Cardiac implantable electronic device pocket compression apparatus and method of mitigating localized bleeding using same

Abstract

A method mitigates pocket bleeding and hematoma formation in a patient by providing a pliable wrap having a solid block coupled with the wrap, and then securing the pliable wrap around the torso of the patient to align the solid block with the located localized torso area. The solid block at least in part covers the localized torso area. The wrap is secured to cause the wrap to apply a force, to the solid block, that produces a corresponding pressure on the localized torso area. The force applied to the solid block is high enough to cause the pressure to hinder blood flow to the localized torso area to promote clotting at the localized torso area. At the same time, the force applied to the solid block is low enough to cause the pressure to permit blood flow to the localized torso area to promote healing.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A medical device for mitigating pocket bleeding and hematoma formation in the patient, the medical device comprising:
 a pliable wrap sized to wrap around at least a portion of a torso of a patient, the wrap being configured to form a loop when wrapped around the patient;   a block of non-inflatable solid material configured to couple with the wrap and positioned between the wrap and a localized area of the patient during use, the wrap configured to transfer a force to the block toward the localized area of the patient when wrapped around the patient to apply pressure to the localized area of the patient, the force being a function of the pliability of the wrap,   the pressure being sufficient to hinder but not completely prevent blood flow in the localized area of the patient's body.   
     
     
         3 . The medical device as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the wrap comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the wrap comprises neoprene. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the wrap includes straps to adjust the pressure applied to the localized area by the block. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the localized area is on the patient's chest, and the wrap is a vest configured to hold the block against the localized area. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the wrap includes a pouch, the block being secured to the wrap within pouch. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device as defined by  claim 7 , wherein the pouch is sealable so that, when the pouch is sealed, the pouch mitigates motion of the block relative to the wrap. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the block has a wedge shape with a narrow face positioned to face the patient when the medical device is worn by the patient. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for applying pressure to a localized area of a patient's body, the apparatus comprising:
 a pressure transmitting means for applying pressure to the patient's localized area; and   a medical device means for wrapping around at least a portion of the patient, the pressure transmitting means positioned between the medical device means and the patient's localized area,   wherein the pressure is sufficient to hinder but not completely prevent blood flow in the localized area of the patient's body.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the medical device means comprises neoprene.