VACUUM-STIFFENING DEVICE FOR USE IN APPLYING PULSATING PRESSURE THERAPY TO A PATIENT

摘要

A device for applying pulsating pressure to a patient can include a pressure chamber and a pressure control unit. The pressure chamber may include a variable- stiffness structural element to allow the chamber to be flexible during transport and assembly yet also be rigid during application of pulsating pressure therapy. In use, the pressure chamber can be resized and reshaped based on the anatomy of the particular patient undergoing treatment. The pressure chamber can then be transformed to a different operating state in which the variable-stiffness structural element is rigid. This may prevent the pressure chamber from substantially changing dimension, such as internal volume, while generating non-atmospheric pressures inside of the chamber.