System and method for deep vein thrombosis prevention and diagnosis

Abstract

A system and method prevents and diagnoses deep vein thrombosis in a body limb by providing a pressure sleeve having a plurality of individually fillable cells, the pressure sleeve being configurable to be placed around a body limb. A source fills each fillable cell individually, and a pressure sensor measures a pressure in a fillable cell. A controller establishes a fill sequence of each individually fillable cell and a fill time for each individually fillable cell. The controller causes a first individually fillable cell of the pressure sleeve to be filled to a predetermined pressure and causes the pressure of first individually fillable cell of the pressure sleeve to be measured while a second individually fillable cell of the pressure sleeve is filled. The controller determines a presence of deep vein thrombosis in a body limb having the pressure sleeve therearound based upon a measured pressure change in the first individually fillable cell of the pressure sleeve. The monitored pressure changes reflects the effect of venous obstruction on naturally occurred venous flow fluctuations like those caused by the respiratory cycle, and/or artificially created fluctuations like those caused by inflation of a second pressure cell. Relevant data can be collected during routine system application for deep vein thrombosis prevention on a 24/7 basis. In the case deep vein thrombosis is suspected, a controlled and more sophisticated study can be triggered using the same system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for diagnosing and preventing, deep vein thrombosis in a body limb, comprising:
 a compression system for applying external pressure to a body limb; and   a venous phasic flow monitoring system to monitor a venous phasic flow in a body limb;   said venous phasic flow monitoring system determining a presence of deep vein thrombosis in the body limb by detecting a change in a volume of the body limb.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said compression system includes a non-pneumatic mechanical applicator to apply non-pneumatic external pressure to the body limb, said non-pneumatic mechanical applicator being configurable to be placed around at least a portion of the body limb;
 said compression system further including a mechanical device to cause said non-pneumatic mechanical applicator to apply non-pneumatic external pressure to the body limb.   
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said non-pneumatic mechanical applicator is a strap and said mechanical device pulls said strap against the body limb to provide non-pneumatic external pressure to the body limb. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determining a presence of deep vein thrombosis in the body limb having said non-pneumatic mechanical applicator substantially therearound based upon detecting a change in a strain being experienced by said non-pneumatic mechanical applicator. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determining a presence of deep vein thrombosis in the body limb having said strap substantially therearound based upon detecting a change in a strain being experienced by said strap. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said compression system includes a pressure sleeve to apply external pressure to the body limb, the pressure sleeve having a fillable cell and being configurable to be placed around a body limb;
 said compression system further including a source to fill the fillable cell.   
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said source pneumatically fills the fillable cell. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determining a presence of deep vein thrombosis in the body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon detecting a pressure change in said fillable cell. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said pressure sleeve includes a plurality of individually fillable cells and said source fills each fillable cell individually. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said source fills a first individually fillable cell of said pressure sleeve to a predetermined pressure;
 said source filling a second individually fillable cell of said pressure sleeve while said venous phasic flow monitoring system monitors a pressure change in the filled first individually fillable cell of said pressure sleeve;   said venous phasic flow monitoring system determining a presence of deep vein thrombosis in the body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon detecting a pressure change in the filled first individually fillable cell of said pressure sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said first individually fillable cell of said pressure sleeve is proximal to said second individually tillable cell of said pressure sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said first individually tillable cell of said pressure sleeve is distal to said second individually tillable cell of said pressure sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determines a presence of deep vein thrombosis in a body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon increase in baseline pressure being measured by said venous phasic flow monitoring system, the deep vein thrombosis being located proximal to said first individually tillable cell, 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determines a presence of deep vein thrombosis in a body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon increase in baseline pressure in said first individually tillable cell being measured by said venous phasic flow monitoring system and an obliteration of a detection of venous phasic waves by said first individually tillable cell, the deep vein thrombosis being located proximal to said first individually tillable cell. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determines a probable deep vein thrombosis is located in a body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon substantially no baseline pressure change being measured by said venous phasic flow monitoring system, the probable deep vein thrombosis being located distal to said first individually fillable and proximal to said second individually tillable cell. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determines a probable deep vein thrombosis is located in a body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon substantially no baseline pressure change being measured by said venous phasic flow monitoring system and a detection of venous phasic waves by said first individually fillable cell, the probable deep vein thrombosis being located distal to said first individually fillable and proximal to said second individually fillable cell. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determines a probable absence of deep vein thrombosis in a body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon substantially no baseline pressure change being measured by said venous phasic flow monitoring system. 
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determines a probable absence of deep vein thrombosis in a body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon substantially no baseline pressure change being measured by said venous phasic flow monitoring system and a detection of venous phasic waves by said first individually fillable cell. 
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determines post deep vein thrombosis syndrome in a body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon increase in baseline pressure in said first individually fillable cell being measured by said venous phasic flow monitoring system and a detection of venous phasic waves equal to or greater than normal venous phasic waves by said venous phasic flow monitoring system, the deep vein thrombosis, causing a partial obstruction, being located proximal to said first individually fillable cell. 
     
     
         20 . The system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said venous phasic flow monitoring system determines a presence of deep vein thrombosis in a body limb having said pressure sleeve therearound based upon substantially no pressure change being measured by said venous phasic flow monitoring system, the deep vein thrombosis being located proximal to said second individually fillable cell.