GB2539919A

GB2539919A - Portable intermittent pneumatic compression device

Info

Publication number: GB2539919A
Application number: GB1511500.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darwish Ramy
Original assignee: Elite Spine; Nagy Darwish
Current assignee: Elite Spine; Nagy Darwish
Priority date: 2015-06-30
Filing date: 2015-06-30
Publication date: 2017-01-04
Also published as: GB201511500D0

Abstract

A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump decrease the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis by using air displacement to promote blood circulation within the lower limb of the body. The device has a sleeve 3 for a lower leg that may have multiple chambers 2 that have air pumped sequentially 5 from the lower chamber to the upper chamber. A pressure sensitive one way valve 4 situated on the last, uppermost, chamber to be inflated ensures that a pre-determined pressure is not exceeded. The rotary pump 1 that supplies the air to the chambers may be located at the bottom of the sleeve. The pump 1 may be battery operated. The sleeve may come in a variety of sizes.

Description

Portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump

This invention relates to a portable intermittent pneumatic compression device that can reduce the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in the lower leg of the human body.

Annually, according to the NHS, 1 in every 1,000 people in the United Kingdom is affected by DVT. Age, a family history of blood clots, inactivity, and being overweight are all factors that can easily bring about DVT. DVT can be extremely dangerous, as seen through most cases symptoms can be very difficult to identify. Various analytic studies have calculated that intermittent pneumatic compression devices, applied to the thigh, calf, or both, reduce the risk of DVT from 29% to 11%. These devices act to promote blood circulation in the body through using an inflatable device. The risk of DVT in surgical patients can be reduced by two thirds and the risk of pulmonary embolism can be reduced by two fifths, with the use of these devices.

People at risk of DVT often use intermittent pneumatic compression pumps, which comes in the form of compression sleeves and foot pumps, or graduated compression stockings. Such basic intermittent pneumatic compression pumps do not tend to all the needs that the consumer may have, as they are usually only provided and administered by hospitals. These pumps are often seen to be bulky, large and they require an outlet source, eliminating the opportunity for portability and availability. Graduated compression stockings functions by applying a fixed amount of pressure to the veins within the leg. These stockings can only aid the natural pump mechanism of the muscles in the leg when either walking or exercising.

This invention is a portable low-profile intermittent pneumatic compression pump, which will reduce the risk of developing blood clots within a particular vein by a significant amount.

The device would not entail walking or exercising in order to provide an improvement in the flow of blood. Promotion of blood flow can be accomplished during moments of inactivity, for example while sitting. Also Its portability can enable consumers to reduce such risks in common day to day activities, for example while driving, flying, or after recovering from an injury or surgery.

The portable Intermittent pneumatic compression pump is battery operated and will be seen in the form of a sock, advocating its comfort and transportability, as well as eliminating the need for a power outlet.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump and the key parts required: a sleeve, a rotary pump and a pressure sensitive valve, as well as the flow of pressure within the chambers of the sleeve.

Figure 2 shows the portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump fitted accordingly to the part of the body In which It is designed for.

As seen in figure 1, this device is based among a system that is dependent on a rotary pump 1, which acts to periodically inflate and deflate the chambers 2 within the sleeve 3 which is made from polyvinyl chloride and worn around the lower part of the leg.

The rotary pump 1 controls the pressure given throughout the sleeve 3 and is operated by a rechargeable battery, which will aim to provide the device with a minimum lifespan of three hours when used continuously. The batteries are recharged via an outlet source, also enabling the device to be used while In charge. This pump can Initiate or terminate its flow of air at any given time as it can be controlled by an on and off switch.

This repeated process of inflation squeezes blood in the veins located in the leg compartments allowing for proximal displacement. As the air pressure increases to a set amount, within the sleeve 3, it forces the pressure sensitive one way valve 4 to open allowing for all the air to be released, deflating the chambers 2 of the sleeve 3. In result, the valve automatically closes, and awaits the chambers 2 to refill to that set pressure. This process of inflation and deflation is continuously repeated in order to provide long periods of enhanced blood circulation.

Graduated sequential compression employs multiple chambers 2 in order to compress the limb. The sleeve 3 will have to be made sequential due to the fact that the most distal chamber would be inflated first and the most proximal chamber inflated last, as the most distal chamber would be inflating to the highest pressure and the most proximal to the lowest, in order to enable an efficient method for draining a limb.

In figure 2, the portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump is designed to be situated around the lower part of the leg. The invention covers the length of the lower limb from below the knee 6 to the ankle 7. Small, medium, and larger sizes of the sleeve is provided for varying limb sizes.

Claims

1. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump comprising of a sleeve, a rotary pump, and a pressure sensitive one way valve.

2. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump according to claim 1, in which the sleeve provided covers the length of the lower limb from below the knee to the ankle, presented in the form of a sock, as well as consisting of multiple chambers that can inflate and deflate allowing for graduated sequential compressions.

3. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump according to claim 1, in which a rotary pump is provided at the distal part of the sleeve.

4. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump according to claim 1, in which a pressure sensitive one way valve is provided at the proximal part of the sleeve.

5. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump according to claim 3, in which the rotary pump provided is battery operated (rechargeable) and allows for the displacement of air from the distal part of the sleeve to the proximal, increasing the pressure within each of the chambers sequentially.

6. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump according to claim 4, in which the pressure sensitive one way valve provided will open as the pressure in the most proximal chamber in the sleeve increases to a set point and only will the valve close upon the pressure decreasing below the set point, controlling the inflation and deflation of the device.

7. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump according to claim 5, in which this process of pneumatic compressions can be activated or deactivated by switching the rotary pump on or off.

8. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump according to any of the preceding claims, in which this process of intermittent pneumatic compressions will be continuously repeated.

9. A portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump according to any of the preceding claims, in which this portable intermittent pneumatic compression pump is provided in a variety of sizes, small, medium, large, and x-large.