External counter pulsation apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to an external counter pulsation apparatus that provides an improved treatment results while having a reduced energy consumption, noise, and/or heat during operation and/or an increased mobility. The counter pulsation apparatus can have a pump member for producing a fluid medium and a valve member for selectively allowing the fluid medium to inflate and deflate a fluid pouch adapted to be mounted onto a body portion of the patient. A control device can be provided to control the inflation and deflation of the valve member in accordance with a physical signal of a patient. An output variation device can be provided to vary the fluid medium output from the pump member to maintain the fluid medium pressure at a predetermined value. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the pump member, the valve member, the control device, and the output variation device can be movable to the patient's location to carry out the counter pulsation treatment. A carrier member can be provided to facilitate the transportation of one or more of the control device, the pump member, the valve member, and the output variation device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to a counter pulsation apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an external counter pulsation apparatus that is capable of reducing the energy consumed or noise or heat generated during the operation and improving the effectiveness of the counter pulsation treatment. Moreover, the present invention relates to a compact, mobile external counter pulsation apparatus that can be conveniently transported to the patient's location for carrying out the counter pulsation treatment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] External counter pulsation devices have been used as non-invasive, safe, and effective means to treat various ischemic diseases, such as cardiac diseases caused by cardiac ischemia and stroke and paralysis caused by cerebral ischemia. There are two types of external counter pulsation devices: fixed and mobile. Fixed counter pulsation devices are pre-installed and include a specially designed ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The present invention relates to an external counter pulsation apparatus. According to the invention, the counter pulsation apparatus can comprise a pump member for supplying a fluid medium and a valve member for selectively allowing the fluid medium to inflate or deflate a fluid pouch, which is adapted to be mounted onto a body portion of the patient. An output variation device can be provided to maintain the fluid medium at a predetermined pressure value prior to the pouch inflation. Moreover, the counter pulsation apparatus can comprise a control device for generating a control signal to control the valve member operation in accordance with a physical signal of the patient. The external counter pulsation apparatus of the invention can reduce energy consumed and / or minimize heat and / or noise generated by the pump member.

[0006] The present invention also relates to an external counter pulsation apparatus that can have an increased mobility. According to the invention, either the entire or a part of the external counter pulsation apparatus can be movable to the patient's location to carry out the external counter pulsation treatment. A carrier member can be provided to facilitate the transportation of one or more of the pump member, the valve member, the control device, the output variation device, and the physical signal receiver. Additionally or alternatively, the external counter pulsation apparatus can have a compact size to facilitate the mobility.

Problems solved by technology

Due to their immobility, fixed type counter pulsation devices are limited in their use.

For example, fixed type counter pulsation devices are inconvenient for or incapable of treating patients with acute condition right after CT diagnosis in emergency rooms.

However, mobile counter pulsation devices tend to generate high noise and / or heat, which not only wastes energy but also disturbs the patients.

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