Method and system for thermal and compression therapy relative to the prevention of deep vein thrombosis

Abstract

A DVT and temperature therapy system. A temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression. The DVT system functions independently of the temperature therapy. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CPR 1.72(b).

1 . A deep-vein-thrombosis (DVT) therapy system comprising:
 a control unit adapted to heat and cool a heat-transfer liquid and to provide a compressed gas;   a thermal-treatment blanket, fluidly coupled to the control unit via a first set of connector tubes, the thermal treatment blanket adapted to receive the heat-transfer liquid from the control unit and to send the heat-transfer liquid back to the control unit;   a first compressive-therapy treatment device integrated with the thermal-treatment blanket and fluidly coupled to the control unit via a second set of connector tubes, the first compressive-therapy treatment device adapted to utilize the compressed gas from the control unit to deliver a first treatment modality;   a second compressive-therapy device fluidly coupled to the control unit and adapted to receive pulses of the compressed gas from the control unit so as to deliver a second treatment modality; and   wherein the control unit automatically directs the compressed gas alternately to the first compressive-therapy device and the second compressive-therapy device such that the first treatment modality and the second treatment modality are delivered in an alternative fashion.   
     
     
         2 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a heat-transfer liquid reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 2 , wherein the heat-transfer liquid reservoir is bypassed unless the DVT therapy system requires additional heat-transfer liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to heat the heat-transfer liquid from approximately 49° F. to approximately 105° F. with a thermal treatment device connected to the control unit and applied to an individual with an ambient temperature of approximately 77° F. within a 10-minute period. 
     
     
         5 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to cool the heat-transfer liquid from approximately 105° F. to approximately 49° F. with a thermal treatment device connected to the control unit and applied to an individual with an ambient temperature of approximately 77° F. within a 20-minute period. 
     
     
         6 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to cool the heat-transfer liquid from approximately 105° F. to approximately 37° F. within a 90 minute period in an ambient temperature of approximately 77° F. 
     
     
         7 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is adapted to provide compressed gas at a pressure of at least 25 mmHg greater than ambient atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises at least one outlet and at least one inlet adapted to receive the first set of connector tubes to facilitate flow of the heat-transfer liquid between the control unit and the thermal-treatment blanket. 
     
     
         9 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to generate pressures within the compressive-therapy treatment device in the range of approximately 0 mmHg to approximately 150 mmHg. 
     
     
         10 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises at least two outlets adapted to receive the second set of connector tubes to facilitate flow of compressed gas between the control unit and the compressive-therapy treatment device. 
     
     
         11 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal-treatment blanket is adapted to be secured around a knee area of an individual. 
     
     
         12 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal-treatment blanket is secured to the knee area of an individual by at least one hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the second compressive-therapy device comprises a contoured foot wrap adapted to be secured around a foot of an individual, the contoured foot wrap comprising:
 an upper and lower sheet of biocompatible material, the upper and lower sheets having substantially the same shape and being sealed to one another;   a first air-tight inflatable portion, the first air-tight inflatable portion comprising an elongated strap formed from both the upper and lower sheets, the elongated strap being adapted to wrap around an individual's ankle;   a second air-tight inflatable portion, attached to the first air-tight inflatable portion, the second air-tight inflatable portion having two longer sides that are relatively pinched at a location in the middle of the longer sides and two shorter sides and being formed from the upper and lower sheets;   a first hook-and-loop fastener on a distal end on the first portion at a location away from the second portion;   a second hook-and-loop fastener disposed on an edge of the second portion, the second hook-and-loop fastener adapted to mate with the first hook-and-loop fastener to secure the contoured foot wrap to the individual's foot for subsequent compressive therapy;   an inlet located on the lower sheet to facilitate the intake and exhaust of air; and   wherein the contoured foot wrap is adapted to be applied to either a left or a right foot.   
     
     
         14 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the second compressive-therapy device comprises a calf wrap adapted to be secured around a calf of an individual, the calf wrap comprising:
 a first sheet and a second sheet of biocompatible material of a generally trapezoidal shape, having concentric arcuate top and bottom edges, the first sheet and the second sheet being sealed on an outer edge to create an air tight inflatable structure;   a first weld and a second weld located symmetrically about the center of the first sheet and the second sheet;   a third weld and a fourth weld extending from the first and second welds respectively to create an ‘S’ shaped portion disposed in the center of the first and second welds; and   an inlet for the receipt of the compressed air from the control unit, the inlet allowing the compressed air to inflate the ‘S’ shaped portion to facilitate gradient compressive treatment of the individual's calf.   
     
     
         15 . The DVT therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal-treatment blanket comprises an air-tight bladder to enable simultaneous thermal and compressive treatment. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled)