Embodiments of the disclosure relate to devices and methods for providing pneumomassage treatment.
Lymph is a clear fluid which circulates in tissue spaces of the vertebrates and by way of a tubular network passes into the venous system. Lymph is derived from the liquid plasma of the blood but without the red corpuscles. Lymphedema is a disorder that often follows a surgical procedure such as a lymphnode dissection of the groin in the treatment of cancer. It results in an excessive accumulation of lymph in the body tissues which if not reduced may have serious consequences.
To reduce lymphedema or other abnormality giving rise to excess fluid in an afflicted body part, such as an upper or lower limb, it is known to provide a device to compress successively portions of the afflicted part to produce a sequential or peristaltic action pumping excess fluid toward the heart. This device can also be used to improve blood circulation.
In order to massage both the foot and lower leg of a patient afflicted with edema, one option known in the art is to use a device in a boot format having a series of compartments which conform to the contours of a human foot and leg. However, the boot can only be used with those patients whose foot and leg fit into the boot.
Alternatively it is known to fit a conical or tubular sleeve on the leg and to fit a separate sleeve on the foot. The advantage of this arrangement is that the patient, as he is being treated, is free to maintain his foot in a natural position and to flex it. This freedom of foot movement promotes the comfort of the patient and is desirable when the treatment is to be carried out for a prolonged period. However, the need for separate foot and leg sleeves and to sequentially inflate the cells in the sleeves introduces unwanted complications.
There is thus a need for sleeves which fit and conform to broad ranges of foot and lower leg dimensions.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the figures.
The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, and not limiting in scope.
According to some embodiments, there is provided a pneumomassage device comprising: a pneumomassage sleeve adapted to fit onto a first and a second adjacent body parts and an anatomical joint therebetween, the sleeve comprising: a proximal section that conforms to the first body part; a distal section that conforms to the second body part; and a joint section between the proximal section and the distal section that is configured to conform with the anatomical joint, and a releasable securing assembly comprising: a first coupling element coupled to and extends outward from an outer surface of the proximal section of the sleeve; and a second coupling element coupled to and extends outward from an outer surface of the distal section of the sleeve, wherein upon coupling the first coupling element to the second coupling element, a relative position between the first coupling element and the second coupling element defines a position of a bend within the joint section, thereby co-axially aligning the proximal section with a portion of the joint section proximal to the bend, and the distal section with a portion of the joint section distal to the bend to determine a ratio between a length of the proximal section and a length of the distal section.
In some embodiments, the first coupling element extends essentially perpendicularly to the proximal section and wherein the second coupling element extends essentially perpendicularly to the distal section.
In some embodiments, the first coupling element is positioned on an anterior side of the proximal section and the second coupling element is positioned on an anterior side of the distal section.
In some embodiments, the first and/or second coupling elements are integrally formed with the respective proximal and/or distal sections. In some embodiments, the first and/or second coupling elements are in the form of elongated strips.
In some embodiments, the releasable securing assembly comprises a hook-and-loop fastener.
In some embodiments, the pneumomassage sleeve envelops one or more inflatable cells formed of air-impermeable material. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inflatable cells is fluidly connected to an air compressor which operates to inflate and/or deflate the one or more cells. In some embodiments, the one or more inflatable cells comprises a plurality of cells configured to be inflated and/or deflated in a desired sequence.
In some embodiments, the fastener consists of a lineal fabric strip with hooks that configured to couple with another fabric strip with smaller loops, attaching temporarily, until pulled apart. In some embodiments, the fastener is constructed with at least one of nylon and polyester.
According to some embodiments, there is provided a pair of pneumomassage pants having a hip section which extends proximally to the waist of the subject and distally coupled to a pair of the pneumomassage devices.
According to some embodiments, there is provided a method for adjusting lengths of a distal section and a proximal section of a pneumomassage sleeve, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a subject's leg through a sleeve such that a distal section of the sleeve is positioned onto a foot of the subject, a joint section of a sleeve onto an ankle of the subject, and a proximal section of a sleeve onto a leg of the subject; and coupling a second coupling element coupled to the distal section and a first coupling element coupled to the proximal section to define and secure a position of a bend within the joint section, thereby co-axially aligning the proximal section with a portion of the joint section proximal to the bend, and the distal section with a portion of the joint section distal to the bend to secure a length of the proximal section according to the subject's anatomy.
More details and features of the current invention and its embodiments may be found in the description and the attached drawings.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. The figures are listed below:
Disclosed herein is a device comprising: a sleeve sized to cover a first and a second adjacent body parts and an anatomical joint therebetween; and a securing assembly for securing the first and the second adjacent body parts in a fixed position relative to one another, thereby adjusting the sleeve to conform to the lengths of the adjacent body part. Optionally, an angle defined between the first and the second adjacent body parts is adjusted to conform to the joint. Further disclosed is a method for operating the device.
Advantageously, the device disclosed herein may be adjusted to fit various lengths of body parts by applying various alignments of the securing assembly. Further, the device disclosed herein may conform to a joint between two adjacent body parts.
In some embodiments, the sleeve is a pneumomassage sleeve which may function to displace excess fluid and relieve a subject's condition. Non-limiting example of a subject in need of a pneumomassage therapy is a subject afflicted with edema such as lymphedema or other disorder resulting in excess body fluid.
As used herein, the terms “pneumomassage sleeve” and “compression sleeve” are used interchangeably to refer to an inflatable appliance including one or more individually inflatable chambers or cells used for delivering at least some compressive force to some tissue of a patient to relieve a medical condition. These chambers may also be described as compression cells. Typically, a sleeve may encompass one body part such as the chest, or two or more non-contiguous or contiguous body parts such as a combination of foot, ankle, calf (lower leg), and/or thigh (upper leg).
Optionally, the pneumomassage sleeve may envelope one or more inflatable cells. Optionally, the one or more inflatable cells include a series of overlapping inflatable cells which when the sleeve is worn by a subject in need thereof, are sequentially inflated to create massaging forces giving rise to a sequential or peristaltic massage action, pumping the excess fluid away from the foot and the leg of the subject. In a non-limiting example, each of the overlapping inflatable cells may be coupled to a compressor which is controlled to sequentially inflate and deflate the cells.
Non-limiting exemplary means causing the sleeve to function when worn by a subject and controlled pressurized air systems associated with a pneumomassage sleeve are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,338,923, 5,014,681, and 6,406,445.
Throughout the following description, similar elements of different embodiments of the device may be referenced by element numbers differing by integer multiples of 100. For example, a sleeve of
Reference is now made to
To facilitate the description of device 100, three orthogonal axes are indicated in
Device 100 includes a sleeve 102 having a proximal section 102a distally coupled to a distal section 102b and a joint section 102c therebetween; and a securing assembly 112 for releasably securing proximal section 102a and distal section 102b in a fixed position relative to one another. In a non-limiting example sleeve 102 is a compression sleeve.
Combined lengths of proximal section 102a, joint section 102c, and distal section 102b constitute a length L of sleeve 102. Optionally, length L is predetermined such as to be sufficient to cover a variety of lengths of adjacent body parts with an anatomical joint therebetween. Lengths of proximal section 102a and distal section 102b may be adjusted to fit onto and conform to adjacent body parts (not shown) of different lengths. Further, a bending within joint section 102c may be adjusted to conform to an anatomical joint (not shown) located between the adjacent body parts.
Securing assembly 112 include a first coupling element 112a and second coupling element 112b, which upon coupling, releasably secure to one another. One non-limiting example of a suitable securing assembly is a hook and loop fastener, such as but not limited to, Velcro. A hook and loop may include a lineal fabric strip with hooks that are configured to couple with another fabric strip with smaller loops, attaching temporarily, until pulled apart. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials for such fastener are nylon and polyester. It is understood that the securing assembly may include any other appropriate mechanism, such as but not limited to, a clip, buckle, ratchet etc. According to some embodiments, an inner surface 113b of second coupling element 112b may include a hook Velcro layer and an outer surface (hidden from view in the figures) of first coupling element 112a may include a loop Velcro layer. According to some embodiments, inner surface 113b may include a loop Velcro layer and the outer surface of first coupling element 112a may include a hook Velcro layer. Optionally, first coupling element 112a and second coupling element 112b are coupled/attached to, and extend outward, from an outer surface of sleeve 102. First coupling element 112a may be coupled/attached to an outer surface of a distal portion of proximal section 102a ranging longitudinally to a proximal end 103a of joint section 102c. Second coupling element 112a may be coupled/attached to an outer surface of a proximal portion of distal section 102b ranging longitudinally from a distal end 103b of joint section 102c. Optionally, the outer surface is an anterior outer surface 110, such as for bending a foot anteriorly towards a leg. In alternative embodiment (not shown), the outer surface may be posterior outer surface 108, such as for bending a calf posteriorly towards a thigh.
According to some embodiments, when sleeve 100 is worn by a subject, proximal end 104 is positioned above the knee of the subject (i.e. on the thigh of the subject). According to some embodiments, when sleeve 100 is worn by a subject, proximal end 104 is positioned below the knee of the subject.
Upon pulling second coupling element 112b towards first coupling element 112a (e.g., proximally and anteriorly), joint section is bent and distal section 102b may move from a first position to a second position relative to proximal section 102a. Distal section 102b may be secured in a selected position by coupling second coupling element 112b to a section of first coupling element 112a. Optionally, various coupling configurations of second coupling element 112b and first coupling element 112a define various bending configurations of joint section 102c and positions of distal section 102b relative to proximal section 102b. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a sufficient force should be exerted by securing assembly 112 to secure distal section 102b in the selected position. Optionally, distal section 102b and proximal section 102a may transition from an approximately axial alignment to an angular alignment, defining a bend 103 within joint section 102c (as shown in
The term “approximately axial” refers to an angle α of about 180 degrees, optionally 160 to 200 degrees, defined between outer surface 110 of distal section 102b and proximal section 102a. The term “angular” refers to an angle α of less than 180 degrees, optionally 30 to 160 degrees, defined between outer surface 110 of distal section 102b and proximal section 102a.
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A length Lp of proximal section 102a extends at least from proximal end 104 to proximal end 103a of joint section 102c. An effective length of proximal section 102a may be extended by co-axially aligning proximal section 102a with at least a portion of joint section 102c.
A length Ld of distal section 102b extends at least from distal end of joint section 102c to distal end 106. An effective length of distal section 102b may be extended by co-axially aligning distal section 102b with at least a portion of joint section 102c.
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Sleeve 202 may be made of a flexible material such as for example, a fabric or a plastic. Optionally, sleeve 202 is made of a sheet that envelops one or more cells formed of air-impermeable material (not shown) which may be inflated and/or deflated in a desired sequence to apply a sequential or peristaltic massage action.
Optionally, sleeve 202 may be further equipped with a zipper 214 which extends along its length from a proximal end 204 to a distal end 206. In such embodiments, sleeve 202 may be opened and closed by zipper 214 to fit onto a leg and foot of a subject.
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While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced be interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.
In the description and claims of the application, each of the words “comprise” “include” and “have”, and forms thereof, are not necessarily limited to members in a list with which the words may be associated.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62484937 | Apr 2017 | US |