US3865102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
External cardiac assist apparatus
Assignee: Hemodyne Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-13
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-06-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for providing external assistance for the circulation of blood in a patient in which a pressure medium forming one or more active regions is enclosed in at least a portion of a housing which in turn encloses a part of the patient''s body, such as the legs and/or other parts thereof generally below the waist. At least a portion of the housing is in the form of a rigidizable means, such means being in a nonrigid state when it is applied to or placed on the patient''s body and being capable of assuming a rigid state when the apparatus is in operation. A pressure actuation system cyclically applies pressure to the active regions of the patient''s body via the pressure medium in synchronism and in correct phase with the patient''s heartbeat.
Inventors
- 👤 William C Birtwell
- 👤 Robert L Norton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H31/00; A61H31/004; A61H31/006; A61H9/00; A61H9/005; A61H9/0078; A61H2201/00; A61H2201/12; A61H2201/1238; A61H2230/00; A61H2230/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for providing external assistance for the circulation of blood in a patient comprising housing means for enclosing a portion of said patient''s body; means for cyclically applying pressure to said body portion within at least a portion of said housing means, said pressure applying means including pressure actuation means; a pressure medium positioned in said portion of said housing means between said pressure actuation means and said portion of the patient''s body, said pressure medium being responsive to said pressure actuation means to apply pressure to said body portion; means for synchronizing the operation of said pressure actuation means to apply said pressure cyclically to produce alternating compression and decompression of said body portion in synchronism and in correct phase with said patient''s heartbeat; at least a portion of said housing means comprising rigidizable means which is in a non-rigid state when applied to or placed on said patient and which is capable of substantially conforming to any of a plurality of different shapes of the portion of said patient''s body to which it is applied when in said non-rigid state, said rigidizable means being further capable of assuming A rigid state and retaining said conformity when in said rigid state; and means for rigidizing said rigidizable means for operation of said apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for providing external assistance for the circulation of blood in a patient comprising housing means for enclosing a portion of said patient''s body; means for cyclically applying pressure to said body portion within at least a portion of said housing means, said pressure applying means including pressure actuation means; a pressure medium positioned in said portion of said housing means between said pressure actuation means and said portion of the patient''s body, said pressure medium being responsive to said pressure actuation means to apply pressure to said body portion; means for synchronizing the operation of said pressure actuation means to apply said pressure cyclically to produce alternating compression and decompression of said body portion in synchronism and in correct phase with said patient''s heartbeat; at least a portion of said housing means comprising rigidizable means which is in a non-rigid state when applied to or placed on said patient and which is capable of substantially conforming to any of a plurality of different shapes of the portion of said patient''s body to which it is applied when in said non-rigid state, said rigidizable means being further capable of assuming A rigid state and retaining said conformity when in said rigid state; and means for rigidizing said rigidizable means for operation of said apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing includes a substantially rigid means; means for enclosing said pressure medium within said rigid means to form an active region of said housing; and at least one rigidizable means positioned adjacent at least one end of said rigid means for forming a passive region of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said active rigid means encloses a substantial portion of each of the legs of said patient extending from at least the ankle region to at least the upper thigh region of each said leg; and said passive rigidizable means are positioned on each of said legs adjacent the ankle ends and the thigh ends of said rigid means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing includes at least two substantially rigid means enclosing at least two portions of said patient''s body; means for enclosing said pressure medium within each of said substantially rigid means to form at least two active housing regions; and a rigidizable means forming a passive region of said housing positioned between and adjacent each of said rigid means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rigid means extend respectively from a region above the ankles to a region below the knees and from a region above the knees to a region at the upper portion of the thighs on each leg of said patient; and said rigidizable means extend from a region below the knees to a region above the knees on each leg of said patient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 and further including at least one additional rigidizable means positioned on each of said legs adjacent at least one end of one of said rigid means for forming a passive region of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said additional rigidizable means are positioned adjacent both the ankle ends and the thigh ends of rigid means on each leg of said patient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a part of said housing means includes an active housing section formed of a substantially rigid portion and a rigidizable portion; and means for enclosing said pressure medium within said active housing section to form an active housing region at said patient''s body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 and further including at least one rigidizable means positioned adjacent at least one end of said active housing region for forming a passive housing region at said patient''s body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said active housing section extends from at least the ankles to at least the upper portion of the thighs on each of the legs of said patient; and said rigidizable means are positioned adjacent both the ankle ends and the thigh ends of the active housing section on each said leg.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said active housing section includes means for adjusting the rigidizable portion thereof so as to conform said active housing section generally to the configuration of the portion of said patient''s body which is enclosed thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said active housing section includes a pair of active housing sections on each leg of said patient extending respectively from a region above the ankle to a region below the knee and from a region above the knee to a region at the upper thigh; means for enclosing said pressure medium within said active housing sections; and rigidizable means positioned on each leg of said patient between and adjacent said pair of active housing sections to form a passive region at the knee of each said leg.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said active housing sections on each said leg include means for adjUsting the rigidizable portions thereof so as to conform said housing sections generally to the portions of said patient''s leg which are enclosed thereby.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rigidizable means substantially completely forms said housing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said rigidizable housing means forms an active housing on each leg of said patient extending from at least the upper thigh region to the ankle region on each said leg; and further including means for enclosing said pressure medium within said rigidizable housing means on each said leg.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 and further including additional rigidizable means for forming a passive region on each said leg positioned adjacent at least one end of said active rigidizable housing means on each said leg.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said additional passive rigidizable means are positioned at each end of said active rigidizable means on each said leg.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said rigidizable housing means forms a pair of active housings on each leg of said patient extending from at least the upper thigh region to at least the ankle region on each said leg, said apparatus further including means for enclosing said pressure medium within each of said rigidizable active housings on each said leg; and additional rigidizable means for forming a passive region on each said leg positioned intermediate said active housings at the knee region thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 and further including further rigidizable means for forming at least one further passive region on each said leg adjacent an end of at least one of said rigidizable active housings on each said leg.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said further rigidizable passive means includes passive rigidizable means positioned adjacent both the ankle end and the upper thigh end of said rigidizable active housings on each said leg.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said rigidizable housing means is in the form of a pant-like configuration which extends from the waist region of said patient''s body to at least the ankle regions of both legs thereof; and further including means for enclosing said pressure medium within said rigidizable housing means to form an active housing from the waist region of said patient to at least said ankle regions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said rigidizable housing means is in the form of a pant-like configuration which extends from the waist region of said patient''s body to at least the ankle region of both legs thereof; and further including means for enclosing said pressure medium within said rigidizable housing means to form one or more active regions within a portion of said rigidizable housing means at the parts of the patient''s body enclosed thereby, the remaining portion of said rigidizable housing means forming one or more passive regions at the remaining parts of the patient''s body enclosed thereby.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 and further including means for enclosing said pressure medium within said remaining portion of said rigidizable housing means, said pressure medium therewithin not being directly connected to said pressure actuation means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said active regions are formed at least at a portion of each leg of said patient extending from the thigh region to the ankle region thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said active regions are formed at a portion of said patient''s body extending from the patient''s waist to the thigh regions of each leg and further at portions of said patient''s body extending from said thigh regions to the ankle regions of each said leg.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein an active region is formed at least at a region oF said patient''s body substantially enclosing the buttocks of said patient.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said active regions are further formed at least at a portion of the patient''s body extending from the thigh regions to the ankle regions on each leg thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rigidizable means extends from the waist to the thigh regions of said patient''s body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rigidizable means is in a non-rigid state when the interior thereof is not evacuated and is capable of assuming a rigid state when said interior is evacuated; and said rigidizing means is a means for evacuating the interior of said rigidizable means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |