Therapeutic Compression Apparatus

Abstract

A bladder assembly for a compression apparatus for providing pressure to a limb, where the bladder assembly includes at least one bladder. The bladder includes a first and a second flexible wall secured to one another about a peripheral edge thereof to form an air pocket. The bladder further includes at least one spot weld provided in a predetermined location inward of the peripheral edge connecting the first and second walls to one another to define a plurality of chambers within the air pocket. The bladder assembly may be used in a variety of compression apparatus and the compression apparatus may also include a pressure gauge and pump for controlling an amount of pressure applied to the treatment site via the bladder. The bladder may be configured to provide a gradient pressure profile to the treatment site when filled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bladder assembly for a compression apparatus for providing pressure to a limb, the bladder assembly comprising at least one bladder having:
 a first and a second flexible wall secured to one another about a peripheral edge thereof to form an air pocket; and   at least one spot weld provided in a predetermined location inward of the peripheral edge connecting the first and second walls to one another to define a plurality of chambers within the air pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an inflation device for inflating the air pocket through at least one inflation port provided in the first wall. 
     
     
         3 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the inflation device is detachable from the at least one inflation port. 
     
     
         4 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising at least one pressure valve operatively associated with the inflation device for controlling an amount of pressure within the air pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the geometric placement of the at least one spot weld determines a pressure profile of the at least one bladder. 
     
     
         6 . A bladder assembly for a compression apparatus for providing pressure to a limb, the bladder assembly comprising:
 at least one inflatable bladder integral with the compression apparatus, wherein the at least one inflatable bladder has (a) a first and a second flexible wall secured to one another about a peripheral edge thereof to form an air pocket, and (b) at least one spot weld provided in a predetermined location inward of the peripheral edge connecting the first and second walls to one another to define a plurality of chambers within the air pocket; and   wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is selected from the group consisting of a wedge-shaped bladder, a cone-shaped bladder, a disk shaped bladder and a rectangular-shaped bladder.   
     
     
         7 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is wedge-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the wedge-shaped at least one inflatable bladder has three sides configured to define a pyramidal shape when inflated, with one of the three sides being rigid to prevent distension thereof in a direction away from a treatment area which is a leg when operatively disposed in the compression apparatus, and having a thinner portion configured to be positioned toward the knee and a thicker end configured to be positioned toward the ankle. 
     
     
         9 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder forms a predetermined gradient pressure profile when the at least one inflatable bladder is filled. 
     
     
         10 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising at least one means for adjusting pressure coupled to the at least one inflatable bladder for controlling an amount of pressure supplied to the treatment site on the leg by the compression apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein  1 , wherein the at least one inflatable bladder includes a plurality of fluid chambers. 
     
     
         12 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 6  further comprising an inflation device for inflating the air pocket through at least one inflation port provided in the first wall. 
     
     
         13 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the inflation device is detachable from the at least one inflation port. 
     
     
         14 . The bladder assembly as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising at least one pressure valve operatively associated with the inflation device for controlling an amount of pressure within the air pocket.