Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
  • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
  • A61H9/0078—Pneumatic massage with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
  • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
  • A61H9/0057—Suction
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
  • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
  • A61H9/0071—Pneumatic massage by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/50—Control means thereof
  • A61H2201/5002—Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2205/00—Devices for specific parts of the body
  • A61H2205/02—Head
  • A61H2205/022—Face

Definitions

• a soft tissue optimization device including a plurality of isolated chambers and a pump configured to supply a dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers.
• Each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers include a substantially flexible first surface, a second surface, a check valve disposed in the flexible first surface, and a fluidic opening disposed in the second surface.
• the pump is configured to deliver the dynamic fluid pressure to the at least a subset of isolated chambers through the fluidic opening in each isolated chamber.
• the pump controls the dynamic fluid pressure of at least one of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers independently from at least one other of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers.
• the dynamic fluid pressure may be changed within a range between a positive fluid pressure (above an ambient pressure) and a negative fluid pressure (below an ambient pressure).
• a positive fluid pressure above an ambient pressure
• a negative fluid pressure below an ambient pressure
• a soft tissue optimization device including a plurality of isolated chambers and a pump configured to supply a dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers.
• Each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers includes a substantially flexible first surface and a fluidic opening disposed in a second surface of the isolated chamber.
• the pump is configured to supply the dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers through the fluidic opening in each isolated chamber.
• the pump controls the dynamic fluid pressure of at least one of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers independently from at least one other of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers.
• the dynamic fluid pressure may be changed independently for each isolated chamber within a range between a positive fluid pressure and a negative fluid pressure.
• a positive fluid pressure causes the flexible first surface to expand outward against the skin of the patient
• a negative fluid pressure causes the flexible first surface to contract inward in a direction substantially away from the skin of the patient.
• a method of providing optimization of a soft tissue of a patient including the steps of (1) providing a plurality of isolated chambers, each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers having a substantially flexible first surface and a fluidic opening disposed in a second surface of the isolated chamber; (2) disposing the flexible first surface of each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers on the soft tissue of the patient; and (3) supplying a dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers through the fluidic opening in each isolated chamber of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers to provide an optimization therapy to the soft tissue of the patient.
• the dynamic fluid pressure of each isolated chamber in the at least the subset of the plurality of isolated chambers may be changed independently of each other isolated chamber in the at least the subset of the plurality of isolated chambers within a range between a first fluid pressure greater than an ambient pressure and a second fluid pressure less than the ambient pressure.
• FIG. 1 is a top, plan view of a soft tissue optimization device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description
• FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views of a soft tissue optimization device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description
• FIGS. 3 A and 3B are side views of a soft tissue optimization device, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present description
• FIG. 4 is a timing diagram for a soft tissue optimization device providing a therapy to a skin of a patient, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description
• FIGS. 5A and 5B provide additional configurations of a soft tissue optimization device, in accordance with alternate embodiment of the present description.
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart detailing the steps in a method of providing optimization of a soft tissue of a patient, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description.
• operative treatments e.g., severe fractures
• post-operative therapy e.g., the management of soft tissue edema to reduce swelling and pain to improve recovery.
• non-operative treatments e.g., minor fractures, sprains, strains, etc.
• reduce edema to alleviate pain and to enhance the recovery process. Many of these needs remain unmet or ineffective using existing therapies.
• a current standard of care for soft tissue injuries such as edema is a combination of rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the injured area (also known as R.I.C.E, based on the first letter of each of the therapies involved).
• R.I.C.E elevation of the injured area
• a soft tissue optimization device that optimizes the recovery from soft tissue injuries is provided which relies on a number of isolated chambers which can be “inflated” and “deflated” using dynamic pressure control to provide a therapy to a soft tissue area.
• a soft tissue optimization device may include a plurality of isolated chambers and a pump configured to supply a dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers.
• each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers may include a substantially flexible first surface (e.g., an elastic wall of the isolated chamber), a second surface of the isolated chamber, a check valve disposed in the flexible first surface, and a fluidic opening (an opening into the isolated chamber through which a fluid such as air or water may pass) disposed in the second surface.
• the flexible first surface may be the same surface as the second surface.
• the second surface, and any other interior surface of the isolated chamber other than the flexible first surface may be a substantially inflexible surface (e.g., a rigid or nonelastic wall or surface of the isolated chamber).
• the pump may be configured to supply the dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers through the fluidic opening in each isolated chamber of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers.
• the pump may control the dynamic fluid pressure of at least one of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers independently from at least one other of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers (e.g., the fluid pressure of each isolated chamber may be controlled separately).
• the dynamic fluid pressure may be configured to be changed within a range between a positive fluid pressure (i.e., a pressure greater than an ambient pressure of the environment) and a negative fluid pressure (i.e., a pressure less than the ambient pressure).
• a positive fluid pressure i.e., a pressure greater than an ambient pressure of the environment
• a negative fluid pressure i.e., a pressure less than the ambient pressure
• the positive fluid pressure may cause the check valve of the corresponding isolated chamber to close and the flexible first surface to expand outward against the skin of the patient (i.e., applying a pressure against and into the soft tissue), and the negative fluid pressure may cause the check value to open and the flexible first surface to contract inward and create a pulling force (e.g., a decompression force) on the skin of the patient.
• independently controlling each of the plurality of chambers may be used to provide a massaging therapy, a cupping therapy, a decompression therapy, or any appropriate dynamic pressure therapy to the soft tissue of the patient.
• the plurality of isolated chambers may take various shapes, arrangements, and forms appropriate to the requirements of different therapy techniques.
• the plurality of isolated chambers may be configured as a series of concentric chambers, such as a series of concentric rings (e.g., arranged like the zones on an archery target).
• the plurality of isolated chambers may be configured as an array of isolated chambers in an encompassing material (e.g., non-concentric, non-overlapping chambers contained within a block of foam).
• each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers may be a substantially ring- shaped chamber and the plurality of isolated chambers may be configmed as a stack of ring-shaped chambers forming a “sleeve”, wherein in the sleeve is configured to encompass a limb of a patient (e.g., a sleeve wrapping a limb such as an ankle).
• the soft tissue optimization device may further include an attachment layer 40 (e.g., an outer adhesive bandage, hook and loop strap, fabric ties, etc.) to attach the soft tissue optimization device to the skin of the patient.
• the attachment layer may provide a seal against the skin of the patient.
• an outer adhesive bandage larger than the soft tissue optimization device may be placed over the device (on a side opposite the side of the device facing the soft tissue of the patient) and hold the soft tissue optimization device against the soft tissue and the overlapping bandage extending beyond the perimeter of the soft tissue optimization device may adhere to the skin of the patient to create an environmental seal over and around the soft tissue optimization device.
• the dynamic fluid pressure is a dynamic air pressure (i.e., the pump controls a flow of air into and out of each isolated chamber to create either the positive pressure or the negative pressure within each chamber).
• the dynamic fluid pressure is a dynamic liquid pressure (i.e., the pump controls a flow of water or another liquid into and out of each isolated chamber).
• the soft tissue optimization device may be configured to apply a therapy to an injury of the patient.
• the therapy may be at least one of a massaging therapy, a cupping therapy, a decompression therapy, and a dynamic pressure therapy, or a pre-determined pattern of positive and negative pressures.
• a massaging therapy may be created by supplying alternating positive and negative pressures as a wave propagating across a set of neighboring isolated chambers (see, e.g., FIG. 4).
• a soft tissue optimization device may include a plurality of isolated chambers and a pump configmed to supply a dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers.
• each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers may include a substantially flexible first surface 11 and a fluidic opening 18 disposed in a second surface of the isolated chamber.
• the second surface of the isolated chamber may be the same surface as the flexible first surface.
• each of the isolated chambers may include a check valve covering an opening in the flexible first surface.
• the dynamic fluid pressure may be increased to a positive pressure causing the isolated chamber to expand outward (at least in the flexible first surface) or may be decreased to a negative pressure causing the isolated chamber to contract inward (at least such that the flexible first surface is pulled toward the inside of the isolated chamber.
• an adhesive may be applied between the flexible first surface of each isolated chamber and at least a portion of the skin of a patient (e.g., a soft tissue of a patient where therapy is to be applied).
• the adhesive creates a pulling force on the skin/soft tissue of the patient when a negative pressure is applied to the corresponding isolated chamber (causing the flexible first surface to contract, lifting the surface of the skin along with it.
• no adhesive is used, and the skin/soft tissue of the patient is simply allowed to expand up into the void created when the flexible first surface is pulled up away from the skin.
• the plurality of isolated chambers may be configured as one of a series of concentric chambers, an array of isolated chambers in an encompassing material, and a stack of ring-shaped chambers forming a sleeve.
• the pump may be configured to supply a dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers through the fluidic opening in each isolated chamber of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers.
• the pump may feed into a manifold attached to each of the isolated chambers, wherein the manifold distributes air to each isolated chamber to which it is attached.
• feed lines move fluid (e.g., a gas or liquid) from the pump into the manifold, or from the pump directly into each isolated chamber.
• the pump may be configured to provide an independent and dynamic pressure to each of the isolated chambers (or some subset thereof) separately.
• the pump may be configured to supply a dynamic fluid pressure within a range between a positive fluid pressure and a negative fluid pressure, and wherein when the soft tissue optimization device is disposed on a skin of a patient such that the flexible first surface faces the skin of the patient, a positive fluid pressure introduced within the corresponding isolated chamber causes the flexible first surface of the isolated chamber to expand outward against the skin of the patient, and a negative fluid pressure causes the flexible first surface to contract inward in a direction substantially away from the skin of the patient (and into the interior of the isolated chamber).
• each isolated chamber other than the substantially flexible first surface is a substantially inflexible surface.
• all surfaces of the isolated chamber other than the flexible first surface may be substantially inflexible.
• the phrase “substantially inflexible” is defined to mean that the surface or object to which the phrase is applied is less flexible than the substantially flexible first surface.
• a surface or object which is “substantially inflexible”, as defined herein, may be rigid (substantially entirely incapable of flexing or moving from the application of a dynamic fluid pressure alone inside the isolated chamber), or merely semi-rigid (i.e., wherein a small amount of flexing occurs but which is substantially imperceptible to a human observer).
• a flexible surface may be an elastic surface, which may be bent or stretched or compressed by a force or a pressure, but which returns to its original shape after the force or pressure is removed.
• a flexible surface will deform (e.g., contract in, expand outward) with the application of dynamic pressure, and an inflexible surface will substantially retain its shape with the application of a similar dynamic pressure.
• a flexible surface as defined herein may be at least 2 times, or at least 3 times, or at least 4 times, or at least 5 times, or at least 10 times as flexible as an inflexible surface (e.g., if a scientific measurement of flexibility of each surface is performed producing a flexibility number in units such as, but not limited to, meters per newton).
• positive fluid pressure shall be defined as a fluid pressure greater than an ambient pressure (e.g., an atmospheric pressure or local environment pressure), and negative fluid pressure shall be defined as a fluid pressure less than the ambient pressure.
• the soft tissue optimization device may be configured to apply a therapy to an injury of the patient.
• the therapy may be at least one of a massaging therapy, a cupping therapy, a decompression therapy, and a dynamic pressure therapy.
• a method of providing optimization of a soft tissue of a patient may include the steps of (1) providing a plurality of isolated chambers, each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers having a substantially flexible first surface and a fluidic opening disposed in a second surface of the isolated chamber; (2) disposing the flexible first surface of each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers on the soft tissue of the patient; and (3) supplying a dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers through the fluidic opening in each isolated chamber of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers to provide an optimization therapy to the soft tissue of the patient.
• the dynamic fluid pressure of each isolated chamber in the at least the subset of the plurality of isolated chambers may be configured to be changed independently of each other isolated chamber in the at least the subset of the plurality of isolated chambers within a range between a first fluid pressure greater than an ambient pressure and a second fluid pressure less than the ambient pressure.
• the plurality of isolated chambers may be used to provide an optimization therapy to the soft tissue of a patient.
• the optimization therapy may be at least one of a massaging therapy, a cupping therapy, a decompression therapy, and a dynamic pressure therapy.
• each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers may further include a check valve disposed in the flexible first surface.
• the check valve may be configured to open when the second fluid pressure is applied to the corresponding isolated chamber, and to close when the first fluid pressure is applied to the isolated chamber.
• the method of providing optimization of a soft tissue of a patient may further include a step of applying an adhesive between the flexible first surface of each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers and at least a portion of the soft tissue of the patient.
• the method of providing optimization of a soft tissue of a patient may further include a step of applying an attachment layer to the plurality of isolated chambers to hold the plurality of isolated chambers against the soft tissue of the patient.
• the attachment layer may create at least a partial seal between the plurality of isolated chambers and the soft tissue of the patient.
• FIG. 1 is a top, plan view of an embodiment of a soft tissue optimization device according to the present description.
• soft tissue optimization device 300 may include a plurality of isolated chambers 10 and a pump 70 configured to supply an independent and dynamic fluid pressure (e.g., such as an air pressure) to each of isolated chambers 10.
• pump 70 may supply the dynamic fluid pressure to each isolated chamber 10 through a manifold 20, which may distribute the dynamic fluid pressure as required and independently to each of isolated chambers 10 through a plurality of feed lines 30.
• the plurality of feed lines 30 may be numbered so as to match the number of isolated chambers.
• soft tissue optimization device 300 may include at least 7 feed lines 30 (such that each isolated chamber 10 is supplied by a separate feed line 30 through manifold 20. In some embodiments, no manifold 20 is used, and each feed line 30 may be attached to and supply dynamic fluid pressure to a corresponding isolated chamber 10.
• an attachment layer e.g., a covering bandage 40 may be placed over the plurality of isolated chambers 10.
• the dashed line in FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an attachment layer (i.e., a bandage) 40 which could be placed over the plurality of isolated chambers 10.
• attachment layer 40 may have an adhesive coating such that, when the attachment layer 40 is placed over the plurality of isolated chambers 10, a seal 55 is created between the attachment layer 40 and any underlying surface (e.g., the skin/soft tissue of a patient). See also FIGS. 2A and 3 A. (Attachment layer 40 is shown as a dashed line in FIG. 1 as it would be placed over the top surface of the plurality of isolated chambers 10 and possibly over manifold 20 and at least a portion of feed lines 30. In some embodiments, attachment layer 40 may also cover at least a portion of pump 70).
• attachment layer 40 may have other embodiments.
• attachment layer 40 may be a strap or tie which wraps around a limb of a patient, holding the soft tissue optimization device 300 against the soft tissue for which therapy is desired.
• Other embodiments of attachment layer 40 are also possible and this example is not intended to be limiting.
• isolated chambers 10 are configured as a series of concentric chambers. That is, the isolated chamber 10 which is numbered as 1 (this will be called chamber “10-1” for the purposes of this discussion) is a circular chamber that is inside isolated chamber 10-2, which is in turn inside isolated chamber 10-3, which is in turn inside isolated chamber 10-4, and so on.
• the fluid pressure as seen within each isolated chamber 10 may be controlled independently to create a specific optimization therapy to the soft tissue to which the soft tissue optimization device 300 is attached.
• each row of the FIG. represents a state of the pressures within each isolated chamber for a specific period of time.
• the top row of FIG. 4 shows the state of each of the seven chambers of FIG. 1 (as seen here from a cross-sectional, side view) from a period from a starting time tl to a second time t2 (e.g., tl to t2 may represent a 30-second time period).
• t 1 -t2 a positive pressure 10+ may be applied to isolated chamber 10-1, while a negative pressure 10- may be applied to isolated chambers 10-2 and 10-3.
• the pressures as measured within isolated chambers 10-3 through 10-7 may be, for example, substantially equal to the ambient pressure or have another nonambient pressure based on previous cycles of the therapy being applied. The pressure in these chambers is moot for this discussion.
• the positive pressure 10+ and negative pressure 10- are applied to isolated chambers further away from chamber 10-1, in a wave of alternating pressure propagating out from the center chamber 10-1. This propagating wave moves across the soft tissue of the patient, creating a dynamic “massaging” action across the soft tissue to which the device is applied. Underneath each isolated chamber 10 with a positive pressure 10+, the flexible first surface of that chamber 10 will push down into the soft tissue of the patient.
• each isolated chamber 10 with a negative pressure 10- the flexible first surface of that chamber 10 will be pulled up into the chamber, creating a pulling or decompression force on the soft tissue of the patient.
• Other dynamic pressure patterns may be used to create different therapy patterns on the soft tissue.
• all of the isolated chambers 10 may be given a negative pressure, such that the entire surface of the soft tissue beneath the soft tissue optimization device has a pulling or decompression force (e.g., a cupping action over the entire area of soft tissue beneath the soft tissue optimization device).
• FIGS. 2A and 2B provide cross-sectional, side views of the soft tissue optimization device of FIG. 1. Elements in FIGS. 2A and 2B which share like-numbered elements with FIG. 1 shall be assumed to have the same function as described for FIG. 1 unless specifically stated otherwise.
• soft tissue optimization device 300 includes a plurality of isolated chambers 10 disposed on a skin/soft tissue 50 of a patient.
• each isolated chamber 10 may include a flexible first surface 11 and a second surface 12.
• first surface 11 and second surface 12 may be the same surface, although generally they may be separate surfaces, as shown in FIG. 2A.
• a check valve 16 may be disposed within flexible first surface 11 and covering a check valve opening 14 within flexible first surface 11, and a fluidic opening 18 may be disposed within the second surface 12.
• pump 70 may provide a dynamic fluid pressure (e.g., an air or liquid pressure) to isolated chambers 10 through fluidic opening 18.
• pump 70 may provide the dynamic pressure to each isolated chamber 10 through feed lines 30 and manifold 20.
• an attachment layer 40 may be used to hold the plurality of isolated chambers 10 against soft tissue 50 of the patient.
• attachment layer 40 may form a seal or partial seal 55 around the plurality of isolated chambers between the attachment layer 40 and soft tissue 50.
• FIG. 2B the effects of a therapy created by the supply of an independent, dynamic fluid pressure to isolated chambers 10 is shown.
• a negative dynamic pressure has been supplied to isolated chambers 10-3 and 10-5 (causing check valves 16a to lift and create a lifting force on corresponding areas of soft tissue 50a), and a positive dynamic pressure has been supplied to isolated chamber 10-4 (causing check valve 16b to close and create a pushing force on corresponding area of soft tissue 50b).
• FIGS. 3A and 3B provide cross-sectional, side views of an alternate embodiments of the soft tissue optimization device according to the present description. Elements in FIGS. 3 A and 3B which share like-numbered elements with FIGS.
• isolated chambers 10a in this embodiment do not include check valves (such as check valves 16 of FIG. 2A).
• the plurality of isolated chambers 10a of soft tissue optimization device 300a still include a flexible first surface 11 and a second surface 12 containing fluidic openings 18.
• the isolated chambers 10a are expanded/inflated and contracted/deflated by the dynamic fluid pressure supplied to each isolated chamber 10a independently.
• soft tissue optimization device 300a may further include an adhesive or adhesive layer 60 applied between flexible first surfaces 11 and the soft tissue 50 of a patient, such that the soft tissue 50 is pulled up appropriately as the flexible first surface moves away from the soft tissue 50.
• FIG. 4 is a timing diagram for a soft tissue optimization device providing a therapy to a skin of a patient and is discussed elsewhere herein.
• FIGS. 5A and 5B provide additional embodiments of a soft tissue optimization device, according to the present description.
• FIG. 5 A shows a top, plan view of an embodiment of a soft tissue optimization device 300b in which isolated chambers 10b are non-concentric.
• isolated chambers 10b may form a regular or non-regular array of isolated chambers 10b across the soft tissue optimization device 300b.
• isolated chambers 10b may be embedded in an encompassing material 45 (e.g., a foam block).
• soft tissue optimization device 300b may include an attachment layer 40 as is described elsewhere herein.
• therapies provided by such an embodiment of a soft tissue optimization device 300b may be created by the independent control of dynamic fluid pressures within each of the isolated chambers 10b.
• a “wave” of positive or negative fluid pressure may be provided in sequence across the surface of the soft tissue optimization device 300b (e.g., a wave from left to right, or a wave from top to bottom). Any appropriate pattern of dynamic fluid pressures may be used to provide dynamic pressure therapies to a soft tissue of a patient.
• FIG. 5B shows an embodiment of a soft tissue optimization device 300c in which the isolated chambers 10c are configured as a stack of ring-shaped chambers 10c forming a sleeve.
• the limb of a patient e.g., an angle
• a therapy may be applied to the soft tissue of such a limb by dynamically and independently controlling the dynamic fluid pressure applied to each isolated chamber 10c.
• a wave or pulse of dynamic fluid pressure may be allowed to move up and down the sleeve of the soft tissue optimization device 300c, or a negative dynamic pressure may be applied simultaneously to all isolated chambers 10c to deliver a decompression therapy to the limb.
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart detailing the steps in an embodiment of a method of providing optimization of a soft tissue of a patient, according to the present description.
• a method 100 of providing optimization of a soft tissue of a patient includes the steps of providing a plurality of isolated chambers, each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers including a substantially flexible first surface and a fluidic opening disposed in a second surface of the isolated chamber (step 110); disposing the flexible first surface of each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers on the soft tissue of the patient (step 120); and supplying a dynamic fluid pressure to at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers through the fluidic opening in each isolated chamber of the at least a subset of the plurality of isolated chambers to provide an optimization therapy to the soft tissue of the patient (step 130).
• the dynamic fluid pressure supplied to each isolated chamber in the at least the subset of the plurality of isolated chambers may be configured to be changed independently of each other isolated chamber in the at least the subset of the plurality of isolated chambers within a range between a first fluid pressure greater than an ambient pressure (a positive fluid pressure) and a second fluid pressure less than the ambient pressure (a negative fluid pressure).
• the optimization therapy provided may be at least one of a massaging therapy, a cupping therapy, a decompression therapy, and a dynamic pressure therapy.
• the method 100 may further include the step of providing each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers with a check valve disposed in the flexible first surface (step 115). In some embodiments, the method 100 may further include the step of applying an adhesive between the flexible first surface of each isolated chamber of the plurality of isolated chambers and at least a portion of the soft tissue of the patient (step 123). In some embodiments, the method 100 may further include the step of applying an attachment layer to the plurality of isolated chambers to hold the plurality of isolated chambers against the soft tissue of the patient (step 127). In some such embodiments, the attachment layer may create at least a partial seal between the plurality of isolated chambers and the soft tissue of the patient.
• substantially aligned will mean aligned to within 20% of a width of the objects being aligned. Objects described as substantially aligned may, in some embodiments, be aligned to within 10% or to within 5% of a width of the objects being aligned.

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• 2023
  • 2023-11-20 WO PCT/IB2023/061695 patent/WO2024127117A1/en not_active Ceased
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