This invention relates generally to pneumomassage apparatus adapted to displace excess fluid from the body part of a patient and more particularly, to an articulated sleeve for this purpose which fits onto and conforms to the foot and lower leg of the patient.
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 an apparatus to compress successively portions of the afflicted part to produce a sequential or peristaltic action pumping excess fluid toward the heart. This apparatus can also be used to improve blood circulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,923 discloses an inflatable cell-type apparatus for treating edema, the apparatus including a sleeve of flexible material divided into a plurality of internal inflatable cells extending along one dimension of the sleeve, each cell having a port for insetting and outletting air to individually inflate or deflate the cells. The sleeve when applied to the body part to be treated then surrounds it with inflatable cells extending annularly around the sleeve. Means are provided to apply pressurized air to the ports in accordance with a predetermined sequence for inflating and then deflating the cells.
In the pneumomassage apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,681 for applying intermittent compression to a body part, use is made of an inflatable sleeve divided into successively overlapping inflatable cells. Pressurized fluid is applied cyclically to successive groups of cells, so as successively to inflate each group while at the same time partially deflating the preceding group.
A useful feature of the sleeve shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,681 is that the sleeve is formed from a trapezoidal blank, one inclined edge of which is provided with one component of a zipper. Adjacent the opposing inclined edge is a row of spaced complementary zipper components. To fit the sleeve to the limb of a patient, the zipper component on the one edge is connected to a selected complementary component on the opposing edge, thereby creating a sleeve whose dimensions conform to the limb of the patient.
Also of prior art interest is the pneumomassage device disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,518 in which the device is provided with a boot having a series of compartments which conform to the contour of a human foot and leg, the foot part of the boot. A compressor is provided for successively inflating and deflating the compartments of the boot in a rhythmic, preselected cycle.
The inflatable cell-type body treating apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,923 for the treatment of edema includes a flat inflatable band divided into a plurality of internal inflatable cells extending along one dimension of the band, and wrappable about the body part to be treated to form a sleeve with the inflatable cells extending annularly around the sleeve. The inflatable cells are in partially overlapping relationship widthwise of the band.
Inasmuch as a sleeve in accordance with the invention includes overlapping cells inflated and deflated sequentially by a controlled compressor in a manner similar to those of the pneumomassage sleeves disclosed in the above-identified U.S. prior art patents, the disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
In order to massage both the foot and lower leg of a patient afflicted with edema, 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.
On the other hand, where the apparatus for treating a patient is in a boot format as in the ""518 patent, it can then only be used with those patients whose foot and leg fit into the boot.
In view of the foregoing, the main object of this invention is to provide an articulated pneumomassage sleeve adapted to fit onto and conform to a foot and lower leg of a patient suffering from an excess of body fluid, the sleeve functioning to displace excess fluid and relieve the patient""s condition.
Among the significant advantages of an articulated sleeve in accordance with the invention are the following:
A. The articulated sleeve can be fitted onto the foot and lower leg of patients whose foot and leg dimensions lie within broad ranges. Hence the articulated sleeve functions as a universal pneumomassage appliance.
B. The articulated sleeve can be quickly installed on the foot and leg of a patient or quickly removed therefrom without any difficulty for the patient such as the difficulty experienced when trying to put on a combination of a cylindrical sleeve and a boot.
C. When the articulated sleeve is mounted on the foot and leg of a patient, the foot section is then hinged to the leg section, so that the patient is then free to flex his foot in the course of treatment.
D. The articulated sleeve is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, for incorporated in its structure are standard zippers or other fasteners, and the sleeve is made of bow cost materials.
More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide an articulated sleeve having on its rear side a row of normally-fastened transverse articulation joints, articulation of the sleeve being effected by unfastening a selected joint.
Also an object of this invention is to provide a pair of pants having an upper section that extends to the waist of the patient and a pair of legs below the upper section, each formed by an articulated sleeve enveloping inflatable cells.
Briefly stated, the objects are accomplished by a pneumomassage articulated sleeve adapted to fit onto a foot and lower leg of a patent afflicted with lymphoedema or other disorder resulting in, excess body fluid. Enveloped by the sleeve is a series of overlapping inflatable cells which when the sleeve is worn, 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 leg.
Along the rear of the sleeve is a row of transverse slots forming articulation joints, each of which is normally fastened. To accommodate the sleeve to the patient to be treated a slot in the row is unfastened to define a foot section conforming to the foot of the patient and a leg section hinged to the foot section conforming to the lower leg of the patient.
A sleeve in accordance with the invention can be used for other pneumomassage purposes, as for example, for cosmetic massaging.