External counter pulsation apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to an external counter pulsation apparatus that provides an improved treatment results while having a reduced energy consumption, noise, and/or heat during operation and/or an increased mobility. The counter pulsation apparatus can have a pump member for producing a fluid medium and a valve member for selectively allowing the fluid medium to inflate and deflate a fluid pouch adapted to be mounted onto a body portion of the patient. A control device can be provided to control the inflation and deflation of the valve member in accordance with a physical signal of a patient. An output variation device can be provided to vary the fluid medium output from the pump member to maintain the fluid medium pressure at a predetermined value. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the pump member, the valve member, the control device, and the output variation device can be movable to the patient's location to carry out the counter pulsation treatment. A carrier member can be provided to facilitate the transportation of one or more of the control device, the pump member, the valve member, and the output variation device.

1 . A counter pulsation apparatus comprising: 
 a pump member for producing a fluid medium;    a valve member for selectively allowing the fluid medium to inflate and deflate a fluid pouch adapted to be mounted onto a body portion of the patient;    a control device for controlling the inflation and deflation of the valve member in accordance with a physical signal of a patient; and    an output variation device for varying the fluid medium output from the pump member to maintain the fluid medium pressure at a predetermined value.    
   
   
       2 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver for receiving the physical signal and transmitting the same to the control device.  
   
   
       3 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a telemetry receiver and a telemetry transmitter for transmitting the physical signal.  
   
   
       4 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control device transmits the control signal to both the output variation device and the valve member to control their operation.  
   
   
       5 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a computer.  
   
   
       6 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the output variation device comprises a frequency variation device.  
   
   
       7 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the pump member, the valve member, the control device, and the output variation device are movable to the patient's location to carry out the counter pulsation treatment.  
   
   
       8 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a carrier member for transporting one or more of the control device, the pump member, the valve member, and the output variation device to the patient's location for the counter pulsation treatment.  
   
   
       9 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising an adjustable arm member movably supported on the carrier member, wherein the valve member is mounted on the arm member for proximal access to the fluid pouch mounted on the patient.  
   
   
       10 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a fluid storage member for storing the fluid medium produced by the pump member.  
   
   
       11 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid storage member comprises a gas column member supported on the carrier member.  
   
   
       12 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising an adjustable arm member having one end movably supported on the fluid storage member and the other end extending away from the fluid storage member, wherein the valve member is mounted on the free end of the arm member and capable of moving both vertically and horizontally for proximal access to the fluid pouch mounted on the patient.  
   
   
       13 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable arm member comprises an internal chamber in fluid communication with the gas column member, the internal chamber constituting a portion of the fluid storage member.  
   
   
       14 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a control cabin member supported on the carrier member for at least partially housing the control device.  
   
   
       15 . A counter pulsation apparatus comprising: 
 a pump member for producing a fluid medium;    a valve member for selectively allowing the fluid medium to inflate and deflate a fluid pouch adapted to be mounted onto a body portion of the patient;    a control device for generating a first control signal to control the production of the fluid medium to maintain the fluid medium pressure at a predetermined value.    
   
   
       16 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the control device for generating a second control signal in accordance with a physical signal of the patient and controls the inflation and deflation of the valve member.  
   
   
       17 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising an output variation device for varying the fluid medium output from the pump member in accordance with the first control signal.  
   
   
       18 . The counter pulsation apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the output variation device is a frequency variation device and the frequency variation device varies the rotation of a pump motor.  
   
   
       19 . A method for carrying out an external counter pulsation treatment, comprising: 
 producing a fluid medium;    supplying the fluid medium to a fluid pouch adapted to be mounted on a body portion of the patient; and    varying the fluid medium production to maintain the fluid medium pressure at a predetermined value.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising adjusting the predetermined fluid medium pressure in accordance with the physical condition of the patient.