Abstract:
A pressure therapy device (100)includes a pressure chamber (110),an inflatable padding(140),a seal (150),and a positioningmechanism (172). The pressure chamber (110)has an opening(120)arranged for admittingthe inflatable padding(140)and a limbof a user. The inflatable padding(140)is inflatable in order to enclose and fix the limb in position. The seal (150)covers the opening (120),including the inflatable padding(140)and the limbin order to seal the pressure chamber (140)from ambient atmospheric pressure. A pump unit (190)is provided to generate a non-atmospheric pressure within the pressure chamber (110),and includes a first valve system (210)and a piston (200)with safetyrelease features for preventingunsafe pressure levels.
Abstract:
A composition, method and related systems for treating and/or preventing spasticity in a patient using negative pressure therapy. The negative pressure therapy may include intermittent application of negative pressure to a limb or portion of a body, such as alternating between periods of negative pressure and ambient pressure. The negative pressure therapy may be applied on a regular basis for a predetermined period, such that an effective amount of negative pressure for treating spasticity and other symptoms of neurogenerative diseases is administered. The negative pressure therapy may be applied to cause intermittent activation of the venous arterial reflex in the body for a sustained period, such that symptoms of neurogenerative diseases are alleviated or prevented.
Abstract:
A device for applying pulsating pressure to a patient can include a pressure chamber and a pressure control unit. The pressure chamber may include a variable- stiffness structural element to allow the chamber to be flexible during transport and assembly yet also be rigid during application of pulsating pressure therapy. In use, the pressure chamber can be resized and reshaped based on the anatomy of the particular patient undergoing treatment. The pressure chamber can then be transformed to a different operating state in which the variable-stiffness structural element is rigid. This may prevent the pressure chamber from substantially changing dimension, such as internal volume, while generating non-atmospheric pressures inside of the chamber.