초록 ▼

A tubular body is configured to be disposed around and to apply compression to an extremity. The tubular body includes a treatment area having a first filament and a second filament. Both the first filament and the second filament are disposed to engage the surface of the extremity. The first filame

A tubular body is configured to be disposed around and to apply compression to an extremity. The tubular body includes a treatment area having a first filament and a second filament. Both the first filament and the second filament are disposed to engage the surface of the extremity. The first filament includes AgNP in a concentration effective to promote healing of a wound on the surface of the extremity. The second filament includes a metal having a composition that forms a galvanic couple with silver. The first filament and the second filament are arranged in the tubular body such that the AgNP and metal form galvanic couples across at least a portion of the treatment area when in the presence of a fluid in the wound of the extremity that produce an electric current in an amount effective to further promote healing of the wound.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Apparatus comprising: a tubular body configured to be disposed around an extremity of a patient and to apply compression to the extremity, the tubular body having a longitudinal direction and a circumferential direction,the tubular body including a treatment area having a first filament, a second

1. Apparatus comprising: a tubular body configured to be disposed around an extremity of a patient and to apply compression to the extremity, the tubular body having a longitudinal direction and a circumferential direction,the tubular body including a treatment area having a first filament, a second filament, and a third filament, both the first filament and the second filament disposed to engage a surface of the extremity, the first filament and the third filament oriented in the circumferential direction and the second filament oriented in the longitudinal direction, the first filament arranged in a first circumferential band, the third filament arranged in a second circumferential band adjacent the first circumferential band,the first filament including AgNP in a concentration effective to promote healing of a wound on the surface of the extremity, the second filament including a metal having a composition that forms a galvanic couple with silver, the third filament being substantially devoid of AgNP, the first filament and the second filament being arranged in the tubular body, and the AgNP and metal being arranged in the first filament and the second filament, such that the AgNP and metal form galvanic couples across at least a portion of the treatment area when in the presence of a fluid in the wound of the extremity that produce an electric current in an amount effective to further promote healing of the wound. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal is copper. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal is zinc. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second filament is formed of a polymer, the metal being in the form of particles incorporated into the polymer. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the polymer is nylon. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first filament is formed of wool, the AgNP being bonded to the surface thereof. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the wool is from alpaca. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AgNP are shaped as truncated triangular plates. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AgNP contribute less than 0.1% of the weight of the tubular body. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular body has a length sufficient to extend from a foot to a knee of the extremity, and is configured to apply compression to the surface of the extremity varying from approximately 20 mm Hg at the foot to approximately 15 mm Hg at the knee. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular body has an ankle pressure relief area corresponding to an ankle of the patient, to avoid iatrogenic trauma to a dorsum of the ankle. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular body is a first tubular body, and further comprising a second tubular body configured to be disposed around the first tubular body and the extremity and to apply compression to the extremity. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second tubular body is configured to extend only between an ankle and a knee of the patient. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, where in the first tubular body is configured to apply compression to the surface of the extremity varying from approximately 20 mm Hg at the foot to approximately 15 mm Hg at the knee and the second tubular body in combination with the first tubular body is configured to apply compression to the surface of the extremity varying from approximately 40 mm Hg at the foot to approximately 30 mm Hg at the knee. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the galvanic couples produce an electric voltage between 10 mV and 60 mV. 16. Apparatus comprising: a tubular body configured to be disposed around an extremity of a patient and to apply compression to the extremity,the tubular body including a treatment area having a first filament and a second filament, both the first filament and the second filament disposed to engage the surface of the extremity,the first filament including AgNP in a concentration effective to promote healing of a wound on a surface of the extremity, the second filament including a metal having a composition that forms a galvanic couple with silver, the first filament and the second filament being arranged in the tubular body, and the AgNP and metal being arranged in the filaments, such that the AgNP and metal form galvanic couples across at least a portion of the treatment area when in the presence of a fluid in the wound of the extremity that produce an electric current in an amount effective to further promote healing of the wound, the galvanic couples producing an electric voltage between 10 mV and 60 mV. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the metal is copper. 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the metal is zinc. 19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second filament is formed of a polymer, the metal being in the form of particles incorporated into the polymer. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the polymer is nylon. 21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first filament is formed of wool, the AgNP being bonded to the surface thereof. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wool is from alpaca. 23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the AgNP are shaped as truncated triangular plates. 24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the AgNP contribute less than 0.1% of the weight of the tubular body. 25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the tubular body has a longitudinal direction and a circumferential direction, the first filament oriented in the circumferential direction and the second filament oriented in the longitudinal direction. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first filament is arranged in a first circumferential band, wherein the treatment area further includes a third filament oriented in the circumferential direction and arranged in a second circumferential band longitudinally adjacent the first circumferential band, the third filament being substantially devoid of AgNP. 27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the tubular body has a length sufficient to extend from a foot to a knee of the extremity, and is configured to apply compression to the surface of the extremity varying from approximately 20 mm Hg at the foot to approximately 15 mm Hg at the knee. 28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the tubular body has an ankle pressure relief area corresponding to an ankle of the patient, to avoid iatrogenic trauma to a dorsum of the ankle. 29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the tubular body is a first tubular body, and further comprising a second tubular body configured to be disposed around the first tubular body and the extremity and to apply compression to the extremity. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the second tubular body is configured to extend only between an ankle and a knee of the patient. 31. The apparatus of claim 29, where in the first tubular body is configured to apply compression to the surface of the extremity varying from approximately 20 mm Hg at the foot to approximately 15 mm Hg at the knee and the second tubular body in combination with the first tubular body is configured to apply compression to the surface of the extremity varying from approximately 40 mm Hg at the foot to approximately 30 mm Hg at the knee. 32. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a third filament substantially devoid of AgNP and disposed between the first filament and the second filament, wherein the AgNP and metal form galvanic couples across the third filament.