Control unit assembly

Abstract

A medical device including a sleeve, one or more inflatable cells, a pump, a conduit and a control unit for controlling the flow of fluid from the pump through the conduit.

Claims

1. A compression device comprising: a sleeve wearable on a limb of a patient, the sleeve defining an outer surface; one or more inflatable cells coupled to the sleeve to apply pressure to the limb of the patient a pump coupled to the sleeve between the outer surface of the sleeve and the one or more inflatable cells; a control unit coupled to the sleeve between the outer surface of the sleeve and the one or more inflatable cells, the control unit operably coupled to the pump to control flow of fluid from the pump to the one or more inflatable cells; one or more conduits coupled to the sleeve and positioned entirely between the outer surface of the sleeve and the one or more inflatable cells, wherein the one or more conduits operably couple the pump to the control unit, and the control unit to the one or more inflatable cells; and a power source coupled to the sleeve between the outer surface of the sleeve and the one or more inflatable cells, the power source operably coupled to the pump and control unit to provide power to the pump and control unit, wherein the pump, the control unit, and the power source are integrated into the sleeve to follow the contour of the sleeve.

2. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the one or more inflatable cells comprise four inflatable cells.

3. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is wearable on the leg of the patient and comprises: a leg cuff positionable about a leg of the patient below the knee; and a foot cuff positionable about a foot of the leg of the patient.

4. The compression device of claim 3, wherein three inflatable cells of the one or more inflatable cells are coupled to the leg cuff and one inflatable cell of the one or more inflatable cells are coupled to the foot cuff.

5. The compression device of claim 4 further comprising: a first pressure sensor coupled to the sleeve between the outer surface of the sleeve and the one or more inflatable cells to provide an indication of pressure exerted by the three inflatable cells coupled to the leg cuff, and a second pressure sensor coupled to the sleeve between the outer surface of the sleeve and the one or more inflatable cells to provide an indication of pressure exerted by the one inflatable cell coupled to the foot cuff.

6. The compression device of claim 1, further comprising one or more valves coupled to the sleeve between the outer surface of the sleeve and the one or more inflatable cells to selectively operably couple the pump to the one or more inflatable cells.

7. The compression device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the sleeve between the outer surface of the sleeve and the one or more inflatable cells to provide an indication of pressure exerted by each of the one or more inflatable cells, wherein the pressure sensor is selectively operably configured between the one or more inflatable cells and the pump.

8. A compression device comprising: a sleeve wearable on a limb of a patient and defining an outer contour; one or more inflatable cells coupled to the sleeve to apply pressure to the limb of the patient; a pump integrated with the sleeve within the outer contour of the sleeve; a control unit integrated with the sleeve within the outer contour of the sleeve, the control unit operably coupled to the pump to control flow of fluid from the pump to the one or more inflatable cells; one or more conduits integrated with the sleeve and positioned entirely within the outer contour of the sleeve, wherein the one or more conduits operably couple the pump to the control unit, and the control unit to the one or more inflatable cells; and a power source integrated with the sleeve within the outer contour of the sleeve, the power source operably coupled to the pump and control unit to provide power to the pump and control unit.

9. The compression device of claim 8, wherein the one or more inflatable cells comprise four inflatable cells.

10. The compression device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is wearable on the leg of the patient and comprises: a leg cuff positionable about a leg of the patient below the knee; and a foot cuff positionable about a foot of the leg of the patient.

11. The compression device of claim 10, wherein three inflatable cells of the one or more inflatable cells are coupled to the leg cuff and one inflatable cell of the one or more inflatable cells are coupled to the foot cuff.

12. The compression device of claim 11 further comprising: a first pressure sensor integrated with the sleeve within the outer contour of the sleeve to provide an indication of pressure exerted by the three inflatable cells coupled to the leg cuff, and a second pressure sensor integrated with the sleeve within the outer contour of the sleeve to provide an indication of pressure exerted by the one inflatable cell coupled to the foot cuff.

13. The compression device of claim 8, further comprising one or more valves integrated with the sleeve within the outer contour of the sleeve to selectively couple the pump to the one or more inflatable cells.

14. The compression device of claim 8, further comprising a pressure sensor integrated with the sleeve within the outer contour of the sleeve to provide an indication of pressure exerted by each of the one or more inflatable cells, wherein the pressure sensor is selectively operably configured between the one or more inflatable cells and the pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the control unit assembly of the invention integrated in a mobile compression device worn on the limb of a patient.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a backing plate for receiving a control unit to form the assembly of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one end of the control unit of the invention showing the connectors which engage the connectors of the backing plate in use.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the backing plate and control unit of the assembly removed from the compression device to show the coming together of the connectors and the springs which bias the assembly apart for detachment of the control unit.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic air flow logic diagram of the assembly of the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the interior of the control unit of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing the air manifold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) In FIG. 1 a control unit assembly and compression device according to an embodiment of the invention is shown worn on the leg of a patient. The device comprises a sleeve 2 having a leg cuff 4 connected to a foot cuff 6. The device also comprises a control unit assembly 8 comprising a control unit 10. The control unit 10 is small and when removed from the sleeve 2 may be hand held. The control unit 10 is battery powered and rechargeable so that it can be recharged when attached to or detached from the sleeve 2. FIG. 1 also shows the pouch 12 provided on sleeve 2 for receiving the control unit 10 and the low profile of the assembly. The control unit assembly follows the contour of the device and integrates the assembly into the device.

(8) FIG. 2 is a perspective view taken from above the device with the control unit 10 removed showing the interior of the pouch 12 and the backing plate 14. The control unit 10 may be slidably engaged in the pouch 12 and retained in position by a latching means. FIG. 1 shows a release button 22 positioned on the pouch 12 of the device which when depressed releases the control unit 10 from the pouch 12.

(9) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the control unit 10 removed from the pouch 12 and viewed from the bottom, showing the connectors 16 for engagement with the rigid connectors 18 of the backing plate 14.

(10) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the backing plate 14, removed from the device for the purposes of illustration, showing the rigid connectors 18 for engagement with the connectors 16 of the control unit 10. FIG. 4 shows the control unit 10 being slid into engagement with the backing plate 14. As the control unit 10 is slid into the backing plate 14, it begins to compress two springs 20 which act to bias the control unit 10 and backing plate 14 apart. Further sliding movement of the control unit 10 causes the connectors 16, 18 to engage in a fluid tight seal and the control unit 10 to engage a latch (not shown) which retains the control unit 10 in the pouch 12 against the springs 20. The control unit 10 is released from the pouch 12 by depressing button 22 (FIG. 1), the outline of which is visible on the sleeve 2. The springs 20 then cause the control unit 10 and backing plate 14 to spring apart and the control unit 10 can be removed from the device. The springs 20 can be in the form of a leaf spring located in the backing plate 14 which similarly biases the parts of the assembly apart.

(11) FIG. 4 also shows air filter 24 provided on the air inlet/outlet connector of the backing plate 14. As the air filter 24 is provided on the backing plate 14, it is naturally replaced when the control unit 10 is used with a new device. This reduces the service requirements of the control unit 10.

(12) Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the control unit 10 has fluid flow conduits 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 which terminate in connectors C1, C2, C3, C4 and an air inlet/outlet C5. When a cell is required to be inflated, air is taken in via the conduit 48 by the operation of pump (labeled “PUMP”) and valves V4 and V5 under instruction from a processor (not shown). The processor instructs valves V3, V1 and V2 which are arranged between the air inlet/outlet C5 and the conduits 40, 42, 44, 46 such that only one of the conduits 40, 42, 44, 46 is operational at any one time. From FIG. 5 it can be seen that valve V3 directs fluid from/to the air inlet/outlet C5 to/from either valve V1 or V2 which in turn selectively open or close fluid paths to connectors C1 or C2, or C3 or C4. The valves are preferably latching valves.

(13) A sensor S1 (FIG. 6) is located in conduit 40 between connector C1 and valve V1 in the control unit 10. Similarly, sensors S2, S3 and S4 are located in conduits 42, 44, 46, respectively. Sensors S1 to S4 are all fluid pressure sensors controlled by a processor (not shown) and arranged to provide an indication of pressure exerted by the respective cells in the device. S5 independently monitors the pressure in the fluid flow system of the device.

(14) FIG. 6 also shows the air manifold 50 with its labyrinth of passages that supplies air from the pump to each of the connectors C1 to C5. The air manifold 50 replaces the external tubes needed with prior art devices between a distal control unit and the connectors of the device.