Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) refers to a potentially fatal condition which tends to afflict passengers on extended travel or other persons in situations associated with prolonged immobility of the lower extremities.
Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of blood clots in the veins of the leg. One of the main causes of DVT is restricted blood flow. Long distance travelers, including but not limited to air passengers, are particularly vulnerable to DVT because they are more likely to sit immobile for long periods of time.
Air travelers are particular vulnerable, given the relatively cramped quarters in commercial airplanes. Members of the following groups are at particular risk for DVT: those with thrombophilia (heightened tendency towards clotting); those recovering from recent surgery or injury; those with a history of heart or lung trouble; those with a history of cancer; women using oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy; pregnant women; those aged over 40; those with recent medical illness; overweight people; heavy smokers; heavy drinkers; and those prone to dehydration.
Various recommendations have been provided for prevending or reducing the risk of DVT. For example, it is recommended to wear surgical stockings and to stand up and take a brief walk or do some leg stretching exercises. This walking or stretching should be done every 90-120 minutes, if possible. Other recommendations include breaking ultra long-haul journeys into multiple segments, e.g. spending a night in Southeast Asia before flying on to or back from Australia.
While some recommendations to avoid DVT are more practical than others, all require a positive action by the passenger. For this reason, the passenger must be aware of the risk of DVT and must also be willing to take precautionary and or proactive measures before and/or during travel.
Accordingly, there is a need for cost-efficient devices and associated methods for passively reducing the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis.
The present teachings provide a method of treating a user seated in a seat to reduce the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The method includes providing a vibrator, locating the vibrator in proximity to a lower extremity of the user, and applying a vibratory stimulus to a portion of the lower extremity of the user with the vibrator.
The present teachings also provide a device for treating a user seated in a seat to reduce the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The device includes a vibrator for producing a vibratory stimulus associated with the seat, and a control module for selectively applying the vibratory stimulus to a lower extremity of the user. Selective application of the vibratory stimulus to the lower extremity of the user improves circulation of the lower extremity and thereby reduces the likelihood of DVT.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
With initial reference to
The anti-DVT device 100 is shown located in close proximity to a lower extremity 88 of the seated user 114. More specifically, the anti-DVT device 100 can be positioned below the seated user 114 adjacent the thighs 84 of the user 114. In the exemplary illustration of
The anti-DVT device 100 can be removably or permanently placed relative to the seat 112, for example on the seating surface of the seat 112 or along a side or edge or other portion of the seat 114. The anti-DVT device 100 can include fastening means 102, including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®, for securing the anti-DVT device in place relative to the seat 112, and, optionally, around the thigh 84 or calf 80 of the user 114. Alternatively, the anti-DVT device 100 can be permanently secured to the seat 112 and, optionally, removably secured relative to the user 114, around the calf 80, for example.
The anti-DVT device 100 can be operable for producing a mechanical vibratory stimulus, such as a localized vibratory massage. The strength of the vibratory stimulus can be adjustable to suit the particular needs of the user 114 using known control devices and methods. As will be discussed below, the strength of the vibratory stimulus can be adjusted according to a characteristic of the particular user 114 seated on the seat 112.
With continued reference to
The control module 118 can operate for controlling the vibrator 116. More specifically, the control module 118 can control opening and closing of a switch 122. When the switch 122 is closed, the vibrator 116 produces and delivers the vibrating stimulus to the user 114. It will be appreciated that a single switch 122 can be used to control all the vibrator portions 116a, 116b, 116c, although separate switches 122 can also be used for each of the vibrator portions 116a, 116b, 116c. When the switch 122 is open, as shown in
The control module 118 can include a conventional microprocessor, a programmable logic controller, or other known control devices that can operate the vibrator 116 automatically or with active user input. The control module 118 can include, when desired in a particular application, a visual display, and various user-operable control, input, and/or selector buttons, including, for example, on and off buttons, intensity selector buttons, duration selector buttons, mode selector buttons, such as sleep mode, manual mode, automatic mode, or other control or input buttons. The control module 118 can also include adjustability means for a particular characteristic of a user 114. In certain applications, the control module 118 can include, for example, a sensor 119 for sensing a body weight or a body mass index (BMI) or other body or weight or size or mass characteristic of the user 114. The sensor 119 can send a signal to the control module 118. In response to the signal, the control module 118 can automatically adjust the strength of the vibrator stimulus according to the characteristic of the user 114. In this manner, a stronger stimulus can be delivered to heavier/bigger passengers and a weaker stimulus can be delivered to lighter/smaller passengers. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor 119 can function to adjust the cyclical operation of the switch 122, such that the switch 122 is closed for a longer period of time for heavier/bigger passengers. The sensor 119 can also function to adjust both the strength of the vibratory stimulus and the period of operation. For manual/active control by the user 114, the sensor 119 can be also bypassed. Alternatively, sensor information can be supplemented by user input, such as age, gender or other relevant information, enabling the control module 118 to provide a user-customizable vibratory stimulus schedule by varying duration and strength according to inputs received. Relevant algorithms based on empirical data can be included in the control module 118 for producing such customized schedules.
As discussed above, the anti-DVT device 100 can function either passively in an automatic mode, actively by user input and participation, or in a combined mode. In the passive mode, for example, the anti-DVT device can function automatically without any positive input required by the user 114. In this manner, the benefits of the anti-DVT device 100 can be obtained without any reliance on the passenger 114 for its operation. In certain applications, however, it may be desirable to provide the passenger 114 with control that overrides the automatic operation of the control module 118, such that the anti-DVT device can operate in active/manual or semi-automatic mode. In this regard, the vibrator 116 can provide desired relaxation for short or extended periods of use. Similarly, the passenger 114 can control the strength of the vibratory stimulus.
Referring to
The vibrator 116 can produce a vibratory stimulus, as illustrated as aspect 170. As discussed above, the stimulus can be produced in a passive or fully automatic mode without any passenger input, although semi-automatic and manual modes can also provided for at least partial control by the user 114.
The strength of the vibratory stimulus can adjusted according to a characteristic of the user 114, as illustrated at aspect 180. The strength of the vibratory stimulus can be adjusted, for example, according to a sensed weight or a sensed body mass index (BMI) of the user 114. The vibratory stimulus can be expected to provide a pleasant and relaxing sensation, improve circulation and at least reduce the risk of deep vain thrombosis for users experiencing long periods of immobility in their lower extremities.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/572,313 filed on May 18, 2004. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60572313 | May 2004 | US |