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Therapeutic devices that provide support or pressure to tissue. Devices contain a material that is capable of being contracted from its relaxed state to an evacuated state. The material applies pressure to the tissue of a patient when the material is in its relaxed state. Reduction of pressure by ap

Therapeutic devices that provide support or pressure to tissue. Devices contain a material that is capable of being contracted from its relaxed state to an evacuated state. The material applies pressure to the tissue of a patient when the material is in its relaxed state. Reduction of pressure by application of a vacuum results in a contracted state of the device, so that the device can be applied or delivered to a patient. Release of vacuum results in a return to the relaxed state, thus providing a maximum desirable pressure to tissue and avoiding the possibility of over-pressure which can result in tissue damage or necrosis.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising: a body portion having a relaxed state and a contracted state, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue when the body portion is in the relaxed state, the bo

What is claimed is: 1. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising: a body portion having a relaxed state and a contracted state, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue when the body portion is in the relaxed state, the body portion adapted to contain a fluid; and a vacuum source connected to the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the relaxed state to the contracted state upon removal of fluid from the body portion by the vacuum source, wherein when the body portion is subjected to negative pressure from the vacuum source, the body portion is in its contracted state and upon release of the negative pressure, the body portion transforms from the contracted state to the relaxed state. 2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the body portion comprises foam. 3. The medical device of claim 2 wherein the body portion comprises open cell foam. 4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the body portion includes a fluid impermeable outer coating. 5. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a fluid source and a valve, the valve being connected between the body portion and the fluid source and vacuum source, the valve having a first position for connecting the body portion to the vacuum source and a second position for connecting the body portion to the fluid source. 6. The medical device of claim 5 wherein the valve is programmable. 7. The medical device of claim 5 wherein the valve is programmed to switch between the first position and the second position. 8. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a bladder fluidly connected to a liquid wherein the liquid is hot or cold. 9. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the fluid is air. 10. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the fluid is water. 11. A medical device for applying pressure to a human or animal limb comprising: a body portion having a substantially cylindrical shape sized to fit over the limb, the body portion being adapted to contain a fluid and further having a relaxed state and a contracted state, the body portion being configured to apply pressure to the limb in the relaxed state, and a vacuum source fluidly connected to the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the relaxed state to the contracted state upon removal of fluid from the body portion by the vacuum source, wherein when the body portion is subjected to negative pressure from the vacuum source, the body portion is in its contracted state and upon release of the negative pressure, the body portion transforms from the contracted state to the relaxed state. 12. The medical device of claim 11 wherein the body portion comprises open cell foam. 13. The medical device of claim 11 wherein the body portion includes a fluid impermeable outer coating. 14. The medical device of claim 11 further comprising a fluid source and a valve, the valve being connected between the body portion and the fluid source and vacuum source, the valve having a first position for connecting the body portion to the vacuum source and a second position for connecting the body portion to the fluid source. 15. The medical device of claim 14 further comprising a cooling member to cool the fluid in the fluid source. 16. The medical device of claim 14 further comprising a heating member to heat the fluid in the fluid source. 17. The medical device of claim 14 wherein the valve is programmable. 18. The medical device of claim 17 wherein the valve is programmed to switch between the first position and the second position. 19. The medical device of claim 11 wherein the fluid is air. 20. The medical device of claim 11 wherein the fluid is water. 21. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising: a body portion having at least two separate compartments, each compartment having a relaxed state and a contracted state and being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue in the relaxed state, the compartments being adapted to contain a fluid, and a vacuum source fluidly connected to each compartment of the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, each compartment being configured to contract from a relaxed state to a contracted state upon removal of fluid from the compartment by the vacuum source, wherein the body portion is subjected to negative pressure from the vacuum source, the body portion is in its contracted state and upon release of the negative pressure, the body portion transforms from the contracted state to the relaxed state. 22. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the body portion comprises open cell foam. 23. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the body portion includes a fluid impermeable outer coating. 24. The medical device of claim 21 further comprising valves, the valves being connected between each compartment and the fluid source and vacuum source and having a first position for connecting the compartment to the vacuum source and a second position for connecting the compartment to the fluid source. 25. The medical device of claim 24 wherein the at least two valves are programmable. 26. The medical device of claim 25 wherein the at least two valves is programmed to switch between the first position and the second position. 27. The medical device of claim 21 wherein each compartment is separately cycled between the first and second position of the at least one valve in a sequence so as to apply pressure to tissue in a peristaltic manner. 28. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the fluid is air. 29. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the fluid is water. 30. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising: a body portion having a first region configured to apply a first pressure to tissue and a second region configured to apply a second pressure to tissue, each region having a relaxed state and a contracted state and capable of applying pressure to tissue in the relaxed state, the regions being adapted to contain a fluid, a vacuum source fluidly connected to the body portion for removing fluid contained in the body portion, each region being configured to contract from a relaxed state to a contracted state upon removal of fluid from the compartment by the by the vacuum source, wherein when the body portion is subjected to negative pressure from the vacuum source, the body portion is in its contracted state and upon release of the negative pressure, the body portion transforms from the contracted state to the relaxed state, wherein the first pressure is not equal to the second pressure. 31. The medical device of claim 30 wherein the pressure of the first and second regions forms a gradient. 32. The medical device of claim 30 wherein the fluid is air. 33. The medical device of claim 30 wherein the fluid is water. 34. A medical device for applying pressure to tissue comprising: a body portion having a fluid impermeable outer layer defining an interior portion of the body portion, the body portion having a relaxed state and a contracted state, the body portion being configured to apply a therapeutically effective amount of pressure to tissue when the body portion is in the relaxed state, the body portion adapted to contain a fluid a pressure in the interior portion being equal to an ambient pressure at an exterior of the body portion when the body portion is in the relaxed state; and a vacuum source fluidly connected to the body portion for removing fluid contained in the interior portion, the body portion being configured to contract from the relaxed state to the contracted state upon removal of fluid from the interior portion. 35. The medical device of claim 34 wherein the body portion comprises foam. 36. The medical device of claim 35 wherein the body portion comprises open cell foam. 37. The medical device of claim 34 further comprising a fluid source and a valve, the valve being connected between the body portion and the fluid source and vacuum source, the valve having a first position for connecting the body portion to the vacuum source and a second position for connecting the body portion to the fluid source. 38. The medical device of claim 37 wherein the valve is programmable. 39. The medical device of claim 37 wherein the valve is programmed to switch between the first position and the second position. 40. The medical device of claim 34 further comprising a bladder fluidly connected to a liquid wherein the liquid is hot or cold. 41. The medical device of claim 34 wherein the fluid is air. 42. The medical device of claim 34 wherein the fluid is water.