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  Garment detection method and system for delivering compression treatmentUSPTO Application #: 20080103422Title: Garment detection method and system for delivering compression treatment Abstract: A compression treatment system is provided that detects the number of and type of garments connected thereto. The system includes a plurality of ports, valves connected thereto and a number of garments having one or more bladders. The bladders are in fluid communication with a fluid source in a pneumatic circuit, to provide compression therapy once a user confirms the number of and type of garments connected to the system for use by a patient. A single pressure sensor communicates with a plurality of detected bladders located in the one or more garments. (end of abstract) Agent: Tyco Healthcare - Edward S. Jarmolowicz - Mansfield, MA, US Inventors: Matthew J. Perry, Mark A. Vess, Scott Wudyka USPTO Applicaton #: 20080103422 - Class: 601150000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery: Kinesitherapy, Kinesitherapy, Device With Applicator Having Specific Movement, Flexible Membrane Caused To Move By Fluid Pressure, Control Means For Causing Pulsation The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080103422. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/143,548, filed Jun. 2, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/784,323, filed Feb. 23, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of vascular therapy for application to a limb of a body, and more particularly, to a compression treatment system having a controller that regulates fluid flow and a method of use thereof. [0003] A major concern for immobile patients and persons alike are medical conditions that form clots in the blood, such as, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and peripheral edema. Such patients and persons include those undergoing surgery, anesthesia, extended periods of bed rest, etc. These blood clotting conditions generally occur in the deep veins of the lower extremities and/or pelvis. These veins, such as the iliac, femoral, popliteal, and tibial return deoxygenated blood to the heart. For example, when blood circulation in these veins is retarded due to illness, injury or inactivity, there is a tendency for blood to accumulate or pool. A static pool of blood is ideal for clot formations. A major risk associated with this condition is interference with cardiovascular circulation. Most seriously, a fragment of the blood clot can break loose and migrate. A pulmonary emboli can form blocking a main pulmonary artery, which may be life threatening. [0004] The conditions and resulting risks associated with patient immobility may be controlled or alleviated by applying intermittent pressure to a patient's limb, such as, for example, a leg including the thigh, calf and foot to assist in blood circulation. Known devices have been employed to assist in blood circulation, such as, one piece pads and compression boots. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,662 to Morris et al. entitled "Portable, Self-Contained Apparatus For Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Prophylaxis" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,852 to Barak et al. entitled "Portable Ambulant Pneumatic Compression System." [0005] For example, sequential compression devices have been used, which consist of an air pump connected to a disposable wraparound pad or garment by a series of air tubes. The wraparound pad is configured for placement about a portion of a patient's leg, such as the thigh, calf, or foot. Multiple pads may be mounted to the leg to cover the various portions of the leg. Air is then forced into different parts of the wraparound pad(s) in sequence, creating pressure around the thigh, calf, or foot, thereby improving venous return. [0006] These known devices may suffer from various drawbacks due to their bulk and cumbersome nature of use. These drawbacks reduce comfort, compliance and may disadvantageously prevent mobility of the patient as recovery progresses after surgery. [0007] Further, such known sequential compression devices typically include a controller assembly that regulates air flow and pressure in the wraparound pad(s). The controller assembly can be mounted to a bed and plugged into a wall outlet for power during use. This arrangement, however, can present challenges for example, when the patient needs to perform certain tasks, e.g., bathroom, physical therapy, etc. In these situations, the pads are usually removed, thus disadvantageously discontinuing vascular therapy. Thus, these controller assemblies suffer from various drawbacks because they do not accommodate patient transport or mobility and are not typically adaptable for inflation of thigh, calf, and foot pads. [0008] Other sequential compression devices and systems are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,879 to Bolam et al., entitled "Gradient Sequential Compression System for Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis," discloses a gradient sequential compression system to prevent deep vein thrombosis. The system has a controller which includes a plurality of feeder valves pneumatically connected to each of the chambers and a microprocessor-based control unit for opening only one of the feeder valves at a time during an inflation cycle, so that each of the chambers can be independently inflated to predetermined pressure levels. The programming of the system controller can either be performed manually by the user through a display interface or by the use of a universal connecting device that senses the mode of operation associated with a sleeve connected thereto and automatically configures the system controller. [0009] Another sequential compression device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,359 to Bock et al., entitled "Sequential Compression Device Controller," that is currently owned by the assignee of the present application, Tyco Healthcare Group LP. Bock et al. disclose a controller for applying sequential compression to a limb and includes a variable speed motor connected to a pump and an electronic control circuit to drive the pump motor. The system disclosed in Bock et al. includes a pressure transducer in communication with a manifold and adapted for monitoring sleeve pressure. [0010] Another known system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,254 to Skelton. Skelton discloses a blood pressure monitoring system for automatic unattended operation. During the inflation of cuff, an initial inflation period is defined between the start time and a predetermined end time. After the predetermined end time, the pressure in the cuff is measured and compared to the initial cuff pressure. A microprocessor determines the difference between the initial pressure and the final pressure over the inflation period and produces a curve for identifying the attached cuff. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,966 to Hanna discloses an apparatus and a method for the automatic identification of a given one of a predetermined plurality of cuff assemblies that are connectable to a sphygmomanometer for use in a blood pressure measurement procedure. A cuff assembly has a corresponding gas-flow restrictor which allows pressure measurements during the deflation of a cuff to be correlated for identification. Hanna preferably uses at least two pressure transducers. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,981 to Kankkunen discloses a flow restriction means for identifying a cuff. [0012] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,280 to Hood Jr., a cuff size is determined based on the propagation time for an audio pulse to propagate to, through, and back from the cuff that is inflated to a predetermined pressure. The measured time is compared to a predetermined threshold value that correlates the measured time to an adult or pediatric cuff thereby identifying the attached cuff. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,654 to Malkamaki relates to automatic identification for a cuff using a trigger pulse from a valve to a pressure sensing element followed by measuring the width of a detected pulse. [0013] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,676 to Rantala et al., an automatic identification method for the cuff of a sphygmomanometer is disclosed. The cuff is identified by measuring values of pressure in at least two spaced apart locations and determining the difference in the pressure values wherein a difference in pressure identifies a pediatric cuff while no pressure difference signifies an adult cuff. [0014] Therefore, it would be desirable to overcome the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art with a compression treatment system having a controller that is adaptable for inflating thigh, calf and foot sleeves and accommodates patient transport and mobility to provide continuous vascular therapy. It would be desirable if the system automatically detects the types of garments connected thereto and having any combination or number of bladders therein. It would be highly desirable if the system included a pneumatic circuit that facilitates pressure monitoring with a single pressure transducer to achieve the advantages of the present disclosure. It is contemplated that the compression treatment system is easily and efficiently manufactured. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0015] Accordingly, a compression treatment system is provided having a controller that is adaptable for inflating thigh, calf and foot sleeves or garments and accommodates patient transport and mobility to provide continuous vascular therapy for overcoming the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. Desirably, the system automatically detects the types of sleeves and foot cuffs and combinations connected thereto. Most desirably, the system includes a pneumatic circuit that facilitates pressure monitoring with a single pressure transducer to achieve the advantages of the present disclosure. The compression treatment system is easily and efficiently fabricated. [0016] The compression treatment system, in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, can provide intermittent pneumatic compression for the prevention of DVT. The compression treatment system may also include venous refill detection, as will be discussed, and is compact, quiet, lightweight, and offers battery power. The compression treatment system also has the ability to provide sequential, gradient compression to each limb individually and the flexibility to provide compression to various sleeves, which may, for example, include three bladders. The sleeves may include thigh length tear-away features and knee length sleeves, as will be discussed. In addition, the compression treatment system can provide higher pressure, slow compression to a foot sleeve. The compression treatment system provides uninterrupted DVT prophylaxis as the system is used throughout a treatment facility, and can be worn and used continuously by the patient during the entire period of risk. An example of a tear-away garment is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/784,706, filed Feb. 23, 2004 and assigned to Tyco Healthcare Group LP. [0017] The compression treatment system may be portable to provide continuous therapy for the patient at risk for DVT. This configuration advantageously facilitates continuous vascular therapy during patient activity and tasks such as, for example, transport for testing, bathroom, physical therapy, etc. Thus, the compression treatment system prevents interruptions in therapy by providing a controller that will run on a battery when it is not plugged in, and will also be comfortable, compact, and light enough to move with the patient as needed. [0018] The compression treatment system includes a controller, tubing sets, and sleeves. For example, the compression treatment system delivers air through the tubing sets to a pair of disposable sleeves, one for each limb. The sleeves can have three bladders each, which correspond to the ankle, calf, and thigh. The compression treatment system independently compresses one of the limbs, left or right. Inflation is alternated between the two limbs when both are connected. Alternatively, only one sleeve can be connected. It is understood the compression treatment system can detect any combination of garments and number of bladders therein connected to one or more ports. [0019] Alternatively, the compression treatment system is used as a slow compression foot device. In this configuration, the compression treatment system includes a pair of single-patient-use, single-bladder disposable foot garments alternative to the sleeves. A single foot garment may also be used. The compression treatment system also provides for employment of a foot garment on a first limb and a sleeve on a second limb. [0020] The compression treatment system includes tubing set connector ports that interlock with the mating geometry on the tubing sets. When the compression treatment system is initially powered, air is delivered through the ports until the system recognizes which ports are connected to a sleeve and what types of sleeves, i.e., leg sleeve or foot garment, are connected to those ports. Compression therapy is delivered to the ports with the appropriate sleeves connected. [0021] For example, the compression treatment system provides clinical parameters for vascular therapy such as an 11-second inflation cycle, followed by a vent period of 20 to 60 seconds, depending on the venous refill measurement. The 11-second compression time is sequential: at 0 seconds a first bladder starts inflating. At 2.67 seconds a second bladder starts inflating, and at 5.67 seconds a third bladder starts inflating. After 11 seconds, all three bladders vent. The pressures during the inflation period must remain gradient with the first bladder being greater than the second bladder, and the second bladder being greater than the third bladder. By way of example, the end of cycle pressures may be 45 mm Hg in the first bladder, 40 mm Hg in the second bladder, and 30 mm Hg in the third bladder. Compression continues in this cyclical pattern until either the compression treatment system is turned off or the controller alarms. Continue reading... Full patent description for Garment detection method and system for delivering compression treatment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Garment detection method and system for delivering compression treatment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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