Limb pressurizing device with adjustable length

Abstract

A limb compression device having an adjustable length, for example, for compressing at least a portion of an arm or leg, a portion of the device being configured to fold to reduce the total length of a boot. The compression device may have a plurality of bladders for selectively providing compression to different portions of a user's limb. There may be a gap between adjacent bladders, allowing the end portion of the device to be folded over the central portion to selectively reduce the length of the limb compression device. The adjustable length of the pressure device may facilitate its versatility in accommodating users of different sizes (leg lengths) and may provide the advantage of retailers, for example, reducing the need to maintain inventory of different sizes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of limb-compression devices and methods for operating and / or configuring such devices. Background Technology

[0002] Current leg air pressurization sleeves are typically of a fixed length. To meet the needs of users with different heights and / or leg lengths, some companies offer the same model in different lengths. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The limb compression device has a foldable portion that can be folded to reduce the length of the device. This foldable portion may include an airbag.

[0004] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a limb compression device includes: a housing for receiving a user's limb therein; and a plurality of compression bladders spaced apart along the length of the housing within the housing; wherein the housing includes a foldable portion between adjacent pairs of bladders in the bladders to allow folding of the housing to reduce the length of the limb compression device to less than the length of the housing.

[0005] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the present invention, the limb compression device is a leg compression device for applying pressure to at least a portion of a user's leg.

[0006] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, at least a portion of the leg includes the lower leg from the knee to the ankle.

[0007] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, at least a portion of the leg includes the upper leg from the thigh to the knee.

[0008] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, at least a portion of the leg includes the entire leg from the thigh to the ankle.

[0009] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, at least a portion of the leg includes the user's foot.

[0010] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the present invention, the limb compression device is a leg compression device for applying pressure to at least a portion of a user's arm.

[0011] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, at least a portion of the user's arm includes the user's upper arm from the shoulder to the elbow.

[0012] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, at least a portion of the user's arm includes the user's forearm from at least the elbow to the wrist.

[0013] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the invention, at least a portion of the user's arm includes the user's forearm from at least the elbow to the hand.

[0014] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, at least a portion of the user's arm includes the entire arm from the shoulder to the wrist.

[0015] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, at least a portion of the user's arm includes the entire arm of the user, from the shoulder to the hand.

[0016] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the invention, the foldable portion is located in the gap between an adjacent pair of pouches.

[0017] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the invention, the shell is folded at the foldable portion so that the bladders of an adjacent pair of bladders overlap.

[0018] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the invention, folding the housing at the foldable portion reduces the length of the limb compression device by at least 10%.

[0019] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the plurality of sacs includes at least three sacs.

[0020] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the plurality of sacs includes at least five sacs.

[0021] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, there is some overlap between the adjacent pairs of sacs, except for the adjacent pair of sacs adjacent to the foldable portion.

[0022] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the invention, the housing includes an upper leg end and a lower leg end, with the foldable portion being closer to the upper leg end than the lower leg end.

[0023] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the housing at the lower leg end includes a foot cover for covering the user's foot.

[0024] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the invention, the upper leg end is the thigh end.

[0025] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the present invention, the housing has a zipper closure.

[0026] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the limb compression device is combined with a control unit that controls the expansion and contraction of the bladder.

[0027] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the invention, the control unit is configured to operate the limb pressure device differently depending on whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

[0028] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the control unit receives input from the user regarding whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

[0029] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of the present invention, the control unit automatically detects whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

[0030] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the control unit includes a compressor for supplying compressed air to the bladder.

[0031] According to any one or more paragraphs of the embodiments of this invention, the compressor is a battery-powered compressor.

[0032] According to embodiments of any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the leg pressurization system further includes: an additional leg pressurization device; and a manifold that can be coupled to the control unit and the leg pressurization device.

[0033] According to another aspect, a method of configuring a limb compression device includes: providing a limb compression device, the limb compression device comprising: a housing for accommodating a user's leg therein; and a plurality of compression bladders spaced apart along the length of the housing within the housing; wherein the housing includes a foldable portion between adjacent pairs of bladders in the bladders to allow folding the housing to reduce the length of the limb compression device to less than the length of the housing; and selecting the length of the limb compression device based on the user's limb length, and folding the housing at the foldable portion to reduce the length of the limb compression device if necessary.

[0034] According to embodiments of any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the method further includes configuring a control unit coupled to the limb compression device based on whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

[0035] According to any one or more paragraphs of the invention, the control unit automatically configures itself based on whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

[0036] According to yet another embodiment, a control unit for controlling the expansion and contraction of a bladder in the housing of a limb compression device includes: circuitry configured to operate the limb compression device differently depending on whether the housing is folded at a foldable portion.

[0037] While several features have been described herein with reference to embodiments of the present disclosure, the features described with respect to a given embodiment may also be applied in combination with other embodiments. The following description and accompanying drawings illustrate certain illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure. However, these embodiments indicate several of a variety of methods in which the principles of the present disclosure can be applied. Other objects, advantages, and novel features of various aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0038] The accompanying drawings (not necessarily drawn to scale) illustrate various aspects of this disclosure.

[0039] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a leg compression system according to an embodiment.

[0040] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the leg compression boot device of the system.

[0041] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Side view of the leg compression device.

[0042] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 An oblique view of the leg compression device in a folded configuration.

[0043] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of a system for moving air into and out of a capsule, which serves as... Figure 1 It is part of the leg compression system.

[0044] Figure 6 It shows including Figure 1 A block diagram of the hardware of a portion of the control unit of the leg compression system.

[0045] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of the method according to the embodiment.

[0046] Figure 8 This is a side view of a limb compression device with multiple folded portions according to another embodiment.

[0047] Figure 9 This is a side view of a calf compression device according to yet another embodiment.

[0048] Figure 10 This is a side view of an arm pressurizing device according to another embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0049] A limb compression device (e.g., for applying pressure to at least a portion of an arm or leg) has an adjustable length, with a portion configured to fold to reduce the overall length of the boot. The compression device may have multiple sacs for selectively applying pressure to different parts of the user's limb. Gaps may exist between adjacent sacs, allowing end portions of the device to fold over the central portion to selectively reduce the length of the limb compression device. The adjustable length of the compression device can facilitate its versatility in accommodating users of different sizes (leg lengths) and can offer retailers, for example, the advantage of reduced need to maintain inventory of different sizes.

[0050] Various limb compression devices are illustrated in the following description. The most discussed embodiment is a leg compression device for applying pressure to at least a portion of a user's leg, such as the entire leg (at least from the thigh to the ankle) or only the calf (from the knee to at least the ankle). However, the term "limb compression device" also includes arm compression devices for applying pressure to the entire or part of a user's arm.

[0051] Figure 1 A leg compression system 10 is shown, comprising a pair of leg compression devices 12 and 14 (which may be leg compression boots for a user's right and left legs), a manifold 16, and a control unit 18, which includes a compressor or pump 20. The pump 20 supplies compressed air to the manifold 16, which in turn delivers the compressed air to various parts of the compression boots 12 and 14. The manifold 16 may include a plug to block one of its output ports when only one of the leg compression devices 12 and 14 is in use. The control unit 18 may include a controller 21 that controls the operation of the pump 20 and how air is directed to the various parts of the boots 12 and 14. The control unit 18 may have a plug 21a for receiving power from a power outlet, and / or may have a battery 21b for providing self-contained power to the compressor (pump) 20 and other components.

[0052] Figure 2 Details of the pressure boot 12 are shown. The pressure boot 12 has a housing 22 with an upper leg end 24 and a lower leg end 26. The housing 22 may be made of a suitable flexible material (e.g., vinyl or other suitable plastic). A zipper 28 on one side of the housing 22 may extend along the length of the housing 22. The zipper 28 can be opened to allow a user's leg to be inserted into or withdrawn from the housing 22. The zipper 28 can be closed and locked, wherein the user's leg is in the sleeve 22 for operation of the pressure device 12. Locking the zipper 28 prevents the housing 22 from being pulled open and opened when air is pumped into the pressure boot 12.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the compression boot 12 has a foot receiving portion 32 with a sole plate 34 that covers the bottom of the user's foot. Alternatively, the boot may be configured to omit the foot receiving portion 32, for example, extending only from the user's thigh to the ankle.

[0054] See also: Figure 3 The boot 12 has a series of bladders 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 within the housing 22, arranged along the length of the boot 12 from the upper leg end 24 (where bladder 42 is located) to the lower leg end 26 (where bladder 46 is located). Bladders 42-46 can be pressurized and depressurized individually or in combination by introducing and removing compressed air. Therefore, the boot 12 can be used to pressurize different parts of a user's leg.

[0055] Connector 52 can provide a connection to manifold 16. Figure 1 For example, connector 52 can be made of a suitable plastic. Separated channels 54 extend from connector 52 to pouches 42-46 to guide pressurized air into and out of pouches 42-46. Channels 54 can be arranged side-by-side in a suitable flexible material (e.g., rubber or a suitable plastic). The flat strip containing channels 54 can be surrounded by a suitable fabric to help protect the material with channels from damage.

[0056] Adjacent sacs 43-46 may slightly overlap each other. This helps to provide the necessary pressure to all parts of the user's legs, the area of ​​the legs covered by the shell 22 being subjected to potential pressure.

[0057] However, a gap 58 exists between the pouches 42 and 43 closest to the upper leg end 24. This gap 58 is located at the folded position 62, defining a foldable portion 64 at the upper leg end 24 of the boot 12. The foldable portion 64 can be folded down to the lower part of the shell 22 to reduce the length of the boot 12. The reduction in length can be at least 10%, or within the range of 10% to 60%. This allows the boot 12 to be suitable for users of different sizes (different leg lengths).

[0058] All bladders 42-46 can cover the same or approximately the same length along the leg pressurization device (boot) 12. Alternatively, bladders 42-46 can cover different lengths. For example, bladder 42 can cover a shorter length, such that the folded portion 54 is a smaller portion of the housing 22 than the portion of the housing 22 that surrounds the other bladders. Furthermore, for ease of manufacture, the bladder 46 at the lower leg end 26 can be shorter than the intermediate bladders 43-45.

[0059] The illustrated embodiment has five sacs 42-46. However, it should be understood that alternatives may have a different number (more or fewer) of sacs.

[0060] Figure 4 The boot 12 is shown in a folded configuration, wherein the foldable portion 64 is folded and overlaps with other parts of the shell 22, and... Figure 2 The unfolded configuration shown presents a contrast. When the boot 12 is in the folded configuration, it is now suitable for users with shorter legs—the leg length is more suitable for users in this configuration. Figure 2 The boot 12 might be too short in its unfolded configuration. However, this is advantageous for several reasons. First, it increases the versatility of the boot 12, making it suitable for users with significantly different leg lengths. These users could be family members (such as spouses) or friends, or even ordinary acquaintances interested in trying the leg-compression boot 12.

[0061] Furthermore, the variable length boots 12 are advantageous to wholesalers and retailers, who can produce and / or stock fewer boot sizes (or just one boot size) to accommodate users with a wide range of leg lengths, exceeding what a single (expandable) sleeve configuration can accommodate.

[0062] When the boot 12 is in the folded configuration, it may be advantageous to disable the pressurization of the bladder 42. This can be done manually by the user, for example, by selecting it on the control unit 18. For example, manual instruction can be given by simply pressing the configuration button on the control unit 18.

[0063] Or, System 10 ( Figure 1 The system can be configured to allow automatic detection of the folded configuration of the boot 12. For example, folding the top portion of the boot might activate a magnetic switch that helps maintain the folded configuration and is coupled to the control unit 18, providing the control unit 18 with an indication of the folded configuration. As another example, when a portion of the boot is folded, a mechanical switch can be used, such as by engaging mechanical fasteners, like buttons or snaps.

[0064] Figure 5 A block diagram of a system 100 for moving air into and out of bladders 42-46 is shown. Control unit 18 may include compressor 20, which selectively supplies compressed air to manifold 16 via inflation valve 104. Sensor 106 may monitor the pressure in manifold 16. Flow rate from manifold 16 to bladders 42-46 may be controlled by a series of valves 122, 123, 124, 125, 126 (corresponding to bladders 42-46, respectively). Exhaust valve 134 may allow one or more bladders 42-46 to vent, with air exiting bladders 42-46 via the action of vacuum source 136, or simply discharged into the outside atmosphere. Controller 21 may be operatively coupled to compressor 20, inflation valve 104, sensor 106, valves 122-126, exhaust valve 134, and vacuum source 136 to receive data and control the operation of various parts of system 100.

[0065] It should be understood that Figure 5 A basic system for removing air is shown. Many alternatives and more complex arrangements are possible. For example, additional sensing devices, such as flow sensors and / or pressure sensors corresponding to each bladder, can be present. As another possible alternative, separate flow paths can exist corresponding to each of bladders 42-46, which would allow some bladders in 42-46 to be inflated while others in bladders 42-46 are deflated.

[0066] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the control unit 18 components is shown. The control unit 18 includes a controller 21 and a memory 204. The controller 21 may include any of a variety of processors, including dual-microprocessor and other multiprocessor architectures. The memory 204 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory may include, but is not limited to, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc. Volatile memory may include, for example, RAM, synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), and direct RAM bus RAM (DRRAM). A storage device 208 may be operatively connected to the controller 21 via a bus 210. The storage device 208 may include, but is not limited to, devices such as disk drives, solid-state drives, flash memory cards, or memory sticks. The memory 204 may store processes or data.

[0067] Bus 210 can be a single internal bus interconnect architecture or other bus or mesh architecture. Although a single bus is shown, it should be understood that the system (control unit 18) can communicate with various devices, logic, and peripherals using other buses not shown (e.g., PCIe, SATA, Infiniband, 1394, USB, Ethernet). Bus 210 can be of various types, including but not limited to memory bus or memory controller, peripheral bus or external bus, crossbar switch, or local bus. Local bus can be of various types, including but not limited to Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Extended ISA (EISA) bus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, Universal Serial Bus (USB) bus, and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus.

[0068] Display interface 222 can be coupled to bus 210 and can provide user-queried information to be displayed on display 224. For example, display 224 can display information about operation, such as operating modes (e.g., pulse mode, progressive mode, sequential mode, targeted pulse pressurization mode in selected areas, or manual selection of pressurization modes in individual areas), pressure settings, or timers; these are some possible, non-limiting examples. The user can access input device 226 (e.g., touchpad or buttons (or other types of input devices)) to make various operation selections. Input device 226 can be connected to bus 210 via interface 228.

[0069] Interface 228 can also couple one or more sensors 232 to bus 210. Sensors 232 can transmit usage data (e.g., pressure data, flow data, and / or usage history), which are some non-limiting examples.

[0070] Figure 7 It is the operation of the leg compression system 10 ( Figure 1 The flowchart of method 300 is shown. In step 302, the user configures the leg compression devices (boots) 12 and 14 as needed. Figure 1 If needed, the leg retraction device can be placed in a folded configuration to provide a proper fit or preferred configuration for the user.

[0071] In step 304, the user places boots 12 and 14 ( Figure 1 (The boots) are worn on his or her legs. In step 306, the controller is configured for the length of boots 12 and 14, full length (unfolded) or shorter length (folded). This configuration can be done by the user, or alternatively, the system can automatically detect the folded configuration before or at the start of the pressurization operation.

[0072] The aforementioned leg compression devices 12 and 14 ( Figure 1 This could have the advantage of accommodating a wider range of users. It could be advantageous for related users with different leg lengths (such as spouses), as they might be able to share a single leg compression device. Furthermore, the flexibility in sizing and fitting could benefit manufacturers and retailers who might only need to maintain a small inventory of devices, or even offer only a single size.

[0073] Many alternative configurations are possible. For example, the device could have multiple foldable sections, enabling three (or more) possible lengths for a single device. An example of such a device is... Figure 8The illustrated limb compression device 312 has sacs 342, 343, 344, 345, and 346, which can be selectively filled to apply pressure to different parts of the user's limb. Sacs 342 and 343 are located in foldable portions 364 and 366, respectively, which can be folded individually or together to change the length of the device 312. As shown, multiple foldable portions 364 and 366 can be on the same side of the device 312. Alternatively, multiple foldable portions can be located at opposite ends of the compression device. Other features and details of the device 312 can be compared with those of device 12 (…). Figure 1 The features and details are similar.

[0074] Figure 9 Another embodiment is shown in which the leg compression device 412 is configured to engage only the user's lower leg, for example, from the user's knee to the ankle (possibly the foot). Device 412 includes three sacs 442, 443, and 444, one of which (sac 442) is located in a foldable portion 464. This is only one exemplary embodiment, and the number and / or configuration of the sacs and other components may vary. Other features and details of device 412 may be related to device 12 (…). Figure 1 The features and details are similar.

[0075] Figure 10 Another embodiment is shown, in which the arm compression device 512 has pouches 542, 543, 544, and 545 for applying pressure to different parts of the user's arm (potentially including the user's hand). Pouch 542 is located in a foldable portion 564 that can be folded to reduce the length of the arm compression device 512. Other features and / or variations of the device 512 may be similar to those described in the other embodiments above.

[0076] Although this disclosure has shown and described with respect to one or more embodiments, equivalent changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the accompanying drawings. In particular, with respect to the various functions performed by the foregoing elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), unless otherwise stated, the terminology used to describe these elements (including references to “device”) is intended to correspond to any element performing the specified function of the said element (i.e., functional equivalence), even if structurally not equivalent to the disclosed structure performing the functions of the exemplary embodiments shown herein or embodiments of this disclosure. Furthermore, while specific features of this disclosure may have been described above with respect to only one or more of the illustrated embodiments, such features may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, depending on the needs and advantages of any given or particular application.

Claims

1. A limb compression device, comprising: A shell, used to house the user's limbs; as well as Multiple pressure bladders are located within the housing and spaced apart along the length of the housing; The housing includes a foldable portion between adjacent pairs of sacs within the sac, allowing the housing to be folded to reduce the length of the limb compression device to less than the length of the housing.

2. The limb compression device according to claim 1, wherein, The foldable portion is located in the gap between the adjacent pair of sacs.

3. The limb compression device according to claim 1, wherein, Fold the shell at the foldable portion so that the bladders of the adjacent pair of bladders overlap.

4. The limb compression device according to claim 1, wherein, Folding the housing at the foldable portion reduces the length of the leg pressurizing device by at least 10%.

5. The limb compression device according to claim 1, wherein, Apart from the adjacent pair of sacs adjacent to the foldable portion, there is some overlap among the other adjacent pairs of sacs.

6. The limb compression device according to claim 1, in, The limb compression device is a leg compression device for accommodating the user's legs; and The shell includes an upper leg end and a lower leg end, wherein the foldable portion is closer to the upper leg end than the lower leg end.

7. The limb compression device according to claim 6, wherein, The housing at the lower leg end includes a foot cover for covering the user's feet.

8. The limb compression device according to claim 1, wherein, The limb compression device is an arm compression device used to accommodate the user's arm.

9. The limb compression device according to claim 1, wherein, The housing has a zipper closure.

10. The limb compression device according to claim 1, wherein it is combined with a control unit, the control unit controlling the expansion and contraction of the sac.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein, The control unit is configured to operate the limb compression device differently depending on whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein, The control unit receives input from the user regarding whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

13. The combination according to claim 11, wherein, The control unit automatically detects whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

14. The combination according to claim 10, wherein, The control unit includes a compressor for supplying compressed air to the bladder.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein the compressor is a battery-powered compressor.

16. The combination according to claim 10, further combined with the following means: Additional limb compression devices; and The manifold can be coupled to the control unit and the limb pressurization device.

17. A control unit for controlling the expansion and contraction of a bladder in the housing of a limb compression device, the control unit comprising: The circuitry is configured to operate the limb pressure device differently depending on whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

18. A method of configuring a limb compression device, the method comprising: The limb compression device is provided, the leg compression device comprising: A shell, used to house the user's limbs; and Multiple pressure bladders are located within the housing and spaced apart along the length of the housing; The housing includes a foldable portion between adjacent pairs of sacs within the sac, allowing the housing to be folded to reduce the length of the limb compression device to less than the length of the housing; and The length of the limb compression device is selected based on the user's leg length, and if necessary, the housing is folded at the foldable portion to reduce the length of the limb compression device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising configuring a control unit coupled to the limb compression device based on whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, The control unit automatically configures itself based on whether the housing is folded at the foldable portion.

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