Patent US2776826A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5456701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Therapy member including internal bladder with surrounding pliable gel
Assignee: Southwest Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1994-02-25
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Granted: 1995-10-10
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Expires: 2014-02-25
Abstract
Abstract An improved therapy member (10) for treatment of sprains, muscle aches and orthopaedic injuries is provided which is very flexible to permit the member to be placed in conforming relationship with a patient's limb or other body part, while also allowing effective hot or cold thermal therapy. The therapy member (10) preferably includes an internal bladder (12) having a fluid inlet (26) and a fluid outlet (28). The bladder (12) is substantially surrounded by a body of flexible, thermally conductive gel (32), the latter being encased within a flexible fabric-type sheath (34). An inlet/outlet fluid supply tubing assembly (16) is coupled with the bladder (12) in order to permit circulation of hot or cold fluid through the bladder (12) for therapy purposes. The gel (32) advantageously includes a water soluble humectant entrapped within a polyacrylamide matrix.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward I. Stout
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/02; A61F2007/0054; A61F2007/0086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A therapy member consisting essentially of: an outer sheath including walls defining an interior chamber; a quantity of flexible, thermally conductive gel within said interior chamber; an inner bladder consisting essentially of walls formed of flexible synthetic resin material and defining an internal cavity and an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said cavity, wherein said bladder is positioned entirely within said interior chamber with said conductive gel entirely surrounding and in direct contact with said bladder walls; and means operatively coupled with said inlet and said outlet for circulation of fluid through said cavity to alter or maintain a temperature of the therapy member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A therapy member consisting essentially of: an outer sheath including walls defining an interior chamber; a quantity of flexible, thermally conductive gel within said interior chamber; an inner bladder consisting essentially of walls formed of flexible synthetic resin material and defining an internal cavity and an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with said cavity, wherein said bladder is positioned entirely within said interior chamber with said conductive gel entirely surrounding and in direct contact with said bladder walls; and means operatively coupled with said inlet and said outlet for circulation of fluid through said cavity to alter or maintain a temperature of the therapy member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The therapy member of claim 1, said bladder including internal structure within said cavity for defining a tortuous fluid flow path from said inlet to said outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The therapy member of claim 1, including a flexible sheath surrounding said quantity of gel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The therapy member of claim 3, said sheath including a pair of interconnected sheets of flexible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The therapy member of claim 4, one of said sheets being adapted for contact with human skin and comprising a stretch fabric having a face thereof adjacent said gel coated with polyurethane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The therapy member of claim 5, the other of said sheets being formed of neoprene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The therapy member of claim 1, said gel including a water soluble humectant entrapped within a polymeric matrix having therein acrylic acid or acrylamide monomer moieties.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The therapy member of claim 7, said humectant being selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl formamide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The therapy member of claim 7, said matrix comprising from about 10-30% by weight of polymers of said acrylic acid or acrylamide monomer moieties.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The therapy member of claim 1, said gel being characterized by the properties of maintaining pliability over a temperature range of from about 20°-350° F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The therapy member of claim 1, said gel having a total thickness of from about 1/8-1/2 inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The therapy member of claim 11, said thickness being from about 1/4-1/2 inch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The therapy member of claim 1, said circulation means comprising an inlet tube and outlet tube operatively coupled with said inlet and outlet respectively and including means for connection thereto of inlet and outlet fluid supply lines.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The therapy member of claim 1, including strap means for releasably maintaining said therapy member in conforming relationship with a body part of a patient.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-09 | 1999-04-10 | 1999-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-09 | 2003-04-10 | 2003-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-09 | 2007-04-10 | 2007-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |