Pumps for pumping bodily fluids to relieve edema, and related methods

Abstract

A pump for engaging an external surface of a human body part induces a pumping action within the body part so as to cause a bodily fluid within the body part to flow. In some embodiments, the pump includes a stationary portion and a body-part-engaging portion designed and configured to engage the external surface of the body part. In some embodiments, the body-part-engaging portion includes a plurality of pumping members, a mechanism holding the plurality of pumping members in a spaced-apart relation to one another, and an actuator operatively engaged with the mechanism so as to drive the mechanism to move the plurality of pumping members relative to the stationary portion during operation of the pump. The pump may be used for relieving edema. Methods of using such pumps are also disclosed.

Description

PUMPS FOR PUMPING BODILY FLUIDS TO RELIEVE EDEMA, AND RELATED METHODSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 527,864, filed July 20, 2023, and titled “Pumps for Pumping Bodily Fluids to Relieve Edema, and Related Methods”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of edema treatment. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to pumps for pumping bodily fluids to relieve edema, and related methods.BACKGROUND

[0003] Lymphedema involves the swelling of body tissue caused by buildup of lymphatic fluid in the tissue due to an improperly functioning / damaged lymphatic system. Lymphedema most often occurs in a person’s limbs, but it can occur in other parts of the body, as well. A lymphatic system may not function properly for a variety of reasons, including lymph nodes and / or lymph vessels being damaged from cancer, radiation treatment, surgery, or parasites, among other things. When the lymph system is working properly, lymphatic fluid is moved throughout the system by contraction of muscles during normal activity and by small pumps in the walls of lymphatic vessels. Lymphedema occurs when this normal movement of lymphatic fluid does not happen, resulting in buildup of lymphatic fluid in the damaged part(s) of the lymphatic system. If left untreated, lymphedema can result in one or more complications, including skin infections, sepsis, thickening / hardening of the skin, leakage through the skin, and even soft-tissue cancer.

[0004] There is no known cure for lymphedema. However, there are several surgical procedures to restore functioning and a number of therapies for reducing the pooling of lymphatic fluid. The surgical procedures include transplanting lymph nodes from another part of the patient and creating new drainage paths. The therapies include: applying constant compression (e.g., using a compression wrap or compression garment) to force lymphatic fluid toward the trunk of the body; applying sequential pneumatic compression using an inflatable sleeve placed around the affected limb, manually draining lymph fluid from the affected body part; massaging the affected body partto manually push the lymphatic fluid out of that body part; and having the patient perform certain exercises.SUMMARY

[0005] In one implementation, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus, which includes a pump designed and configured for engaging an external surface of a body part of a human and inducing a pumping action within the body part so as to cause a bodily fluid within the body part to flow, wherein the pump includes: a stationary portion; a body-part-engaging portion secured to the stationary portion and designed and configured to engage the external surface of the body part, the body-part-engaging portion including: a plurality of pumping members designed and configured to induce the pumping action in the body part when the body-part-engaging portion is engaged with the body part and the pump is operating, wherein the pumping members have a spaced-apart relation to one another along a pumping-action direction; a mechanism holding the plurality of pumping members in the spaced-apart relation to one another, wherein the mechanism allows the pumping members to move relative to the stationary portion during operation of the pump so as to cause the pumping action when the body-engaging portion is engaged with the body part; and an actuator operatively engaged with the driven mechanism so as to drive the mechanism to move the pumping members relative to the stationary portion during operation of the pump.

[0006] In one implementation, the present disclosure is directed to a method that includes using the apparatus described directly above to pump the bodily fluid within the body part.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] For the purpose of illustrating aspects of the disclosure, the drawings illustrate features and / or characteristics of one or more embodiments of the disclosure. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

[0008] FIG. l is a high-level block diagram of an example apparatus made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 2A is a side view of an example pump made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2B is a reduced front view of the example pump shown in FIG. 2A;

[0011] FIG. 3A is a side view of an example pump made in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 3B is a front view of the example pump shown in FIG. 3A;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating several features of an example apparatus of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of an example assembly of the present disclosure comprising a plurality of roller-type pumps mounted to an articulated holder;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of an example conveyor-type pump of the present disclosure that includes roller-type pumping members;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of an example conveyor-type pump of the present disclosure that includes slider-type pumping members;

[0017] FIG. 8A is a front view of an example roller-type pumping member having a linear surface profile;

[0018] FIG. 8B is a front view of an example roller-type pumping member having a concave surface profile;

[0019] FIG. 8C is a front view of an example roller-type pumping member having a convex surface profile;

[0020] FIG. 8D is a front view of an example roller-type pumping member having an undulating surface profile;

[0021] FIG. 9A is a front view of an example slider-type pumping member having a linear surface profile;

[0022] FIG. 9B is a front view of an example slider-type pumping member having a concave surface profile;

[0023] FIG. 9C is a front view of an example slider-type pumping member having a convex surface profile; and

[0024] FIG. 9D is a front view of an example slider-type pumping member having an undulating surface profile.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In the following description and in the appended claims, the terms “upper” and “lower”, and any like positional terms, as well as “horizontal” and “vertical”, and any like directional terms, applied to elements or features depicted in the figures, refer only to positions and directions relative to the relevant figures(s) and not to positions and directions relative to any other frame of reference. Similarly, terms such as “first” and “second” used with descriptors of like elements of disclosed and claimed embodiments do not denote any particular order, preference, etc., of the elements, but rather are used only for convenience to identify that there are multiple instances of such elements.

[0026] Throughout the present disclosure and the appended claims, the term “about”, when used with a corresponding numeric value, refers to ±20% of the numeric value, typically ±10% of the numeric value, often ±5% of the numeric value, and more often ±2% of the numeric value. In some embodiments, the term “about” can mean the numeric value itself.

[0027] Overview

[0028] In some aspects, the present disclosure is directed to pumps each designed and configured to induce a pumping action into a body part of a human by engaging the pump externally to the body part so as to move a bodily fluid within the body part to another location within the human. In some embodiments, such pumps can be used to treat an edema, such as lymphedema, so as to reduce swelling of the body part and complications that may eventually result from the bodily fluid not draining properly from the body part. In terms of lymphedema and its characteristics and complications, the information from the Background section above is incorporated into this section of this disclosure.

[0029] In some embodiments, a pump of the present disclosure includes a stationary portion and a body -part-engaging portion coupled to the stationary portion. The body-part-engaging portion includes a mechanism that movably supports, relative to the stationary portion, a plurality of pumping members that are configured to induce the pumping action into the body part. The stationary portion includes one or more actuators, such as one or more electric motors or one or more linear actuators (e.g., hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder(s)) for driving the mechanism to move the pumping members relative to the stationary portion during use of the pump. The configuration of each of the pumping members and the mechanism may be any one of a wide variety of differing configurations.

[0030] Despite such wide variety, a pump made in accordance with the present disclosure provides the pumping action to the relevant body part in the same fundamental manner. Generally, to induce the pumping action into a body part, the body-part-engaging portion is engaged with the body part with a sufficient pressure on the body part to compress the body-part tissue and any bodily fluid passageway(s) therein, such as one or more lymphatic vessels and / or one or more blood vessels. This pressure at least partially compresses each affected passageway, forcing the generally incompressible bodily fluid therein to displace. At the same time this pressure is applied, the mechanism is actuated to move the pumping members in a pumping-action direction relative to both the stationary portion of the pump, as well as the body part. As the mechanism moves a pumping member that is applying sufficient pressure to the body part so that it at least partially compresses a bodily-fluid-containing passageway (i.e., is in “pumping engagement” with the body part), the moving pumping member pushes, or “pumps”, the bodily fluid in the pumping-action direction. Additionally, the serial contacting of the body part and subsequent pumping action by additional pumping members as the pump moves the pumping members continually repeats the compression and release that causes the pumping action. Depending on the arrangement of the pumping members, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more of the pumping members may be in pumping engagement with the body part simultaneously with one another. A number of examples of arrangements of pumping members are described below and illustrated in the appended figures.

[0031] Regarding configurations of mechanisms and pumping members, in some embodiments the mechanism may comprise a rotor having a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a pumpingaction direction. The pumping members, each having a longitudinal axis also perpendicular to the pumping axis, may be secured to the rotor at locations radially outward from the rotational axis of the rotor, i.e., the set of pumping members may be located circumferentially around the rotational axis of the rotor. In some embodiments, such a configuration may generally resemble a squirrel cage. The rotor may be driven to rotate about its rotational axis using any suitable actuator, typically, but not necessarily, a rotational electric motor, which may be of any suitable conventional type or variation thereof.

[0032] In some embodiments, the mechanism may comprise a conveyor rather than a rotor. When it is driven, the motion of any point on the conveyor traces-out a closed-loop path, typically non-circular, having central motion axis that is perpendicular to the pumping-action direction. In such embodiments, the pumping members, which each have a longitudinal axis, are secured to the conveyor in a spaced-apart manner so that their longitudinal axes are also perpendicular to thecentral motion axis of the conveyor. In some embodiments, the spacing of the pumping members from one another may be uniform or non-uniform, depending on the design requirements. The conveyor may comprise any suitable continuous-loop structure, such as a belt-type structure or a link-type structure, among others. The conveyor may be driven to move about its central motion axis using any suitable actuator, typically a rotational electric motor, which may be of any suitable conventional type or variation thereof.

[0033] Each pumping member may be either rotatably attached to the mechanism or fixedly attached to the mechanism. When rotatably attached, for example, either to a rotor or a conveyor, a pumping member may act as a free-wheeling roller. When fixedly attached, for example, either to a rotor or a conveyor, a pumping member may act as a slider. In either a rotor-based embodiment or a conveyor-based embodiment, a protective cover, or sheath, may be provided between at least at the region where the pumping member(s) contact the body part such that the sheath directly contacts the body part rather than the pumping members themselves. This can help with cleanliness and, with slider-type pumping members, avoids direct sliding contact between the pumping members and the body part. In slider-type embodiments, each pumping member and / or the sheath may comprise a low-friction material, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer, at locations of sliding contact.

[0034] In some embodiments, each pumping member may have a surface profile in a direction along its longitudinal axis, with the surface profile being designed and configured to optimize the induced pumping action. For example, the surface profile may be configured so that each pumping member conforms to the exterior shape of a body part and / or optimizes compression of the targeted bodily-fluid-containing passageway (s). Examples of surface profiles include straight, concave, convex, and undulating, among others.

[0035] Each pumping member may comprise any material that provides the needed / desired compliance / firmness for a particular application. For example, when relative compliance is required or desired, each pumping member may be made of an elastic foam and / or soft solid polymer. Alternatively, each pumping member may comprise a bladder containing a filling, such as a gas (e.g., air), a gel, or a liquid. In some such embodiments, the compliance / firmness of the pumping member may be changed by changing the amount and / or pressure of the filling. In some embodiments in which each pumping member needs or is desired to be relatively firm, the pumping member may be made of a suitably firm material, such as a relatively hard rubber or plastic, amongothers. In some embodiments, each pumping member elastically deforms when contacting the body part and causing the pumping action, while in other embodiments, each pumping member does not deform when contacting the body part and causing the pumping action.

[0036] In some embodiments, a pump of the present disclosure may be handheld and include one or more handles that each may be considered a part of the stationary portion of the pump. For example, for a rotor-based embodiment, a pair of handles may be located on opposite sides of the rotor and have corresponding longitudinal axes that extend along the rotational axis of the rotor. In a generally similar manner, a conveyor-based pump may have handles on opposite sides of the conveyor, with the longitudinal axes of the handles extending parallel to the central motion axis of the conveyor. In other embodiments, the longitudinal axes of the handles on opposite sides of the rotor or conveyer may extend in a direction other than parallel to the rotational axis or the central motion axis, such as perpendicular thereto. As another example, one or more handles may be positioned at a location above the rotor or conveyor as viewed during operation of the pump when the body part is located below the pump. As further examples, handles may be located at opposing ends of a conveyor-type pump, and such handles may have longitudinal axes parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pumping members. A similar arrangement of handles may be used for a rotor-type pump.

[0037] In some embodiments, one or more controls, such as an on / off switch and a speed control, may be integrated with a handle of a pump of the present disclosure. For example, one or both of such controls may be located on a handle so as to be actuatable by a holder thumb. In another example for speed control, one of a pair of handles may be rotatable (e.g., relative to the other handle if on opposite sides from one another), with the rotation providing the speed control. In some embodiments, one or more of the controls may be located offboard of any handle. In some embodiments, the pump may be supported by a support, such as a stand and / or a robotic manipulator, among others, during use. In some embodiments, the pump may include one or more handles and also have the option of being supported by a stand.

[0038] In some embodiments, the pump may include a pressure-monitoring system that includes one or more force or pressure (“F / P”) sensors for measuring the magnitude of the force, and hence pressure, or pressure directly, being applied to the body part via the one or more pumping members engaging the body part. The location(s) of the F / P sensor(s) may be any suitable location(s), which may generally depend on the type of sensor used and the configuration of the pump. For example:in some embodiments, 2D pressure sensors may be provided on the surfaces of the pumping members; in some embodiments, ID pressure sensors may be provided at locations where roller-type pumping members are rotationally supported by the mechanism; in some embodiments, ID pressure sensors may be located at or near attachment points of handles or a support; among others. The pressure monitoring system may provide visual, aural, and / or haptic feedback indicating the pressure being applied to the body part.

[0039] In some embodiments, the pump may include one or more heat sources for heating the pumping members.

[0040] In some deployments, multiple pumps of the present disclosure may be mounted on a multi-pump holder. For example, a set of pumps may be mounted so that they are spaced apart from one another so as to define a virtual straight or curved line that extends in a direction or a trajectory that is perpendicular to the pumping direction. In some embodiments, the multi-pump holder may be configured to hold the pumps so that they can operate on two sides of a human limb.

[0041] For the sake of aiding understanding, various ones of the features and aspects of differing embodiments of the apparatuses discussed above are illustrated in the accompanying figures and described relative to the examples in the following subsection of this disclosure. It is noted that these examples are not limiting relative to the scope of the inventions disclosed herein in any manner.

[0042] Examples

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates an example apparatus 100 made in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In this example, the apparatus 100 comprises a pump 104, which is configured for engaging an external surface (not illustrated) of a body part 108 of a human and inducing a pumping action within the body part so as to cause a bodily fluid 112 within the body part to flow. In this example, the pump 104 includes a stationary portion 116 and a body-part-engaging portion 120, wherein the body-part-engaging portion is secured to the stationary portion and designed and configured to engage the external surface of the body part 108. The body-part- engaging portion 120 includes a plurality of pumping members 124 held by a mechanism 128 holding the plurality of pumping members such that they are spaced apart from one another along a pumping-action direction. The body-part-engaging portion 120 also includes an actuator 132 operatively engaged with the mechanism 128 so as to drive the mechanism to move the plurality of pumping members 124 relative to the stationary portion 116 during operation of the pump 104.

[0044] The plurality of pumping members 124 are designed and configured to induce the pumping action in the body part 108 when the body-part-engaging portion 120 is engaged with the body part and the pump 104 is operating. The mechanism 128 allows the plurality of pumping members 124 to move relative to the stationary portion 116 during operation of the pump 104 so as to cause the pumping action when the body-part-engaging-portion 120 is engaged with the body part 108.

[0045] FIGS. 2A and 2B show an example pump 200 made in accordance with the present disclosure. In this example, the pump 200 includes a body-part-engaging portion 204 and a stationary portion 208 (FIG. 2B). The body-part-engaging portion 204 includes a rotor 212 that is rotatable relative to the stationary portion 208 and driven by a motor (not seen, but inside the bodypart engaging portion) about a rotational axis RA. A plurality of roller-type pumping members 216, each having a longitudinal axis LA (only a few labeled), are rotatably mounted to the rotor 212 so that they can rotate freely about their longitudinal axes. The motor (not shown) may be in communication, e.g., via a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth®, WI-FI®, etc.) with offboard controls or via wired connections to onboard controls. In other embodiments, the motor may be located externally to the rotor 212.

[0046] FIGS. 2A and 2B show, for the sake of illustrating the general nature of the pumping action, the pump 200 as compressing a portion of a vessel 220 (e.g., a lymphatic vessel, blood vessel, etc.) so as to create a pumping action for moving a bodily fluid 224 within the vessel. In this example, the motor drives the rotor 212 in a clockwise rotor rotation direction 228 and, when a pumping member 216 contacts the body part at issue (here, just the vessel 220), the contact causes the pumping member to rotate in a counterclockwise roller rotation direction 232. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, as the motor rotates the rotor 212, differing ones of the pumping members 216 intermittently cause repetitive compressing and releasing of the vessel 220, with this repetitive action creating a continual pumping action. In this example, a user holds the pump 200 with two hands via the handles 236. If / As desired, the user can supplement the rotation of the rotor by moving the pump 200 along the surface of the body part (here, just the vessel 220 for illustration only).

[0047] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an example pump 300 that is similar to the pump 200 of FIGS. 2A and 2B. In this example, the pump 300 includes a body-part-engaging portion 304 and a stationary portion 308. The body-part-engaging portion 304 includes a rotor 312 that is rotatablerelative to the stationary portion 308 and driven by a motor (not seen, but inside the body -part- engaging portion) about a rotational axis RA along an axle 314. A plurality of roller-type pumping members 316, each having a longitudinal axis LA, are rotatably mounted to the rotor 312 so that they can rotate freely about their longitudinal axes. The motor (not shown) may be in communication, e.g., via a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth®, WI-FI®, etc.) with offboard controls or via wired connections to onboard controls. In other embodiments, the motor may be located externally to the rotor 312.

[0048] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the pump 300 as compressing a portion of a body part 320 so as to create a pumping action for moving a bodily fluid within the body part in a pumping direction 324. In this example, the motor drives the rotor 312 in a clockwise rotor rotation direction 328 and, when a pumping member 316 contacts the body part 320, the contact causes the pumping member to rotate in a counterclockwise roller rotation direction 332. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, as the motor rotates the rotor 312, differing ones of the pumping members 316 intermittently cause repetitive compressing and releasing of the body part 320, with this repetitive action creating a continual pumping action.

[0049] While the pump 300 in FIGS. 3A and 3B is similar to the pump 200 in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in place of the pair of handles 236 on the opposite side of the rotor 212 in the pump 200 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the stationary portion 308 of the pump 300 of FIGS. 3 A and 3B includes a yoke 336, a handle 340, and a pressure transducer 344 located between the handle and the yoke. In this example, the pressure transducer 344 displays to the user the pressure that the pump 300 is applying to the body part 320 of the patient on which the pump 300 is being used.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating several features of an example apparatus 400 of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 4 shows a stand 404 that receives the pump 408 for use and / or for stowing. Area B of the stand 404 is configured to receive axle A of the pump 408. In addition, FIG. 4 illustrates a pump 408 that does not include a sheath and another pump 412 that has a sheath 416 covering all of the pumping members 420, though it is shown in cutaway so that a few of the pumping members (here, rollers) are seen. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, both pumps 408 and 412 are designed and configured to engage the stand.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an example assembly 500 comprising a plurality of roller-type pumps 504 (e.g., each similar to the pump of FIGS. 2A and 2B) mounted to an articulated holder 508 so as to provide two spaced apart rows 512, 516, here rows that each extend along astraight line. In this example, the assembly 500 is engaged, for example, with a limb (not shown) of a person so that the limb is located in the limb-receiving region 520 between the two rows 512, 516. In this example, the spacing of the rows 512, 516 from one another is controlled via the slotted members 524 of the holder 508 through which axles of the pumps 504 extend.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a side view of an example conveyor-type pump 600 of the present disclosure that includes roller-type pumping members 604. In this example, the conveyor 608 comprises links 612 that link-together axles 616 of the pumping members 604 on each end of the pumping members. As can be readily seen, with this configuration, four of the pumping members 604 are simultaneously in contact with the body part 620, and each one can be considered to force, or pump, the bodily fluid within a vessel all the way from point A to point B, i.e., from the point at which it firmly compresses the vessel to the point that it releases the compression. The length of the contacting portion of the conveyer 608 can be tailored to a particular application. Although not shown, at each of their ends, the axles 616 of the roller-type pumping members 604 are captured in a corresponding roller bearing that rides in a continuous slot 624 having the shape of the conveyor. In this example the pumping direction 628 and the direction of conveyor movement coincide with one another, and both are perpendicular to the central motion axis CMA of the conveyor 608. The central motion axis CMA may be considered to be located at the geometric center of the shape that the pumping members 604 trace-out as the conveyor 608 moves them.

[0053] FIG. 7 illustrates another example conveyor-type pump 700 of the present disclosure. However, instead of having roller-type pumping members 604 connected together by links 612 as in the pump 600 of FIG. 6, the pump 700 of FIG. 7 has slider-type pumping members 704 secured to a continuous belt 708 of a conveyor 712. In this example, a sheath 716 is provided at the contact region of the pump 700, and the belt 708 is backed-up by a pressure plate 720 that the pumping members 704 work against when they are applying pressure to a body part 724. As can be readily seen, with this configuration, five of the pumping members 704 are simultaneously in contact with the body part 724, and each one can be considered to force, or pump, the bodily fluid within a vessel all the way from point A to point B, i.e., from the point at which it firmly compresses the vessel to the point that it releases the compression. The length of the contacting portion of the conveyer 712 can be tailored to a particular application. In this example the pumping direction 728 and the direction of conveyor movement coincide with one another, and both are perpendicular to the central motion axis CMA of the conveyor 712. The central motion axis CMA may be considered to be located at the geometric center of the shape that the pumping members 704 trace-out as theconveyor 712 moves them. Other aspects of the pump of FIG. 7 may be the same as or similar to the pump of FIG. 6.

[0054] FIGS. 8A through 8D are front views illustrating differing example surface profiles of roller-type pumping members. In particular, FIG. 8A shows a linear surface profile 800 of a rollertype pumping member 804; FIG. 8B shows a concave surface profile 808 of a roller-type pumping member 812; FIG. 8C shows a convex surface profile 816 of a roller-type pumping member 820; and FIG. 8D shows an undulating surface profile 824 of a roller-type pumping member 828. Each of the roller-type-pumping members 804, 812, 820, 828 has a longitudinal axis LA.

[0055] FIGS. 9A through 9D illustrate the same surface profiles as those in FIGS. 8A through 8D, respectively, for slider-type pumping members. FIG. 9A shows a linear surface profile 900 of a slider-type pumping member 904; FIG. 9B shows a concave surface profile 908 of a slider-type pumping member 912; FIG. 9C shows a convex surface profile 916 of a slider-type pumping member 920; and FIG. 9D shows an undulating surface profile 924 of a slider-type pumping member 928.

[0056] Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Features of each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Additionally, although particular methods herein may be illustrated and / or described as being performed in a specific order, the ordering is highly variable within ordinary skill to achieve aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.

[0057] Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that which is specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising: a pump designed and configured for engaging an external surface of a body part of a human and inducing a pumping action within the body part so as to cause a bodily fluid within the body part to flow, wherein the pump includes: a stationary portion; a body-part-engaging portion secured to the stationary portion and designed and configured to engage the external surface of the body part, the body-part-engaging portion including: a plurality of pumping members designed and configured to induce the pumping action in the body part when the body-part-engaging portion is engaged with the body part and the pump is operating, wherein the pumping members have a spaced-apart relation to one another along a pumping-action direction; a mechanism holding the plurality of pumping members in the spaced-apart relation to one another, wherein the mechanism allows the pumping members to move relative to the stationary portion during operation of the pump so as to cause the pumping action when the body-engaging portion is engaged with the body part; and an actuator operatively engaged with the driven mechanism so as to drive the mechanism to move the pumping members relative to the stationary portion during operation of the pump.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the pumping members has a longitudinal axis that is transverse to the pumping-action direction and is rotatably attached to the mechanism so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mechanism comprises a support rotor having a rotational axis, and the pumping members are arranged circumferentially around the rotational axis so that the longitudinal axes of the pumping members are parallel to the rotational axis of the support rotor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor that drives the support rotor.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the stationary portion includes at least one handle that allows an operator to control movement of the pump during use.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the stationary portion includes a pair of handles on opposite sides of the rotor.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mechanism comprises a support conveyor defining a closed conveyor path having a central motion axis, and the pumping members are secured to the support conveyor so that the longitudinal axes of the pumping members are parallel to the central motion axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor that drives the support conveyor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body -part-engaging portion further includes a sheath that, when the body-part-engaging-portion is engaged with the body part, is compressed between one or more of the pumping members and the body part.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the pumping members is a roller having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the pumping-action direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mechanism comprises a support rotor having a rotational axis, and the rollers are arranged circumferentially around the rotational axis so that the longitudinal axes of the rollers are parallel to the rotational axis of the support rotor.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mechanism comprises a support conveyor defining a closed conveyor path having a central motion axis, and the rollers are secured to the support conveyor so that the longitudinal axes of the rollers are parallel to the central motion axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the pumping members is a slider having a longitudinal axis that is transverse to the pumping-action direction.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mechanism comprises a support rotor having a rotational axis, and the sliders are arranged circumferentially around the rotational axis so that the longitudinal axes of the sliders are parallel to the rotational axis of the support rotor.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mechanism comprises a support conveyor defining a closed conveyor path having a central motion axis, and the sliders are secured to the support conveyor so that the longitudinal axes of the sliders are parallel to the central motion axis.

16. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-4 and 7-15, wherein the stationary portion includes at least one handle that allows an operator to control movement of the pump during use.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one handle includes at least one control for controlling the actuator.

18. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-17, further comprising a pressure-monitoring system that monitors pressure that the pump applies to the body part during use of the pump.

19. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-18, wherein the pump further includes one or more heat sources for heating the pumping members.

20. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-19, wherein each of the pumping members has a shape profile along a direction perpendicular to the pumping-action direction, and the shape profile is selected from the group consisting of linear, concave, and convex.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each pumping member elastically deforms when contacting the body part and causing the pumping action.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each pumping member does not deform when contacting the body part and causing the pumping action.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: each pumping member has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the pumping-action direction; the mechanism comprises a support conveyor defining a closed conveyor path having a central motion axis; the pumping members are secured to the support conveyor so that the longitudinal axes of the pumping members are parallel to the central motion axis; and the closed conveyor path is configured so that, during operation of the pump, at least three of the pumping members are engaged with the body part simultaneously with one another.

24. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-23, further comprising a support structure, wherein the stationary portion is secured to the support structure.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the support structure comprises a robotic manipulator.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the support structure comprises a stand.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a support structure; and a plurality of instances of the pump secured to the support structure.

28. A method comprising using the apparatus of any one of claims 1-27 to pump the bodily fluid within the body part.

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