EP0537172B1 - Inflatable compression garment or mattress - Google Patents

Inflatable compression garment or mattress Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0537172B1
EP0537172B1 EP91909447A EP91909447A EP0537172B1 EP 0537172 B1 EP0537172 B1 EP 0537172B1 EP 91909447 A EP91909447 A EP 91909447A EP 91909447 A EP91909447 A EP 91909447A EP 0537172 B1 EP0537172 B1 EP 0537172B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chambers
chamber
bleed
series
fluid flow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91909447A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0537172A1 (en
Inventor
Rolf Schild
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Huntleigh Technology Ltd
Original Assignee
Huntleigh Technology Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB909014883A external-priority patent/GB9014883D0/en
Application filed by Huntleigh Technology Ltd filed Critical Huntleigh Technology Ltd
Publication of EP0537172A1 publication Critical patent/EP0537172A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0537172B1 publication Critical patent/EP0537172B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
    • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
    • A61H9/0078—Pneumatic massage with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an inflatable apparatus, in particular, a mattress or a compression garment for use in general therapeutic treatment and treatment of vascular disorders and edemas.
  • the greatest beneficial effect is achieved when the pressure exerted on the limb concerned is highest at the distal end and gradually reduces towards the heart at the proximal end.
  • intermittent compression garments are well known in the medical field and, although the general purpose of such devices is similar, there are many variations in the way compression can be applied to the extremities of the body to be treated.
  • the garments usually take the form of a single or multi-chamber garment and, where a plurality of chambers are utilised, they can provide either sequential and/or graduated compression.
  • the manufacture of single chamber devices is technically the simplest and has the added advantage of lower costs. At higher compression pressures sequential devices are accepted generally as being more comfortable to the patient but the patient can suffer from a "ridging" effect. This occurs because of the "Dead" space between individual chambers where the skin is never contacted by the device. This can be overcome, however, by taking special precautions such as overlapping of adjacent chambers or by placing a membrane between adjacent chambers. Furthermore, on the whole sequential and/or graduated compression devices tend to be the most expensive to manufacture.
  • the medical field also makes use of mattresses which employ a similar principle for therapeutic treatment.
  • the mattress can be static or dynamic depending on the specific treatment which is required.
  • US-A-4,029,087 describes a prior art extremity compression device which makes use of spring valves or passageways between adjoining chambers to maintain a pressure gradient between adjacent chambers.
  • an inflatable apparatus in the form of a mattress or compression garment which overcomes the problems previously encountered with known apparatus.
  • references to apparatus "of the type defined” should be understood as meaning mattresses and compression garments. Accordingly, there is provided an inflatable apparatus for therapeutic treatment of patients such as a mattress or a compression garment, the apparatus including at least one series of inflatable chambers, means for connection to a first chamber of the series for supply of inflation fluid, and fluid flow restrictor means providing restricted fluid flow interconnection between adjacent chambers of the series, characterised in that a bleed valve open to the atmosphere is located in the last chamber of the series which maintains a pressure gradient between adjacent chambers.
  • the fluid flow restrictor means is a tube of small bore.
  • the tube of small bore is located in a membrane between the adjacent chambers.
  • each chamber can be deflated simultaneously via an external tube connected to the supply of inflation fluid, the external tube being connected to each chamber and having non-return valves located between adjacent chambers which ensure that only the first chamber can be inflated directly by the supply of inflation fluid.
  • the chambers can be deflated simultaneously via the supply of inflation fluid and through the fluid flow restrictor means between adjacent chambers.
  • the bleed is adjustable to create varying pressure gradients.
  • the apparatus is a mattress.
  • the apparatus is a garment.
  • Figure 1 depicts an intermittent compression garment 1 suitable for location over the lower part of the leg and the foot, for example.
  • the garment comprises three separate inflatable chambers 2a,2b, and 2c.
  • the chambers 2a,2b, and 2c are connected via flow restrictor means in the form of bleed orifices 3 and 4 between adjacent chambers 2a and 2b, and 2b and 2c respectively.
  • the orifices 3 and 4 consist of a tube of small bore and predetermined length.
  • Chambers 2b and 2c are fed with air from chamber 2a which is connected to a pump or a piped air supply via an inlet tube 5. During an inflation cycle, air will be fed into chamber 2a and will then pass through bleed orifice 3 to chamber 2b.
  • bleed orifices 3 and 4 act as fluid flow restrictors which enable the fluid pressures in chambers of a series of inflatable chambers to be increased successively from one chamber to the next.
  • the bleed 6 is preferably a needle valve and can be pre-set or adjustable and will determine the pressure drop which occurs between adjacent chambers by adjusting the flow of air from the garment. However, the bleed 6 could be dispensed with or shut-off completely if there was no need for a graduated pressure between chambers. The pressure drop can, however, only be maintained when fluid flow between adjacent chambers continues. Should the fluid flow stop, the pressure between chambers will eventually equalise.
  • Deflation of the garment is controlled by a valve, for example, within the pump, which is connected to inlet tube 5.
  • a valve for example, within the pump, which is connected to inlet tube 5.
  • the pump valve When the pump valve is opened to the atmosphere, the chambers 2a, 2b, and 2c are able to exhaust simultaneously through an external tube 7 which is connected between the inlet tube 5 and bleed 6.
  • the external tube 7 is provided with non-return valves 8,9 leading between chambers 2a and 2b, and 2b and 2c respectively.
  • the valves 8,9 are arranged so that the chambers 2b and 2c cannot be inflated directly through the external tube 7 when the inlet tube 5 is inflating chamber 2a.
  • T-piece connections 10,11, and 12 connecting the chambers 2a,2b and 2c to the external tube 7 and in the case of chamber 2a to the inlet tube 5 and in the case of chamber 2c to the bleed 6.
  • the chambers 2a and 2b are separated by a membrane 13 and the chambers 2b and 2c are separated by a membrane 14 and it is within membranes 13 and 14 that the bleed orifices 3 and 4 are located.
  • the bleed orifices 3 and 4 run substantially parallel to the join between adjacent chambers in order to avoid " kinking " of the orifices if the user bends the garment in that area.
  • FIG 2 is a perspective view of the leg garment in Figure 1 taken in direction X.
  • the inlet tube 5 is visible and there is a zipper fastening 15 which allows the garment to be located around the leg and secured in position.
  • Other forms of fasteners can be used for securing the garment in position such as Velcro (TM) or a clinging plastic sheet, for example.
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the bleed orifice 3. This shows how the bleed orifice 3, which consists of a tube of small bore, passes from chamber 2a to the next chamber 2b.
  • the bleed orifice 3 is located in membrane 13 between the chambers 2a and 2b.
  • the bleed orifice 3 is secured in position by a patch 16 which is welded over the tube on both sides of membrane 13.
  • Figure 4 is an enlarged view of one of the non-return valves 8 and 9 in Figure 1. It can be seen that only air which is exhausting from the chambers via the T-piece connections 11 and 12 will be allowed to flow through external tube 7. Any air which is pumped into the garment via inlet tube 5 will close the non-return valves 8 and 9 so that chambers 2b and 2c can only be inflated by air which passes from chamber 2a via bleed orifices 3 and 4.
  • FIG 5 is a view in direction A-A of the membrane detail in Figure 1.
  • the membrane 13 also includes an alternative non-return valve arrangement 17 which could replace non-return valves 8 and 9 in Figure 1.
  • Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the non-return valve 17 in Figure 5.
  • Figure 7 is a further embodiment of the compression garment described in connection with Figure 1.
  • like reference numerals indicate like features but the non-return valves 8 and 9 and the external tube 7 have been dispensed with.
  • the non-return valves were ineffective in some orientations and resulted in leakages particularly if ball valves were used. Therefore, the non-return valves and external tube for deflation of the apparatus were removed such that deflation occurs through the bleed orifices 3 and 4 and out through the fluid supply 5.
  • the advantage with this arrangement is that the bleed orifices ensure that some residual pressure remains (less than 5mm Hg) in the chambers furthest from the first chamber which allows a smaller compressor to be used thus reducing the overall size of the apparatus.
  • the garment is able to compress the limb sequentially at a variable rate of pressure rise and can provide a graduated pressure from chamber to chamber.
  • the pressure difference between adjacent chambers can be adjusted by adjusting the air bleed 6 to the atmosphere. If graduated pressure is not required the bleed 6 can be closed and the multi-chamber garment will behave like a single chamber garment with equal pressure in all chambers. Although only three chambers have been described it will be appreciated that any number of chambers can be used by employing such an arrangement.
  • the bleed 6 provides a built-in pressure control which ensures that once the steady state pressure gradient is reached, it is held by exhausting any excess flow through a valve in the pump and at a controlled rate through the bleed valve.
  • bleed 6 could be used to provide ventilation and cooling in the bed of the patient which will make the treatment process far more pleasant, particularly during lengthy treatment sessions.
  • the intermittent compression garment described and depicted in Figures 1 to 7 can be adapted such that it can simply provide a sequential compression by omitting (or shutting off) the bleed 6. In this way, one can obtain a successive pressure rise from chamber to chamber with each chamber eventually reaching the same pressure. Alternatively, if a graduated compression is required, the bleed 6 will be adjusted to provide the required drop in pressure between adjacent chambers. This is however, only a single example of how successive and graduated pressure is used for treatment.
  • a static mattress will not usually require sequential compression since all chambers will be required to reach the same final pressure immediately.
  • a dynamic mattress a sequential compression would be useful for therapy.
  • there may be a demand for a graduated pressure in a static or dynamic mattress for example, where parts of the mattress require a higher support pressure than other parts.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Massaging Devices (AREA)
  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
EP91909447A 1990-07-05 1991-05-21 Inflatable compression garment or mattress Expired - Lifetime EP0537172B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9014883 1990-07-05
GB909014883A GB9014883D0 (en) 1990-07-05 1990-07-05 Garment for treatment of a limb by compression
GB919103690A GB9103690D0 (en) 1990-07-05 1991-02-21 An inflatable apparatus
GB9103690 1991-02-21
PCT/GB1991/000792 WO1992000715A1 (en) 1990-07-05 1991-05-21 Inflatable compression garment or mattress

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0537172A1 EP0537172A1 (en) 1993-04-21
EP0537172B1 true EP0537172B1 (en) 1996-03-27

Family

ID=26297279

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91909447A Expired - Lifetime EP0537172B1 (en) 1990-07-05 1991-05-21 Inflatable compression garment or mattress

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0537172B1 (es)
AU (1) AU7864491A (es)
DE (1) DE69118381T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2085474T3 (es)
GB (1) GB2245497B (es)
HK (1) HK1003321A1 (es)
WO (1) WO1992000715A1 (es)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2271060B (en) * 1992-10-01 1996-04-03 Huntleigh Technology Plc An inflatable garment
GB2275986B (en) * 1993-03-12 1996-12-18 Huntleigh Technology Plc Adjustable pressure relief valve
GB2324246A (en) * 1997-04-15 1998-10-21 Olarewaju James Olagbo Oladipo Pneumatic limb-exsanguination device
GB2377178B (en) * 2001-07-06 2004-05-19 Environmental Seals Ltd Apparatus for relieving the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis
CN101312703B (zh) 2005-09-23 2012-05-30 新技术私人有限公司 防止深静脉血栓的装置
WO2021178906A1 (en) * 2020-03-05 2021-09-10 Rapid Reboot Recovery Products Llc Pump assembly

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL17076C (es) * 1924-11-05 1927-10-15
SE381986B (sv) * 1974-01-14 1976-01-12 Meteve Ab Blodtomningsmanschett for blodtomning av extremitetet fore ett operativt ingrepp
US4029087A (en) * 1975-10-28 1977-06-14 The Kendall Company Extremity compression device
GB2053672B (en) * 1979-07-23 1983-08-03 Paterson J K Mattresses
DE2967378D1 (en) * 1979-10-03 1985-03-21 Katsumasa Hara Pressure bag essembly for air-massage
US4320746A (en) * 1979-12-07 1982-03-23 The Kendall Company Compression device with improved pressure control
FR2527435B1 (fr) * 1982-05-28 1988-09-16 Serreau Serge Manchon constricteur pour stimulation de la circulation du sang
FI68171C (fi) * 1983-11-07 1985-08-12 Kalle Pekanmaeki Anordning foer massage av kroppens extremiteter saosom av ben

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69118381T2 (de) 1996-09-05
DE69118381D1 (de) 1996-05-02
HK1003321A1 (en) 1998-10-23
ES2085474T3 (es) 1996-06-01
GB2245497A (en) 1992-01-08
WO1992000715A1 (en) 1992-01-23
GB9112524D0 (en) 1991-07-31
AU7864491A (en) 1992-02-04
EP0537172A1 (en) 1993-04-21
GB2245497B (en) 1994-05-11

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