Methods and apparatus for decubitus ulcer prevention and treatment

Abstract

An apparatus for treating or preventing decubitus ulcers includes: a garment sized and shaped to be worn by a patient; a first plurality of fluid channels and a second plurality of fluid channels coupled to the garment and disposed adjacent to one another, at least some of the first plurality of fluid channels being independently inflatable and deflatable as compared with at least some of the second plurality of fluid channels; and a fluid control mechanism coupled to the first and second plurality of fluid channels and operating to repeatably and sequentially inflate and deflate the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first and second plurality of fluid channels such that there is less than a predetermined level of pressure exerted on the patient's tissue under one or more of the deflated channels.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a garment sized and shaped to be worn by a patient;   a first plurality of fluid channels and a second plurality of fluid channels coupled to the garment and disposed adjacent to one another, at least some of the first plurality of fluid channels being independently inflatable and deflatable as compared with at least some of the second plurality of fluid channels; and   a fluid control mechanism coupled to the first and second plurality of fluid channels and operating to repeatably and sequentially inflate and deflate the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first and second plurality of fluid channels such that there is less than a predetermined level of pressure exerted on the patient's tissue under one or more of the deflated channels.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined level of pressure is about 32 mm Hg. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid control mechanism operates to sequentially:
 inflate the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first plurality of fluid channels while deflating the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the second plurality of fluid channels; and   deflate the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first plurality of fluid channels while inflating the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the second plurality of fluid channels,   such that there is less than about 32 mm Hg pressure exerted on the patient's tissue under one or more of the deflated channels.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 at least one of the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first plurality of fluid channels extends in a longitudinal direction; and   at least two of the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the second plurality of fluid channels extend along either side of the at least one of the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first plurality of fluid channels.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the fluid control mechanism operates to sequentially and repeatably:
 inflate and deflate the at least one of the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first plurality of fluid channels; and   inflate and deflate the at least two of the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the second plurality of fluid channels,   such that there is less than about 32 mm Hg pressure exerted on the patient's tissue under the at least one of the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first plurality of fluid channels, while in a deflated state.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid control mechanism comprises a pump releaseably connectable to the channels of the garment. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus comprising:
 a body contact element sized and shaped to engage a patient;   a first plurality of fluid channels and a second plurality of fluid channels coupled to the body contact element and disposed adjacent to one another, at least some of the first plurality of fluid channels being independently inflatable and deflatable as compared with at least some of the second plurality of fluid channels; and   a fluid control mechanism coupled to the first and second plurality of fluid channels and operating to repeatably and sequentially inflate and deflate the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first and second plurality of fluid channels to provide a rocking motion for moving the patient from one position to another.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the fluid control mechanism operates to inflate and deflate the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first and second plurality of fluid channels such that there is less than a predetermined level of pressure exerted on the patient's tissue under one or more of the deflated channels. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined level of pressure is about 32 mm Hg. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a mechanism configured to alleviate pressure on a portion of a body by providing a varying pressure on the portion, a position of the mechanism being based upon at least one of a location of an angiosome and angiosome distribution in the portion,   wherein the mechanism includes at least one pressure reliever and a plurality of channels positioned around the at least one pressure reliever for protecting an area on the portion from excess pressure, each channel:   (i) configured to be offset from a center of the pressure reliever,   (ii) configured to extend radially away from the center of the pressure reliever, and   (iii) operable to be inflated and/or deflated such that the pressure reliever provides the varying pressure on the portion.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the mechanism includes a pump connected to the at least one channel, the pump being configured to sequentially inflate and deflate the at least one inflatable channel such that the provided pressure in the at least one deflated channel on the portion is less than or equal to about 32 mm Hg. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the inflatable channel is configured to be offset from the location of the angiosome. 
   
   
       13 . A method, comprising:
 providing a garment sized and shaped to be worn by a patient;   providing a first plurality of fluid channels and a second plurality of fluid channels coupled to the garment and disposed adjacent to one another, at least some of the first plurality of fluid channels being independently inflatable and deflatable as compared with at least some of the second plurality of fluid channels; and   repeatably and sequentially inflating and deflating the independently inflatable and deflatable fluid channels from among the first and second plurality of fluid channels such that there is less than a predetermined level of pressure exerted on the patient's tissue under one or more of the deflated channels.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined level of pressure is about 32 mm Hg.