Pressurized liquid cast

摘要

A pressurized fluid cast for stabilizing a broken bone of a patient includes a sleeve having an inner wall and an outer wall with a fluid cavity between the inner and outer walls. The outer wall has at least one access port established therethrough. The sleeve is configured to be placed at a limb of a patient such that the inner wall circumscribes the limb and is disposed at least partially along the limb, with the fluid cavity and the outer wall being radially outward of the inner wall. The sleeve is adaptable to accommodate a particular patient injury and limb. Fluid is provided within the fluid cavity and is pressurized to a selected pressure to apply substantially uniform pressure at the limb of the patient. An outer protective shell may be provided at least partially around the sleeve to limit puncturing of the sleeve.

主权项

1. A method of applying a pressurized fluid cast at a limb of a patient, said method comprising:
providing a sleeve having an inner wall and an outer wall with a cavity between said inner and outer walls; wherein providing a sleeve comprises (i) cutting an appropriate length sleeve from a roll of tubing material to form a sleeve for a particular limb and (ii) sealing said inner and outer walls together at the ends of the cut sleeve; providing at least one access port through said outer wall of said sleeve; placing said sleeve at a limb of a patient such that said inner wall circumscribes the limb and is disposed at least partially along the limb, with said cavity and said outer wall being radially outward of said inner wall; providing fluid to said cavity of said sleeve and pressurizing said fluid to a selected pressure to apply substantially uniform pressure at the limb of the patient; and adjusting the pressure of said fluid within said cavity responsive to a determined change in pressure indicative of a change in swelling of the limb of the patient.