| 摘要 |
Circulation of blood to a patient's leg and return of blood from the leg to the heart are enhanced by supplying intermittent external pressure pulses to the leg, timed so that the pressure pulse follows close upon the arrival of the arterial pulse at the upper end of the leg, and reinforces the action of the arterial pulse in forcing blood into the leg. Between the external pressure pulses, the external pressure is relieved or diminished so that the succeeding arterial pulse may enter the leg without undue obstruction resulting from external pressure. The external pressure pulse is applied by forcing compressed gas into an inflatable enclosure surrounding the leg, and air may be introduced between the inflatable enclosure and the leg to prevent overheating of the leg. Means for admitting compressed gas to the enclosure are provided which are normally in the state such that the leg is not compressed, and which operate to compress the leg only when actuated by a signal generated from the patient's heartbeat. Adjustable means, e.g. movable walls, may be provided within the rigid enclosure to provide for each patient the optimum amount of free space into which the inflatable enclosure can expand, in spite of variations in the size of the leg from patient to patient.
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