Treatment devices and methods

Abstract

Venous therapy methods and apparatus improve arterial or venous blood flow, for example in the legs. Venous therapy can reduce venous backflow and can improve arterial therapy such as that provided by intermittent pneumatic compression therapy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vascular therapy apparatus comprising:
 a first pressure generating element configured to cause pressure to be applied to a portion of a human limb at a first location; and   a second pressure generating element configured to cause pressure to be applied to a portion of the human limb at a second location proximal of the first location and wherein the second pressure generating element is further configured to apply a first magnitude of pressure integrated over time greater than a magnitude of pressure integrated over time applied by the first pressure application element.   
     
     
         2 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first pressure generating element includes a calf compression element. 
     
     
         3 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first pressure generating element includes a foot compression element. 
     
     
         4 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second pressure generating element is a tourniquet. 
     
     
         5 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second pressure generating element is at least one electronic electrode configured to stimulate muscles in such a way as to compress a vein. 
     
     
         6 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the electronic electrode is electrically connected to a connector configured to be coupled to a controller. 
     
     
         7 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second pressure generating element is a pressure cuff. 
     
     
         8 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second pressure generating elements are coupled to respective inflation elements. 
     
     
         9 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the respective inflation elements include coupling elements configured to permit coupling the inflation elements to a controller. 
     
     
         10 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second pressure generating element is manually inflatable. 
     
     
         11 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second pressure generating element is configured to apply a pressure to the limb sufficient to collapse a vein in the limb. 
     
     
         12 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second pressure generating element is at least one electronic electrode configured to stimulate muscles sufficiently to cause collapsing of a vein. 
     
     
         13 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second pressure generating elements are configured to be substantially synchronized. 
     
     
         14 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first and second pressure generating elements have opposite phases. 
     
     
         15 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second pressure generating element is configured to apply a pressure to the limb greater than approximately 20 mm of mercury over an extended period. 
     
     
         16 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the extended period is greater than three seconds. 
     
     
         17 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first pressure generating element is configured to apply a first maximum pressure, wherein the second pressure generating element is configured to apply a second maximum pressure less than the first maximum pressure. 
     
     
         18 . The vascular therapy apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the second maximum pressure is at least at least 10 mm of mercury less than the first maximum pressure. 
     
     
         19 . A method of applying a vascular therapy to a patient having incompetent venous valves, the method comprising applying a pressure to the patient's leg wherein the magnitude of the pressure is sufficient to substantially collapse a vein in the patient's leg. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further including applying a second pressure to the patient's leg distal of the collapsing pressure. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein applying a second pressure includes applying intermittent pneumatic compression. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein applying the intermittent pneumatic compression includes a first maximum pressure and wherein the collapsing pressure is at least approximately 10 mm of mercury less than the first maximum pressure. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein applying the collapsing pressure is applied intermittently and the intermittent pneumatic compression and the collapsing pressure are substantially synchronized. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the collapsing pressure and the intermittent pneumatic compression have different phases. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the collapsing pressure and the intermittent pneumatic compression have respective high and low pressures and wherein the high collapsing pressure occurs at a different time than the high intermittent pneumatic compression pressure. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the collapsing pressure is greater than 20 mm of mercury. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the collapsing pressure is between approximately 50 and 70 mm of mercury. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the collapsing pressure is applied under control of a controller. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further including applying intermittent pneumatic compression under control of the controller. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the generating of collapsing pressure is programmable. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19  further including the patient walking. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein applying pressure is applying pressure with a venous tourniquet. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the patient walking includes the patient walking on a treadmill. 
     
     
         34 . A method of applying a vascular therapy to a patient, the method comprising applying a pressure to a limb of the patient according to a first pressure profile for arterial compression therapy and applying a pressure to the patient's limb according to a second pressure profile wherein a magnitude of the pressure in the second pressure profile is sufficient to substantially collapse a vein in the patient's limb. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  applying pressures according to the first and second pressure profiles wherein the first and second pressure profiles are different. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein a pressure in the first pressure profile rises when a pressure in the second pressure profile drops. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein a pressure in the first pressure profile rises when a pressure in the second pressure profile remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         38 . A vascular therapy apparatus comprising:
 a first pressure generating element configured to cause pressure to be applied to a portion of a human limb at a first location; and   a second pressure generating element configured to cause pressure to be applied to a portion of the human limb at a second location proximal of the first location and wherein the second pressure generating element is further configured to apply a first magnitude of pressure sufficient to substantially limit blood flow in a vein.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the second pressure generating element is selected from the group of an electric stimulation device, an inflation cuff, a phlebotomist tourniquet, and an intermittent pneumatic compression device. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the first pressure generating element includes a connection element for connecting to a controller. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the connection element includes a pneumatic connection. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the connection element includes an electrical connection. 
     
     
         43 . A controller for a vascular therapy device comprising a processor, a memory element, input and output circuits, a data entry element, and at least one control element for a patient therapy device to be coupled to the at least one control element, wherein the controller is configured to control the patient therapy device to cause a pressure to be applied to a first portion of the patient's limb sufficient to substantially collapse a vein in the patient's limb while reducing a pressure applied to a second portion of the patient's limb.