AU2007203324A1 - Pressure sock - Google Patents

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Cc, Cc, Invention Title: Pressure sock The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- P/00/011 PKSUfE SOCK ARRANGEMENT FIELD.OF THE INVENTION This inlveftin relates to a pressure Sc buA not exclusively, to a pressure sack circulation in telower legs of passeng( 1 0: BACKGROUND TO THE-INVENION Extremity: pumps.. used-with inflatable a are well known in the field for combatir pumps and sleeves have multiple ch from the distal to proximal end of th autorriated pumnps with adjustable pros making them expensive and complicatt *Graded pressure or compression soc vein thro mbosis (UDV1b) or so-called are however niot inflaable and defiatz feet ankles and calves.

ck arrangement -andhmore pafto~i arrangemnent for use In improving b ~rs during aeroplane fligh&t lood leeves that-fit. around -a bodily extremiltyga variety of edema conditions. These imbers for a' pressure gradient: ce bodily extremity 4 Theyfurther ha've' sure control .,4d inflationtdeftla*n:cycl .es dto use.

Ics are also',.,used'to, help* prevent. deep.

~conomy :clat~s syndrome". These socks ble. and iert constanit pressure.. 6n the 256 t r~AMENDED SHEET ARA~t1'AF THE INVFNTION It is an object of the present invendon to provide, a-pressure sopk of the1 described above.

typp: Ia -SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION In accqort~ance -with this Invention theres prvdda *preswurp -sock' arrarigemnent corising two Inflatable bladders each attaoha~le to a(foot -of: 'te human body and a manually operable air pumpo in fluid flow' comm1unicafion with the bladders for Inflating the bladders to apply pressureto the. feet to* which* the bladders are attacheO, the bladders also being. in ffluid: fow: communic~ation.

There Is pro)vided for the pressure sock arrangement to -lndIude attachmert..

means for attaching the bladders, to the feet.

A frhrfeature of the invention pruvides for the attachment mreans to M, straps having releasably securable fisteners.

%S There -is -further provided. for the fasteners to be cbmnplementary ho -and.

fasteners.

-p ile- Fan AMENDED SHEET ~I~'yet futh~r feature oftthe ifivenfion provideg forthel aders to: be attachWd to an opertbtiely upper surface of a sole portions ohe. pressure~pock. The.

sole 'i i 1 i: Em;r Ep AMENDED SHEET

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3 portions cian be rigid or flexible or the bladder.walls can atrtieYb dimpensioned and -shaped to form a sole portion.

A sllD further feature of the Invention provide. for bladder to Include. a: so that an inner~cavity f each bladlder is in flow *coimunication through the pressure release valve withathe outside.

Altemaitvely,, the pressure release valve can be replaced with a. slow release.

valve or ieach bladder can, In addition to the pressure releasei valIve, Include a 0, slow release valve.

In an aft~mative embodiment each bladder is dimensioned to fit over. at- leat part of a foot..

A yet futher feature of the invention provide f6ir each bladder to include.

protrutions on at least pairt of -its operatively inner~surface whichl contacts part Of the. bodily extremity when in use.

There -is also prdvilded for a pad to be located in a sole of the bladder..

The innercavity of the bladder may be divided into a number of compartments.

.EWAMENDED SHEET

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4 A further feature of the* Invention provides for the-:compa~rtments to be in flow.

oommunication through a number of pressure relea0e iialve so that the bladder can be inflated to- maintain different pressures in diffrent comptments.

At: least -one of the' compartments may be in flo oommunlcation thrudh a: pressure rees~valve or slow release valve withthe ambien tair -outsde te pressure socks.

The internal compartments are adapted to main tain a neijpitive- pressure% gradient from a distal -portion to a proximal- portion of the bodily 4ermity.

A stili further aspect of the invention provides fo. the ptesre sock arrangement-to Include a pads, located on the di~tal. 'ortlon offth -bladders* onto whiich'pressure can be exerted to stimulatie airtlow between -Internal.

co~hpartrtaents within -each bladder.

In: one* embodiment- of the invention the pad is comprised of a. ras~Ij4ientlydeformiable material such as sponge or rubber.: Alemnately,'Ahe pad. is-an air-: filled compartment .Qnto which pressur can be exrted-4 tostmutatoEraie l from'the:air filled compartment to the main bladder and backi o the *air *filled compartrrent In case of negative pressure thus causing prsuechatiga.withln: the main blaidder.

1 Emp AMENDED

SHEET

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These. and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the inventlon are, described below, by way of.

examp;le only, and with reference to the acompony~ng drawings 6n hch.1 Figure 1 is a schematic; side view of a first embodiment of o pressure sock: according to the invention; SFigure 2 is a schematic side view of A second e9mbodimnent of -a pressire, soc;K according tW the invention; and Figure 3 Is a perspective view of a third embol1ment of a; pressure sock Ii* accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:..:: With reference to the drawings, in whichIlike foAtures are. indicaited. by_* like: 26 numerals, a pressure sock Is generally indicated by reference numnerat 1O.

Thp pre~uure sock 10 oonsists of an Inflatable bl~dder1.2 climensioned'to-fit a.

foot 15, ankle 17 and. part of a calf 19; a manually operable air punp. 14 -fot inflating the bladder 12; a flow passage which extends from insi de the air pump: Em AMENDED SHEET loj 14 throuh a tube l6'and terminates In an inner cavity or inner -comp~rel". 1 of the bladder 12. An inner surface 22 of the bladder 12 Is proxlmate.,the bodily exremiy and- tebladder isworn as a sock. In this case, the blad'der is worn ~over the foot ankle 17'and part of the calf 19. Protrusions in the' form. of ribbed. form.is$I61is.24: are provided on the inner surface or sole 23 of th: bladder 1*2 for -masgn In. a first' embodiment of the invention (shown ln.11gure the'valve- 18 is. a: slow-release valve.-to enable the bladder 12'to defliate over time. A user can inflate the bladder 12 periodically by operating the air pump 14.

In a second embodiment of the Invention (shown In Rfigure, theijnner cavity 13.

of. the: bladder 12, is divded into a series of internal compartmolnts,13 1b and 1-3d. The -lntqmaI compartments 18a, .13ab and I 3 are In. flow: oommunication through pressure-release valves 30-a *The Irnternial .compartmento 1 3a, 1 3b and 1 3c -in cionjuncton wit the. pretssu6 release valves 30a and 30b are designed to maintain a- decreiast hg-presur gradient fium adistal portion to a proximal portion-pf the pressure sock 110, Thecompartment I 3c locate at the distal end of* the pressure. sock accordingly maintained at a relatively high pressure, typically '2Ommi-Ig wit WlI AMENDED SHEET 7 compa~rtment 1 3b at.a lower pressure, typically UrnmmHg and copartm~ent I 3a.

at a atit~l lower pressUre, typically 8mmHg.

The pressure sock 10 of -figure 1land figure 2 further includes'a s.et of pads .26, located in'sole of the pressure sock 10 and are made -of a. resiliently dqifrmabl material, such as rubber.

-The user exerts. pressure on the pads 26 to stlkmulAte airfIoW betWeen -the; internal com'rpart ments 13a, 13b and 13c and through. slow'releasie %vv 18B in: the case of the-second embodiment shown in flgw~2 r osiult i1aw, tiuhthe slow-release valve 18 in the case of thO first. embodimfent 'soWn in.

fiure 1.

In use, thie 'pressure sock 10 of figures. 1 and.. 2 Is* fitted arduni. #18 1 ankle..17.arid part of the calf 19. The air pump. 14. is manually 0peRatedb.to inflateth bladder 12. The bladder 12 of the pres~ure sock iliktited i.fgr is lnflat~d to a comfortable pressure. The bladder 12 deflates -slowy so thot a..

dec.reasing pressure is applied to the foot 15; -ankle'. 17 and caf '19 over ak1 lngth-; of: time.' 'To expeditea deflation, the user can eixert pressure odn the blids2, which: stimulates airlow from the internal cavity;* 13.0f the bladder 12an through the slow-release valve 18. The user Is Oble to-inflatei the bladder.* 12: periodically or when necessary.

Mp AMENDED SHEET .E 8 The cmpartmenit 13a of the pressure sock illustrated -In. figure. 2 Is -infaited- wit th6 manual: pum-ip.' Whnifae t r mined preture, typically., Bmg the pressuria-release valve 30a facilitates the fl o'w; of air in to' cicompartment 1 3b. Similarly, compartment I-3c.8s inflated, When -pressure.

Srelase valve 30b reeases at approximately i4mn, Hg.

itwill be appreciated.that the pressure sock shown, in figure.1I dies. not haeq.

include a slow release valve but may include d~ pressure -release' vt Y ensure that the bladder could not be Inflated to a high) pressure.

Figure. 3! shows a ihird embodiment of pressure socks.- Each' :pressure, so j includes a sqle portion 40 locatable underneath-a &Je of -the foot of af~~rr badder 42 and. attachment means in the form of foot- straps.44. -Th foot trp *44 are attached to sides of the sole portions The bladders are. ide of; 15 plastIcs material .and -include filler openings 46. The. bladdears 42 substan tialy span ihb upoer surfaice area of the sole portions 4Q *The sole portions are made of a* flexible, adid. or.-semi-rigid. materjaj.: *Aternatively, the walls of the bladder could be dimensioned- to jform in. integ~al.

sile.;portin therebyv bvibtlng the need to have a. separateor. no:r-Intbgraij.sole portion, Emp AMENDED SHEET 2 150 9Y The foot straps 44 include hook and pile or Velcro® fasteners so that -theyr releasab1 attachable to the foot of a wearer.. The foot strapi44 o'vertPApo accommodate use of the hook and pile fasteners and can thus ~alpo be adjudted..

to fit different sizes.

The two bladders 42 of the two socks 10 shown- in figure* 3 ar& Infigated ithi -a .manually ope3rated hand pump being connected to a tbe 5 trminatln i piece SOi. Two tubes .54 extending from the T-plece are,*i un ~aig~ coonnected In each filler opening 46. Inner caviti" Fof each blidder are thus filled with- air by-operating the pump.

A slow release or Pressure release valve may 6§ incue witheahbdero that art iriner cavit of each bladder is in flow onrimunication. wth th4 q"U~i through such a valve.

N

It Is envisaged that the pressure sock arrangement. shown In figure '3 -willbe*.: converrlert to use with both feet The bladders of tli a pr-essure sok offgre3 :will. also' maintain equal pressure there between, as the blaclciers are.4n flow, communication* through the tubes 54 and the T-piee 50. The krrange9m6nt of,figure 3 will further. have -the. advantage that, when one. foot.-~ pusqheo: down harder thian the other, the other foot will experiene a press9ure intreas5e-4ue to.such movement This will result in a change. of -pressure in -differia fe at Emp AMENDED SHEET.

.1 54 different times, due* to different movemfent of the -feet and will,'stimulate bod flow.

Pressure exerted on, the feet by the bladders -of he arrangeme9nts s.,.how n figure 3 Is diffetent to the pressure exerted. by the bladders of the affiangemente shown in :figures-I and Z The bladders of the socks of. figum*s- 1'and 2 extend: around the feet and are Inflated equally around th- etwhra the Ides of 'the'sockts of figu're 3 only exert pressure fromj:jndemaath he soleos ofthe-i feet It Is- envisaged that -the pressure socks described heinr wil be. ubeful. In' s"mWatirig blood circulation in passengers travelling long d distances .by: aeroplane or other transport or people beingseted or statlpnar t-46 in periods anid will* help to prevent deep vain thromboi.

It will be iapprecidted that the invention Is not hint d tO the- precise details -as described hereinbefore. Frexample, the manually oerable a11 pump an bpo! a foot: pump; the pads could.'be comprised of s~pong -or co 'dbehlo an the valve need 'not be'ca slow-release valve. The tianuialiy oPieable.pump can:;..

bi rePWlaed -with an, electric or alternate power s urepn.Theecrto alternate, power source pump can be set to automatially and periodia- lnfj~te and dpflate the sock. This cycle may be set by a uMr.: m 0 AMENDED SHEET

Claims (6)

1. 5..
2. 10- Claimsi :A pressure sock. arrangement com'prising tvo- inflatable-, bledcqers, each attachable to a foot of the hu Man. body :and a. mailizly;, operable air pump in fluid flow oomn~in-ih iebIbdd~rttfor.** inflating the bladders to apply pressUrei to the feet to. Which -the-, bladders. are attached, the bladdert-- also :being.: In fluid-. flow *comnmunication. A pressure -sock arrangement as claimed in claim I. in which. the-. 2 badde rs: Include attachment. means for ittaching the 'bladi rso he feet. 3. :A -pressure sock arrangement as claimed in clafim 2. in which the.: attachment means -are straps having relaasably~scurable fasteners... -A pressure sock arrangement as claimed in cla im .3 inj w Ach he *fasteners' are complemnentary hook and pile fasteners. pressure sock arrangement as dlajmed. In any one ot the-Precgeding claimns In which'the bladders are'attached- to Iany Opbativey -upper. surface of a sole portion of the pressure s.ock. mAMENDED SHEET .1 IlkA A. 4presUre Sock as claimed In claim 5,in wh- the sole portionls3 flxibie. LI E AMENDED SHEET S. I. I'
3. 12- A pres~urs sock arrangement as claimed In claim 5 -in* which'the sol6e portion'is rigid. 8.A -pressure sock arrangement as claimed. In any -one o6ftJie' recedn 'claims in which each infiata~le bladder kides a Ipressure..: release valve. pressure sock arrangement as claimed -in- any one Dfthe -precedin claims in which the Inflatable bladders Include a slow release, valve. A pressure 'sock arrangement as claimed in clajim 1 in which the bladders are dimensioned to fit over at 146st part of.- a foot of-the human body. 11. A pressure sock arrangement as clalmedin. 'claim 1O.In: which. eabh bladder has protrusions on at leapt.part of t inner surfage. which -contacts part of the foot to which it'is attached when in use. 12.:A pressure sock arrangement as clalime' n.any..onpoftclalmsfObr, 11 In which--at least one pad is located: in a sole of each bliadder. f AMENDED SHEET 1-
4. 13. A pressure -ock number of comp FMDf AMENDED SHEET 12A ayrangemnent as claimed in any ner cavity of each bladder, Is dh arlments. ildedlrito a.. 1 A pressure sock arrangement as claimed in zlaim 1-3. i"n:Wh.ch. the-. compartments are in flow comm unicatio thiough anurobero6f.:: difeen pesure pressure rease, valves, -otbtec b~~dr. can be inflated to. maintain different- presses -in differer*.fi'..K:< comdbrpartments... CI 15: prssure sock arrangement as elaimedln #ny an~fIis1Ot 14 in which at least part of an innir-cavity of eack bledde6r 1i; inpW commUnication with a pressure release Wvae, to alwarI htpr f the cavityt escape from that part of tt,'-pavny.at* mpe:eernld. .*pressure.
5. 16.. A pressure* sck arrangement asdcaimed n any one 9f claims dlv~t& in wich at'least part of an inner cavity 6f. each bladder infA~vy. cmmunication with a slow release valve to allow air1n. ta:~rto h cavity. to escape from that part af the cavity.
6. 17. A.r,6 17. presure sokarrangement as claimedInany onedfclaim 1td.iK* 16 In which a distally disposed compartment Is -malh'andatahge pressure, relative to its adjoining proximaq disposd -compartment. p EiAMENDED SHEET