초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a replaceable module for use with a thermal contrast therapy systems. The replaceable module may be an automated thermal contrast therapy module which includes a casing, a manual mixing valve, an automated mixing valve, an automated mixing valve actuator, a temperatu

The present invention relates to a replaceable module for use with a thermal contrast therapy systems. The replaceable module may be an automated thermal contrast therapy module which includes a casing, a manual mixing valve, an automated mixing valve, an automated mixing valve actuator, a temperature sensor, and an interface. A cold and a hot fluid are mixed to generate a therapy fluid. The therapy fluid may be output to a therapy bladder. The second replaceable module is a compression therapy module which includes a casing, an air pump, a pneumatic solenoid, and a pressure monitor. The casing may include a pressurized air pathway including an air outlet. The pump may pressurize the air within the pathway, and the solenoid may regulate the air pressure using feedback from the pressure sensor. Additionally, a pressure relief valve may release pressure if it gets above a safety threshold. The compression therapy module may also include a fluid pathway.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An automated thermal contrast therapy module for a contrast therapy system, the automated contrast therapy module comprising: a casing configured to include a fluid pathway, wherein the casing includes at least one of a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet and a therapy fluid outlet;a manual mixin

1. An automated thermal contrast therapy module for a contrast therapy system, the automated contrast therapy module comprising: a casing configured to include a fluid pathway, wherein the casing includes at least one of a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet and a therapy fluid outlet;a manual mixing valve configured to mix a ratio of a cold fluid and a hot fluid to generate a manually mixed therapy fluid, wherein the manual mixing valve is part of the fluid pathway;an automated mixing valve configured to mix a ratio of the cold fluid and the hot fluid and the manually mixed therapy fluid to generate a final therapy fluid, wherein the automated mixing valve is part of the fluid pathway;an interface configured to enable selecting of a mode of mixing, wherein the mode of mixing includes at least one of manual mixing, automatic mixing and at least one contrast therapy programs; andan automated mixing valve actuator configured to control the automated mixing valve, wherein the automated mixing valve actuator is driven in response to at least one of an elapse time and the selected mode of mixing. 2. The automated contrast therapy module of claim 1, wherein the automated contrast therapy module is removable from the contrast therapy system. 3. The automated contrast therapy module of claim 1, wherein the automated mixing valve actuator comprises: a motor configured to rotate a screw gear; at least one gear configured to rotate, wherein the at least one gear is coupled to the screw gear, and wherein the at least one gear rotates in response to rotation of the screw gear;a position dial configured to rotate in response to the rotation of the at least one gear, wherein the position dial includes grooves, and wherein rotation of the position dial rotates the automated mixing valve; andat least one switch configured to sense the position of the position dial, wherein the switch includes biasing arms, and wherein the biasing arms flex in response to the grooves on the position dial. 4. The automated contrast therapy module of claim 1, wherein the automated contrast therapy module is configured to output at least one of the manually mixed therapy fluid and the final therapy fluid, and wherein the outputted at least one of the manually mixed therapy fluid and the final therapy fluid are provided to a therapy bladder. 5. The automated contrast therapy module of claim 1, wherein the automated contrast therapy module includes a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the final therapy fluid, and wherein the automated mixing valve actuator is driven in response to at least one of the temperature of the final therapy fluid and the selected mode of mixing. 6. A method for providing automated contrast therapy, useful in association with an automated contrast therapy module for a contrast therapy system, the method comprising: enabling a user to select a ratio of a colder fluid and a hotter fluid;mixing the user selected ratio of colder fluid and hotter fluid to generate a manually mixed therapy fluid;enabling the user to select a mode of mixing, wherein the mode of mixing includes at least one of manual mixing, automatic mixing and at least one contrast therapy program;mixing a ratio of the cold fluid and the hot fluid and the manually mixed therapy fluid to generate a final therapy fluid in response to the selected mode of mixing; andoutputting the generated final therapy fluid to a therapy bladder pad of the contrast therapy system. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising mixing a second ratio of the cold fluid and the hot fluid and the manually mixed therapy fluid to generate a contrast therapy fluid. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising outputting the generated contrast therapy fluid to the therapy bladder of the contrast therapy system. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising outputting the contrast therapy fluid and the final therapy fluid in timed intervals. 10. The method of claim 6, further comprising outputting at least one of the manually mixed therapy fluid and the final therapy fluid. 11. The method of claim 6, further comprising outputting measuring the temperature of the final therapy fluid and adjusting the ratio of the cold fluid and the hot fluid and the manually mixed therapy fluid in response to the temperature of the final therapy fluid. 12. A compression therapy module for a contrast therapy system, the compression therapy module comprising: a casing configured to include a pressurized air pathway, wherein the casing includes an air outlet;an air pump configured to pressurize air, wherein the air pump couples to the casing, and wherein the air pump is part of the air pathway;a pneumatic solenoid configured to regulate the pressure of the pressurized air, wherein the pneumatic solenoid is part of the air pathway; anda pressure monitor configured to measure the pressure of the pressurized air. 13. The compression therapy module of claim 12, further comprising a pressure relief valve configured to release pressure from the pressurized air when above a threshold pressure. 14. The compression therapy module of claim 12, further comprising: the casing further configured to include a fluid pathway, wherein the casing includes at least one of a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet and a therapy fluid outlet; anda mixing valve configured to mix a ratio of a cold fluid and a hot fluid to generate a therapy fluid, wherein the mixing valve is part of the fluid pathway. 15. The compression therapy module of claim 14, wherein the compression therapy module is configured to output the therapy fluid and the pressurized air. 16. The compression therapy module of claim 12, wherein the compression therapy module includes a mounting bracket, and wherein the mounting bracket fits a standard sized volume in the contrast therapy system.