Compression sequenced thermal therapy system

摘要

A sequential compression and temperature therapy blanket with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The 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.

主权项

1. A method for contiguously providing compression therapy and thermal therapy to a patient, the method comprising:
providing a blanket having a fluid bladder and a plurality of air chambers; coupling a valve assembly to each air chamber of the plurality of air chambers; securing the blanket around an appendage of a patient such that the fluid bladder is in thermal contact with the appendage and the plurality of air chambers are disposed outwardly of the fluid bladder relative to the appendage; compressing the fluid bladder against the appendage at a first pressure when the plurality of air chambers are deflated; thermally conditioning a heat-transfer fluid to a predetermined temperature using one or more thermoelectric coolers; flowing the heat-transfer fluid through the fluid bladder to provide thermal therapy to the patient; and selectively inflating and deflating, via the valve assembly, each of the plurality of air chambers in a predetermined pattern to compress selective portions of the fluid bladder against the appendage at a second pressure greater than the first pressure while the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid is flowed therethrough.