Autogenous arteriovenous fistula functional training device

Abstract

This application relates to a functional training device for autogenous arteriovenous fistulas, comprising: a cuff suitable for applying circumferential pressure to the patient's limb; an elastic balloon with a hollow structure that can recover its shape through elastic deformation, the elastic balloon being suitable for being held by the patient's hand; and a tubing, the internal channel of which provides airtight communication between the internal cavity of the elastic balloon and the internal air chamber of the cuff. The functional training device for autogenous arteriovenous fistulas designed in this application integrates the cuff, elastic balloon, and tubing into a closed pneumatic system, achieving simultaneous linkage between hand grip strength training and upper arm band pressure application. This simplifies the previously cumbersome step-by-step operation into a single, rhythmic grip movement, effectively improving ease of use and safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical rehabilitation equipment technology, and in particular to an autogenous arteriovenous fistula functional training device. Background Technology

[0002] Hemodialysis is one of the main alternative treatments for end-stage renal disease patients to maintain life. For effective hemodialysis, a stable, reliable vascular access that provides sufficient blood flow is necessary. Currently, arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are widely recognized as the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis patients due to their high long-term patency rate and low risk of infection. However, newly established AVFs cannot be used immediately for dialysis puncture; they require a "maturation period" of approximately 4 to 6 weeks. During this period, patients need to undergo active and effective functional exercises to promote sufficient dilation and maturation of the fistula vessels, achieving the high blood flow (usually greater than 500 ml / min) and diameter (usually greater than 5 mm) required for hemodialysis.

[0003] Currently, the routine functional exercises guided to patients in clinical practice mainly involve repeated grip strength exercises using tools such as rubber balls and elastic rings, provided that the wound has healed well after arteriovenous fistula surgery. To enhance the exercise effect, a more effective method is to apply appropriate pressure to the upstream of the limb where the arteriovenous fistula is located (usually the upper arm) while performing grip strength exercises. This temporarily increases the resistance to venous return. When the patient clenches their fist, the combined effect of the muscle pump and the obstruction of venous return will cause a sharp increase in pressure and blood flow within the arteriovenous fistula, thereby more effectively stimulating vasodilation.

[0004] However, the existing exercise methods and devices mentioned above have the following drawbacks:

[0005] Firstly, when using a tourniquet for arm binding and a rubber ball for grip strength training, the patient needs to apply the tourniquet themselves before picking up the rubber ball for grip strength training, and then remove the tourniquet after the training. The whole process involves many steps, especially the "arm binding" and "arm loosening" operations, which are completely separate from the "gripping" and "releasing" movements, making it difficult to achieve precise synchronization and coordination, thus affecting the training effect.

[0006] Secondly, due to the complexity of the procedure, patients, especially the elderly or those with difficulty operating with one hand, find it difficult to independently apply and remove the tourniquet. This not only reduces the patient's motivation and regularity in exercising, leading to poor patient compliance, but also carries the risk of distal limb ischemia due to forgetting to remove the tourniquet for an extended period of time.

[0007] Furthermore, since the pressure and timing of the arteriovenous fistula depend entirely on the patient's subjective judgment and manual operation, it is difficult to ensure that the pressure and rhythm remain consistent during each exercise. This unstable stimulation greatly reduces the maturation effect of the fistula and may prolong the maturation time. Utility Model Content

[0008] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides an autologous arteriovenous fistula functional training device that synchronizes hand grip strength training with upper arm band pressure application, simplifying operation.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the autogenous arteriovenous fistula functional training device designed in this application includes: a cuff adapted to apply circumferential pressure to the patient's limb; an elastic airbag having a hollow structure and capable of recovering its shape through elastic deformation, the elastic airbag being adapted to be held by the patient's hand; and a tubing, the internal channel of which provides airtight communication between the internal cavity of the elastic airbag and the internal air chamber of the cuff; wherein, when the elastic airbag is squeezed by the hand's gripping force, the gas inside it enters the cuff through the tubing, causing the cuff to inflate; when the hand's gripping force is released, the elastic airbag recovers its shape under its own elasticity, causing the gas in the cuff to be drawn back into the internal cavity of the elastic airbag through the tubing.

[0010] Preferably, the cuff is a flat strip structure with a width of 5 to 7 centimeters, and its width is less than 1 / 5 of its unfolded length.

[0011] Preferably, the cuff includes a fabric bag body, an inflatable liner is fixed inside the fabric bag body, and one end of the tube extends into the fabric bag body and communicates with the inflatable liner.

[0012] Preferably, the cuff is provided with fasteners for securing it to the patient's limb.

[0013] Preferably, the fastener is a hook and loop fastener, a snap fastener, or a strap.

[0014] Preferably, the elastic airbag is a spherical or ellipsoidal structure and is made of medical-grade silicone, rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

[0015] Preferably, the elastic airbag is provided with a one-way valve, which is configured to allow only external gas to flow into the elastic airbag.

[0016] Preferably, the elastic airbag and the pipeline are connected in a sealed manner by a plug-in connection.

[0017] The autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) functional training device designed in this application integrates the cuff, elastic balloon, and tubing into a closed pneumatic system. This achieves simultaneous linkage between hand grip strength training and upper arm band pressure application, simplifying the previously cumbersome step-by-step operation into a single, rhythmic grip movement, effectively improving ease of use and safety. Furthermore, this integrated design not only avoids the inconvenience of additional tourniquet preparation and operation, lowering the barrier to entry for patients, but also effectively ensures that each grip strength training session is precisely synchronized with the optimal band pressure. This enhances the physiological stimulation of the fistula vessel, improves the stability and effectiveness of the training effect, helps shorten the fistula maturation period, and ultimately improves patient rehabilitation compliance and training quality. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the autogenous arteriovenous fistula functional training device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the cuff provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0020] The components include: cuff 10, fabric bag 11, inflatable inner liner 12, first thickness zone 121, second thickness zone 122, fastener 13, elastic airbag 20, one-way valve 21, and pipeline 30. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this application.

[0022] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the autogenous arteriovenous fistula functional training device described in this embodiment mainly includes a cuff 10, an elastic airbag 20, and a tubing 30.

[0023] Specifically, the cuff 10 is adapted to be wrapped around the patient's limb, for example, the upper arm on the side undergoing arteriovenous fistula surgery, to apply circumferential pressure to that limb. In this embodiment, the cuff 10 is a flat, band-like structure with a width less than 1 / 5 of its unfolded length. In a specific example, the width of the cuff 10 is 5 to 7 centimeters, and can be 6 centimeters; this narrow band design helps to concentrate pressure on the target area.

[0024] The elastic airbag 20 has a hollow structure and can recover its shape through elastic deformation. The elastic airbag 20 is suitable for being held by a patient's hand. In this embodiment, the elastic airbag 20 is preferably a hollow sphere made of medical-grade silicone material with good elasticity, ensuring that it can quickly return to its original shape after repeated compression. Of course, it can also be an ellipsoidal structure, or made of other medical-grade elastic materials such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). To enhance the stability of the grip and prevent slippage due to hand sweat, the outer surface of the elastic airbag 20 is preferably provided with anti-slip textures, such as raised dots or stripes.

[0025] The tube 30 is a hollow, flexible conduit that provides airtight communication between the internal cavity of the elastic airbag 20 and the internal air chamber of the cuff 10. When the elastic airbag 20 is squeezed by a hand grip, the gas inside it enters the cuff 10 through the tube 30, causing the cuff 10 to inflate. When the hand grip is released, the elastic airbag 20 returns to its original shape due to its elasticity, allowing the gas inside the cuff 10 to be drawn back into the internal cavity of the elastic airbag 20 through the tube 30.

[0026] During operation, the user first secures the cuff 10 to the upper arm of the limb with the fistula. Then, the user grips the elastic airbag 20. When gripping the airbag causes it to deform under pressure, the gas inside the airbag 20 is compressed and enters the internal air chamber of the cuff 10 through the tube 30, causing the cuff 10 to inflate and exert restraining pressure on the upper arm. When the user releases their grip, the elastic airbag 20 returns to its original shape due to its excellent elasticity, creating a negative pressure inside. This draws the gas from the cuff 10 back into its internal cavity through the tube 30, causing the cuff 10 to deflate and releasing the restraining pressure. Repeating this gripping and releasing motion allows for simultaneous grip strength training and arm compression.

[0027] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the cuff 10 includes a fabric bag 11, inside which an inflatable liner 12 is fixed. One end of the tube 30 extends into the fabric bag 11 and communicates with the inflatable liner 12. In this embodiment, the fabric bag 11 has a good texture and comfortable feel, and its width can be set to 7 cm and its length to 50 cm. The inflatable liner 12 inside is 5 cm wide and 35 cm long. Furthermore, to improve airtightness and structural strength, the inflatable liner 12 and the tube 30 are integrally molded.

[0028] In this embodiment, as Figure 2As shown, the cross-section of the inflatable bladder 12 has a first thickness region 121 and a second thickness region 122, with the second thickness region 122 located on the side of the inflatable bladder 12 facing the cuff 10 that contacts the patient. In practice, the thickness of the first thickness region 121 is at least twice the thickness of the second thickness region 122. With this design, when the cuff 10, i.e., the inflatable bladder 12, is inflated, the thinner second thickness region 122 can inflate and deform better, thereby improving exercise efficiency.

[0029] In some embodiments, to facilitate binding and securing the cuff to the patient's limb, the cuff 10 is provided with fasteners 13 for binding and securing it to the patient's limb. Specifically, the fasteners 13 are as follows: Figure 1 The Velcro strap shown allows the user to easily adjust the tightness according to the size of their limbs. In other embodiments, the fastener may also be a buckle or a tie.

[0030] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the elastic airbag 20 is equipped with a one-way valve 21, which is configured to allow only external gas to flow into the elastic airbag 20, so as to replenish the elastic airbag 20 with air when necessary.

[0031] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the elastic airbag 20 and the tubing 30 are sealed together by a plug-in connection. Specifically, the elastic airbag 20 has an outlet tube that is coaxially inserted into the port of the tubing 30. The port of the tubing 30 expands elastically due to the interference fit, thereby forming a continuous, circumferential radial seal around the outlet tube. This plug-in structure allows for quick assembly and disassembly without tools; when the gas volume needs to be adjusted for different patients, only the elastic airbag 20 with a different rated volume needs to be replaced, without changing the tubing 30, making it convenient to use.

[0032] The autogenous arteriovenous fistula functional training device provided in this application integrates the cuff, elastic balloon, and tubing into a closed pneumatic system. This achieves simultaneous linkage between hand grip strength training and upper arm band pressure application, simplifying the previously cumbersome step-by-step operation into a single, rhythmic grip movement, effectively improving ease of use and safety. Furthermore, this integrated design not only avoids the inconvenience of additional tourniquet preparation and operation, lowering the barrier to entry for patients, but also effectively ensures that each grip strength training session is precisely synchronized with the optimal band pressure. This enhances the physiological stimulation of the fistula vessels, improves the stability and effectiveness of the training effect, helps shorten the fistula maturation period, and ultimately improves patient rehabilitation compliance and training quality.

[0033] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "vertical", "up", "down", "horizontal", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0034] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An autologous arteriovenous fistula function exerciser, characterized by, include: The cuff is designed to apply circumferential pressure to the patient's limb; the elastic airbag has a hollow structure and can recover its shape through elastic deformation, and the elastic airbag is designed to be held by the patient's hand. The tubing has an internal channel that provides airtight communication between the internal cavity of the elastic airbag and the internal air chamber of the cuff. When the elastic airbag is squeezed by a hand grip, the gas inside it enters the cuff through the tubing, causing the cuff to inflate. When the hand grip is released, the elastic airbag returns to its original shape due to its own elasticity, allowing the gas in the cuff to be drawn back into the internal cavity of the elastic airbag through the tubing.

2. The autogenous arteriovenous fistula functional training device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cuff is a flat, strip-like structure with a width of 5 to 7 centimeters, and its width is less than 1 / 5 of its unfolded length.

3. The autologous arteriovenous fistula function exerciser according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cuff includes a fabric bag body, inside which an inflatable liner is fixed, and one end of the tube extends into the fabric bag body and communicates with the inflatable liner.

4. The autologous arteriovenous fistula function exerciser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cuff is equipped with fasteners for securing it to the patient's limb.

5. The autologous arteriovenous fistula function exerciser according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fasteners are hook and loop fasteners, buckles, or straps.

6. The autologous arteriovenous fistula function exerciser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic airbag is a spherical or ellipsoidal structure and is made of medical-grade silicone, rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

7. The autologous arteriovenous fistula function exerciser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic airbag is equipped with a one-way valve, which is configured to allow only external gas to flow into the elastic airbag.

8. The autologous arteriovenous fistula function exerciser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic airbag is sealed to the tubing via a plug-in connection.

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