Compression sequenced thermal therapy system

Abstract

A sequential compression and temperature therapy blanket with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

1 . A compression therapy blanket comprising: 
 a plurality of air chambers for receiving a gas to cause compression;    a valve assembly, internal to the compression therapy blanket, for delivering gas to each of the plurality of air chambers in a predetermined pattern;    an inlet port for delivering air from a control unit to the valve assembly; and    a plurality of connection for delivering air from the valve assembly to the plurality of air chambers.    
     
     
         2 . The compression therapy blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of air chambers comprises four to seven air chambers.  
     
     
         3 . The compression therapy blanket of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical signal connection for transmitting data related to the predetermined pattern to the valve assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The compression therapy blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pattern comprises sequential inflation of the plurality of air chambers to produce movement peripherally toward a heart of a patient.  
     
     
         5 . The compression therapy blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pattern comprises inflating two of the plurality of air chambers simultaneously.  
     
     
         6 . The compression therapy blanket of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a heat transfer fluid bladder for providing temperature therapy to a portion of a patient;    a fluid inlet port for delivering heat transfer fluid from the control unit to the heat transfer fluid bladder; and    a fluid outlet port for delivering heat transfer fluid from the heat transfer fluid bladder to the control unit.    
     
     
         7 . The compression therapy blanket of  claim 6 , wherein the heat transfer fluid bladder delivers heat therapy to a patient.  
     
     
         8 . The compression therapy blanket of  claim 6 , wherein the heat transfer fluid bladder delivers cold therapy to a patient.  
     
     
         9 . The compression therapy blanket of  claim 6 , wherein the heat transfer fluid bladder delivers contrast therapy to a patient.  
     
     
         10 . A temperature therapy blanket comprising: 
 a fluid bladder for housing heat transfer fluid, the fluid bladder having a top layer and a bottom layer;    a plurality of connections for dispersing the heat transfer fluid throughout the blanket, the plurality of connections connecting the top layer to the bottom layer;    at least one partition for directing the flow of the heat transfer fluid through the blanket; and    means for providing sequenced flows of alternating heat and cold in a high thermal contrast modality to a patient.    
     
     
         11 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 10 , wherein the blanket provides heating therapy to a patient.  
     
     
         12 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 10 , wherein the blanket provides cooling therapy to a patient.  
     
     
         13 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 10 , wherein the blanket provides contrast therapy to a patient.  
     
     
         14 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 an inlet port for receiving the heat transfer fluid from a control unit; and    an outlet port for returning the heat transfer fluid to the control unit.    
     
     
         15 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 an air bladder for providing compression therapy, the air bladder having an upper layer and a lower layer; and    an air inlet for providing air from the control unit to the air bladder.    
     
     
         16 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 15 , wherein the air bladder substantially overlaps the fluid bladder.  
     
     
         17 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 15 , wherein the lower layer of the air bladder is the upper layer of the fluid bladder.  
     
     
         18 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 15 , wherein edges of the air bladder are sealed to edges of the fluid bladder.  
     
     
         19 . The temperature therapy blanket of  claim 15 , wherein the air bladder presses the fluid bladder against a portion of a patient.  
     
     
         20 . A system for passing heat transfer fluid between a control unit and a blanket, the system comprising: 
 a reservoir for housing heat transfer fluid for utilization by the system;    a three-point junction having three branches, wherein a first branch receives heat transfer fluid from the reservoir, a second branch receives the heat transfer fluid returning from the blanket, and a third branch for delivering the heat transfer fluid to the blanket; and    a pump for creating a low pressure site at the third branch, wherein the low pressure site causes the heat transfer fluid from the second branch to be pulled into the third branch.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a heat transfer assembly for heating the heat transfer fluid of the third branch.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a heat transfer assembly for cooling the heat transfer fluid of the third branch.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a heat transfer assembly for heating and cooling the heat transfer fluid of the third branch.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the three-point junction is configured as an inverted Y.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein, if additional heat transfer fluid is required by the system, the heat transfer fluid is pulled from the reservoir.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein, if less heat transfer fluid is required by the system, the heat transfer fluid from the second branch is delivered to the reservoir.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises distilled water and monopropylene glycol.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the heat transfer fluid has a ratio of 15% monopropylene glycol to 85% distilled water.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the distilled water is mixed with propylene glycol to reduce bacteria build-up.  
     
     
         30 . A method for passing heat transfer fluid between a control unit and a blanket adapted for patient therapy, the method comprising the steps of: 
 housing, at a reservoir, heat transfer fluid for utilization by the system;    providing a fluid flow junction having at least three flow branches, wherein a first branch receives heat transfer fluid from the reservoir, a second branch receives the heat transfer fluid returning from the blanket, and a third branch for delivering the heat transfer fluid to the blanket;    creating a low pressure site at the third branch, wherein the low pressure site causes the heat transfer fluid from the second branch to be pulled into the third branch; and    cycling between heating and cooling the heat transfer fluid to provide contrast thermal therapy to a patient.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of providing a heat transfer assembly for heating and cooling the heat transfer fluid of the third branch.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of providing a heat transfer assembly comprises the step of providing thermoelectric coolers.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the thermoelectric coolers include a layer of gold between billets and ceramic of the thermoelectric coolers.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the fluid flow junction is configured as an inverted Y.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of pulling the heat transfer fluid from the reservoir if additional heat transfer fluid is required by the system.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising delivering the heat transfer fluid from the second branch to the reservoir if less heat transfer fluid is required by the system.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of forming the heat transfer fluid from distilled water and monopropylene glycol.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of forming comprises the step of forming the heat transfer fluid in a ratio of 15% monopropylene glycol to 85% distilled water.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising providing compression capabilities to the blanket.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of providing compression capabilities comprises the steps of: 
 providing air from the control unit to the blanket; and    providing a plurality of air chambers within the blanket for receiving the air from the control unit.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a valve assembly for controlling sequencing of the plurality of air chambers; and    providing air from the control unit to the blanket via a single inlet hose.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising the step of delivering sequencing instructions from the control unit to the valve assembly.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of delivering sequencing instructions comprises the step of analyzing a patient profile to determine appropriate sequencing instructions.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of cycling between heating and cooling comprises the step of analyzing a patient profile to determine appropriate heating and cooling instructions.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising the step of delivering the heating and cooling instructions to a heat transfer assembly.