezo actuators, the system of the invention can be operated by the belts which are connected to the body of the stocking 1 and will provide patting motion on the leg by squeezing and loosening and electric motors which will drive these belts. System operation can be achieved by the drive of at least one electric motor that squeezes and loosens from bottom to top, from top to bottom altogether. Separate electric motors for each belt whose operation intervals and the speed and intensity of the squeezing and loosening can be adjusted can be used. In addition, a messaging feature can be provided in the system by incorporating a part such as an eccentric shaft suitable for the electric motors and the system to create vibrations.

In the manufacture of the invention and its application in the sector, the stocking 1 is made of an anti-embolism stocking fabric and the balloons 8 wrapping the leg, in which there are channels and safety valves 9, 10 allowing the movement of the fluid between the balloon joints 8 in the body, are manufactured by sewing methods. The safety valves 9, 10 between the balloon compartments 8 are fixed to the channels during this sewing process. Positive and negative pressure channels 4, 5, 6, 7 are made of a material which can stretch when needed but withstands the pressure changes and external factors. The parts of the sole balloon 12, the heel insoles 16, the foot insoles 14 and the foot insole equivalents 15 that contacts with the skin are made of silicone or a similar material that is soft and will not harm the skin, whereas the exterior parts are made of a durable material such as hard rubber. To facilitate the wearing of the stockings, a zip 11 , Velcro, belt, and a similar method can be added on any side. According to the needs of the patient, the invention can be dimensioned as stockings below the knee and above the knee. Figure 1 is the applied form of the Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stockings, and the references are as explained below.

I- Stocking,

2- Insole,

3- Pump,

4- Positive pressure channel,

5- Negative pressure channel,

6- Other leg positive pressure channel,

7- Other leg negative pressure channel.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the sections of the Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stockings, and the references are as explained below. 8- Balloon joints,

9- Positive pressure safety valve,

10- Negative pressure safety valve,

12- Sole balloon,

13- Fluid movement,

14- Foot insole,

15- Foot insole equivalent,

16- Heel insole.

Figure 3 is the front top view of the zipped up Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stockings, and the references are as explained below.

8- Balloon joints,

9- Positive pressure safety valve,

10- Negative pressure safety valve,

I I- Zip.

Claims

Claim 1 : Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking, characterized in that it contains at least one stocking (1), a pump (3) that inflates and deflates said stocking (1), positive pressure channel (4) and other leg positive pressure channel (6) conveying the fluid from the pump (3) to the stocking (1 ) a sole balloon (12) inflated by the fluid, a foot insole (14) and a foot insole equivalent (15) connected to this sole balloon (12), heel insole (16) supporting the movement of the foot, balloon joints (8) that inflates with an upward order within the stocking (1) and a positive pressure safety valve (9) ensuring the passing of the fluid inflating these joints (8) in each joint (8), negative pressure safety valve (10) for the discharge of the fluid in the deflation phase, negative pressure channel (5) and other leg negative pressure channel (7) conveying the fluid from the system to the pump (3).

Claim 2: Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking of Claim 1 , characterized in that it contains balloon joints (8) that wraps the leg up to 360 degrees and performs a full patting motion by inflating in order from the lower level of the leg to the upper level of the leg.

Claim 3: Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking of Claim 1 , characterized in that it contains a sole balloon (12) that prevents the development of contractures by forcing the patient to dorsiflexion movement with its inflation and can perform muscle stimulation with this flexion movement.

Claim 4: Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking of Claim 1 , characterized in that said pump (3) contains other leg positive and other leg negative pressure channels (6, 7) that can operate on both legs with a second stocking when necessary. Claim 5: Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking of Claim 1 , characterized in that it is a stocking (1) that can be applied to the patient with a zip (11), velcro and belt, and can be manufactured in below the knee and above the knee lengths.

Claim 6: Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking of Claims 1 and 5, characterized in that it is a stocking (1 ) that contains sequential crescent-shaped balloon joints (8) when applied to the patient with a zip (11 ), Velcro and belt and security valves (9, 10) for the entry and exit of the pressure-sensitive fluid that allows passage between said sequential balloon joints (8), and that the part contacting the skin is made of an anti-embolism stocking fabric while the exterior is a stocking (1) in a structure that wraps the sequential balloon joints (8) and does not stretch. Claim 7: Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking independent of Claim 1 , characterized in that piezo actuators are placed in the body of the stocking (1 ) and said piezo actuators are placed on the balloon joints (8), and that said piezo actuators perform the tightening and loosening function in the stocking (1) with the expansion and shrinking in a certain order with the supplied electrical power.

Claim 8: Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking independent of Claim 1 , characterized in that it is a stocking (1 ) in which, as an alternative to operating the system with the fluid and piezo actuators, the system has belts which are connected to the body and provide patting motion on the leg by squeezing and loosening, and electric motors which will drive these belts ensure the operation of the system.

Claim 9: Wearable Anti-embolism Pneumatic Stocking of Claim 8, characterized in that separate electric motors can be used for each belt, and it contains an eccentric shaft that provides the addition of massaging function to the system with vibration created by a part suitable for the electric motors and the system.