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Self-sealing Pressurized Limb Enclosure

a self-sealing, pressurized technology, applied in the field of self-sealing pressurized enclosures around limbs, can solve the problems of physical complexity and anatomical variability, difficulty in exacerbated difficulty, and difficulty in creating a pressurized enclosure around a limb in a manner that does not utilize contact pressures exceeding enclosure pressures, etc., to achieve effective air sealing, reduce axial force, and large diameter

Inactive Publication Date: 2019-09-26
MEDICI TECH LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a seal mechanism for a medical device that allows an individual to operate the device without additional assistance and also provides comfort during use. The seal mechanism consists of a rigid outer aperture and a flexible inner seal that compresses radially on to the limb being examined. The system maintains seal integrity even in the presence of skin movement. It is important to have a small gap between the rigid outer aperture and the surface of the limb to prevent discomfort or ejection of the inner seal and limb. The use of an elbow stop or alignment of the limb so movement is opposed by gravity can also mitigate the axial force. Overall, this patent provides a technical solution for achieving secure and comfortable use of the seal mechanism for medical devices.

Problems solved by technology

The creation of a pressurized enclosure around a limb in a manner that does not utilize contact pressures exceeding the enclosure pressure is a challenging problem.
The difficulty is exacerbated by the physical complexity and anatomical variability inherent to human limbs, as well as by the desire that the sealing mechanism be easily used by a single operator.

Method used

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  • Self-sealing Pressurized Limb Enclosure
  • Self-sealing Pressurized Limb Enclosure
  • Self-sealing Pressurized Limb Enclosure

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

second embodiment

[0077]an axial rigidity-based seal system is shown in FIG. 15. As shown, the thickness of the seal element, 1501, varies along the axial dimension, with greatest stiffness and rigidity at the point of attachment to the enclosure. The distal seal is designed to retain sufficient radial flexibility to create an effect seal, and the axial rigidity conferred by the increasing thickness opposes the axial pressure force on the seal. In addition to or in alternative to changing material thickness in the axial dimension, the material of the seal element can also be varied along this axis to increase stiffness. Axially varying the material properties can be achieved by “doping” the seal element with stiffness enhancing agents, or inter-weaving fibers or filaments with axial rigidity.

third embodiment

[0078]an axial rigidity-based seal system is shown in FIG. 16. The distal seal, 1601, is composed of a radially flexible material to enable adequate seal formation between the sleeve and arm. In the axial direction, the seal designed somewhat like an accordion with material characteristics that oppose the axial force of air pressure out of the enclosure. Elements of the system may be placed in compression or tension when acted upon by the axial pressure force. Due to the accordion nature of the structure, each curve represents a situation of compression on the inner radius and tension along the outer radius. The mechanical rigidity of the bellows acts to offset the axial pressure from the enclosure. It is important to note that the bellow mechanism obtains additional rigidity at the point the bellows contact each other. Specifically, at the point the bellows are collapsed on each other, they generate a static coefficient of friction between adjacent bellows, which results in additio...

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Abstract

Method and system are provided for creating a self-sealing pressurized limb enclosure for the assessment of pressure effects on the limb. Embodiments can be self-sealing in that the seal is created by the positive pressure in the enclosure relative to the external environment and does not necessitate contact pressure at the seal location that exceeds the pressure in the enclosure. The seal accounts for anatomical size differences as well as deformations in the size and shape of the limb due to pressure. Furthermore, the seal maintains function in the presence of skin and tissue movement. In operation, the system can be used by an individual without external assistance.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to the field of methods and apparatuses for managing the pressure around a limb.BACKGROUND ART[0002]In some medical applications it is desirable to study the effects of pressure on a limb. One example is the optical determination of central venous pressure from the dorsal hand veins as described in U.S. provisional patent application 62 / 423,768, incorporated herein by reference. In such applications, it can be important that the method used to generate pressure around the limb does not create additional contact pressures on the limb that exceed the pressure of interest. The creation of a pressurized enclosure around a limb in a manner that does not utilize contact pressures exceeding the enclosure pressure is a challenging problem. The difficulty is exacerbated by the physical complexity and anatomical variability inherent to human limbs, as well as by the desire that the sealing mechanism be easily used by a single operator.SUMMARY...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61B5/00A61B5/03
CPCA61B5/683A61B2562/0247A61B5/0053A61B5/03A61B5/022A61B5/0261A61B5/1114A61B5/1073A61B5/055A61B5/0077A61B5/02233A61B5/023A61B5/1075A61B5/1079A61G10/005A61B2090/064
Inventor ROBINSON, MARK RIESALLEN, ELENA ASALEHPOUR, FAHIMEH
Owner MEDICI TECH LLC