Intermittent compression device

Claim 1

A device adapted to contact the skin surface of the mammalian limb and to apply compressive pressures to the mammalian limb from a source of pressurized fluid comprising: (a) a compliant bladder having a skin contacting surface, said bladder being comprised of a first wall, a second wall and a semipermeable third wall being positionable adjacent the skin, said first wall being spaced with respect to the skin parallel to said third wall with said second wall interposed between and affixed to said first and third walls so that said first and second walls form a first chamber and said second and third walls form a second chamber which extends over substantially the entire surface of said second wall, said first chamber being fluid impervious and expandable when subjected to a fluid pressure, said second chamber being pressurizable whereby upon pressurization said third wall allows a nearly continuous ventilating flow of fluid to be passed through substantially the entire third wall through to said skin surface; (b) a means for connecting the first chamber and the second chamber of said bladder to the source of pressurized fluid; (c) a retaining means for affixing said bladder to the mammalian limb such that said third wall emitting the ventilating flow from said second chamber is in contact with the limb and expansion of said first chamber, resulting from pressure of the fluid within said first chamber, is essentially directed to the mammalian limb, whereby the retaining means and said bladder tightens around the encased mammalian limb.

Claim 2

A device adapted to contact the skin surface of the mammalian limb and to apply compressive pressures to the mammalian limb from a source of pressurized fluid comprising: (a) a compliant bladder having a skin contacting surface, said bladder being comprised of a first wall, a second wall and a semipermeable third wall being positionable adjacent the skin, said first wall being spaced with respect to the skin parallel to said third wall with said second wall interposed between and affixed to said first and third walls so that said first and second walls form a first chamber and said second and third walls form a second chamber which extends over substantially the entire surface of said second wall, said first chamber being fluid impervious and expandable when subjected to a fluid pressure, said second chamber being pressurizable whereby upon pressurization said third wall allows a nearly continuous ventilating flow of fluid to be passed through substantially the entire third wall through to said skin surface; (b) a means for connecting the first chamber and the second chamber of said bladder to the source of pressurized fluid; (c) a retaining means for affixing said bladder to the mammalian limb such that said third wall emitting the ventilating flow from said second chamber is in contact with the limb and expansion of said first chamber, resulting from pressure of the fluid within said first chamber, is essentially directed to the mammalian limb, whereby the retaining means and said bladder tightens around the encased mammalian limb.

Claim 6

A device for applying compressive pressures to a mammalian limb from a source of pressurized fluid comprising: (a) a compliant bladder having a skin contacting surface, said bladder being comprised of at least one ventilating chamber adjacent said skin contacting surface and a multiplicity of fluid impervious chambers, said fluid impervious chambers being expandable when subjected to a fluid pressure, said ventilating chamber being pressurizable and overlaying substantially all of said fluid impervious chambers and having at least one semi-permeable wall whereby upon exposure to a fluid pressure a ventilating flow of fluid is possible through substantially the entire semi-permeable wall of said ventilating chamber to the skin contacting surface of said bladder; (b) means for connecting said chambers of said bladder to the source of pressurized fluid; (c) a retaining means for affixing the bladder to the mammalian limb such that said skin contacting surface emitting the ventilating flow is in contact with the limb and said chambers expansion, which results from pressure of the fluid within said chambers, is essentially directed to the mammalian limb whereby the retaining means and said bladder tightens around the encased limb.

Claim 7

A device for applying compressive pressures to a mammalian limb from a source of pressurized fluid comprising: (a) a compliant bladder having a skin contacting surface, said bladder being comprised of at least one ventilating chamber adjacent said skin contacting surface and a multiplicity of fluid impervious chambers, said fluid impervious chambers being expandable when subjected to a fluid pressure, said ventilating chamber being pressurizable and overlaying substantially all of said fluid impervious chambers and having at least one semi-permeable wall whereby upon exposure to a fluid pressure a ventilating flow of fluid is possible through substantially the entire semi-permeable wall of said ventilating chamber to the skin contacting surface of said bladder; (b) means for connecting said chambers of said bladder to the source of pressurized fluid; (c) a retaining means for affixing the bladder to the mammalian limb such that said skin contacting surface emitting the ventilating flow is in contact with the limb and said chambers expansion, which results from pressure of the fluid within said chambers, is essentially directed to the mammalian limb whereby the retaining means and said bladder tightens around the encased limb.