U.S. patent number 3,920,006 [Application Number 05/429,599] was granted by the patent office on 1975-11-18 for inflatable device for healing of tissue.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Roy Lapidus, Inc.. Invention is credited to Roy Lapidus.
United States Patent |
3,920,006 |
Lapidus |
November 18, 1975 |
Inflatable device for healing of tissue
Abstract
An inflatable and deflatable flexible structure fitted and held
over a portion of the body surface such as a limb which has
undergone surgery. The structure has perforations preferably on one
surface only and is connected to air pressure means which injects
air under pressure.
Inventors: |
Lapidus; Roy (Newton, MA) |
Assignee: |
Roy Lapidus, Inc. (Needham,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
23703930 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/429,599 |
Filed: |
January 2, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
601/151; 604/23;
601/15; 602/13; 604/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H
9/0078 (20130101); A61H 2201/165 (20130101); A61H
2201/0214 (20130101); A61H 2201/025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
23/04 (20060101); A61H 029/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/38-40,24R,DIG.20,82.1,379,382,368,184,402,401,24.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Trapp; Lawrence W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Zallen; Joseph
Claims
I claim:
1. A therapeutic device comprising an inflatable and deflatable,
flexible tubular member shaped to fit over and be held on a body
surface and having perforations on the surface of the member facing
the body surface, and means for holding said member in position on
said body surface; said tubular member comprising a plurality of
independent, separately inflatable sections, each having an opening
connecting to a pulsing supply of compressed air; said device being
characterized in that deflation occurs solely by the passage of air
through said perforations; said separate inflatable sections,
perforations and air supply proving a massaging action on said body
surface.
2. The therapeutic device of claim 1 shaped to fit over a limb or
portion of a limb.
3. The therapeutic device of claim 1 wherein there are two
separate, interlacing but alternatingly inflatable sections.
4. The therapeutic device of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality
of independent, parallel, transversely oriented, inflatable
sections.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates to therapeutic devices which aid in the
healing of tissue. In particular, this invention relates to such
devices which can be used postoperatively in surgery to reduce
edema, blood clotting, and injury to new tissue. Most particularly,
this invention relates to such devices which can be used
postoperatively to aid in the healing of a limb which has undergone
amputation.
Where a limb had been amputated, it is medically necessary to apply
a tight dressing in order to obtain proper healing. Such dressing
normally takes the form of a massive cast formed over a woven or
knitted tight-fitting cover such as a nylon sock. Inasmuch as the
tight dressing such as the cast must be kept in position for an
extended period of time, the patient is quite uncomfortable and
further, often encounters improper tissue healing and possible
infection.
One object of the present invention is to provide a device which
will provide a tight dressing but will be more comfortable to the
patient than a conventional hard cast on a patient who has
undergone amputative surgery on a limb.
A further object of this invention is to provide such a device
which will assist in the proper healing of tissue and reduce
postoperative effects such as edema and clotting.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent
from the description and claims which follow taken together with
the appended drawings.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
This invention comprises generally an inflatable and deflatable
flexible structure which is fitted and held over a portion of the
body surface, such as a limb. The structure has perforations
preferably only on the surface that faces the body surface and is
connected to air compressor means which periodically injects air
under pressure. The air inflates the structure then passes out
through the orifices adjacent the body surface. This periodic
inflating and deflating of air provides both a current of air
adjacent the limb as well as a massaging or rippling action on the
body surface. The invention can be used in two general ways. One is
to aid in the healing of a limb which has undergone amputation. In
such case the device is fitted and held over the stump of the
amputated limb which has been previously covered with a woven or
knitted cover. In another use of this invention, the device is
wrapped around one or more limbs either before, during or after
surgery so as to provide a massaging action which tends to
contribute to the reduction of edema and formation of blood clots
by improving the venous blood return.
The invention can be made in several different forms. In one form
the structure is divided into several individual contiguous
portions, each fed separately with compressed air and having
conforming transverse walls. In this embodiment, the user can
select a desired pattern such as consecutive pulsing or alternate
pulsing to give different massaging and air flow effects.
Another embodiment of this invention is a single, inflatable
structure provided with transverse walls so that air flows in from
one end and then through the entire structure.
In another form of this invention a structure is made of two
interlacing but separate inflatable portions which are alternately
inflated.
The structures of this invention are preferably made of two sheets
of heat-sealable, thin, flexible material, e.g., vinyl plastic of
about 0.010 to 0.020 inches in thickness. Edges and transverse
walls are made by heat-sealing. The perforations are preferably
made with a hot needle.
In all these embodiments, the air which is introduced passes out
through the orifices and at the same time the air pressure changes
in the structure exert massaging or rippling pressure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is perspective view of one embodiment of this invention in
position on the stump of an amputated limb.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of second embodiment of this invention,
adapted for use on a limb to aid venous blood return after
surgery.
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of this invention, to
be used in the manner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF INVENTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated therein an
embodiment of this invention particularly adapted for use on the
stump of an amputated limb and having a structure made of two
separate, interlacing but alternatingly inflatable portions. The
device shown generally as 10 is made of two thin, flexible plastic
sheets, 10a and 10b, heat-sealed as illustrated to form two
inflatable sections, 15 and 16, separated by transverse walls, 11,
formed by heatsealing. The upper surface as illustrated in FIG. 2
has minute needle-sized perforations, 15a and 16a. The device is
otherwise totally enclosed except for the connections, 15b and 16b,
to a controllable source of compressed air. The source can be a
small compressor, for example, one which can deliver in the range
of 1 to 2 cubic feet per minute. Various air compressor
arrangements can be used, as for example, one with a slowly
rotating distributor valve which can give a variety of cycles,
e.g., inflate one section of the device for from 1 to 15 seconds,
then inflate the second section of the device for from 1 to 15
seconds, etc. Air in the section not being inflated will pass out
through the pores 15a and 16a allowing return to atmospheric
pressure.
The device is provided with an attaching means, as for example,
straps 13 and 14, and has an extension, 12, connected with
inflatable section 15 to fit over the end of the stump. In use on
the stump of an amputated limb, the device is placed over a woven
or knitted cover, as for example, a nylon sock, 21, which is fitted
over the stump, 20. The alternate inflating and deflating sequence
as illustrated in FIG. 3, not only causes motion of air through the
nylon sock to the limb, but also exerts a pressure on the limb so
as to give a massaging action and thus stimulate circulation. The
patient is more comfortable than with a solid cast. Further, the
problems of edema, blood clotting, infection and improper tissue
healing are reduced.
The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown generally by
the Numeral 40. It comprises in this instance a device adapted for
general use after surgery, as for example abdominal or thoracic
surgery. It consists of a number of independent, inflatable
sections, 41-47, formed by heat-sealing of flexible, thin plastic
sheets, 40a and 40b, so as to form separating transverse walls, 15,
and intermediate transverse walls, 50. Each section has connection
means, 41a-47a, to a controllable compressed air source which is
arranged to give alternate or sequential inflation. The top surface
of each section has needle-like pores, 41b-47b. When one section is
not being inflated, the air escapes through the pores to the limb,
and thus produces massaging action which stimulates circulation,
thus contributing to the reduction of blood clots and edema.
The embodiment illustrated generally as 60 in FIGS. 6 and 7 is also
made by heat-sealing thin flexible plastic sheets, 60a and 60b, to
form transverse walls, 61. There is, in effect, one single
inflatable chamber, 64a, with pores, 64b, on its upper surface.
Constrictions can be placed at the ends of the transverse passages
by appropriate heat-sealing so that instead of being uniform, the
flow can be slower in the top portion than in the input portion
with 62 connections to compressed air means. This is illustrated by
the cross section of FIG. 7.
* * * * *