IP Library Granted Patent US 10,973,734
Granted Patent B2
US 10,973,734 · App. 14/876,494 · Granted Apr 13, 2021

Flexible vest including a positionable oscillating motor array

Inventors: Harold David Shockley, Jr. (Austin, TX); Geoffrey Albert Marcek (Austin, TX); Robert Wiley Ellis (Miramar, FL)
Assignee: International Biophysics Corporation
A61H23/02A61B5/055A61B5/4833A61B5/4848A61B5/6805A61H1/006A61H1/008A61H23/004A61H23/0218A61H23/0236A61H23/0254A61H31/00A61B5/6844A61B2090/374A61B2090/376A61H11/02A61H2011/005A61H2201/0111A61H2201/0157A61H2201/0192A61H2201/1207A61H2201/165A61H2201/1619A61H2201/1652A61H2201/50A61H2201/501A61H2201/5002A61H2201/5038A61H2201/5046A61H2201/5058A61H2201/5061A61H2201/5071A61H2201/5084A61H2201/5097A61H2205/08A61H2205/084A61H2230/405
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,973,734
App. No.
14/876,494
Granted
Apr 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, a system may include an inner wearable harness including a flexible vest. The system may include at least one engine which when activated apply an oscillation force. The at least one engine is positioned after the vest has been positioned on the subject on different areas of the inner wearable harness to allow selective placement of engines on and/or adjacent areas of the subject's chest such that the oscillation force is applied to at least one treatment area. The oscillation force may mobilize, during use, at least some secretions in an airway within the subject substantially adjacent the treatment area. The system may include a flexible and elastic outer harness worn, during use, on a torso of a subject which when activated provides a compressive force to adjust the oscillation force applied by at least some of the at least one engine to the treatment area.

Claims (23)

1. A system, comprising:

an inner wearable harness worn, during use, on a torso of a subject, wherein the inner wearable harness includes a plurality of intersecting bands having an opening for a head of the subject, and openings for arms of the subject, and wherein the plurality of intersecting bands includes at least two bands that are perpendicular to each other;

at least one engine which when activated applies an oscillation force to at least one treatment area of the subject, wherein the at least one engine is releasably couplable to the inner wearable harness at an intersection of the at least two bands such that the at least one engine is selectively positionable relative to the subject using the at least two bands, a position of the at least one engine being adjusted by positioning the at least two bands relative to each other, wherein the at least two bands allow positioning the at least one engine such that the oscillation force is applied to at least one of the treatment areas of the subject, wherein the oscillation force mobilizes, during use, at least some secretions in an airway within the subject at least adjacent the treatment area, and wherein the at least one engine is positioned after the inner wearable harness has been positioned on the subject on different areas of the inner wearable harness to allow selective placement of engines on and/or adjacent areas of the subject's chest;

an outer wearable harness worn, during use, on a torso of a subject, wherein the outer wearable harness, when activated, provides a compressive force to adjust the oscillation force applied by at least some of the at least one engine to the treatment area, and wherein the outer wearable harness is flexible and elastic; and

a control unit which activates, during use, the at least one engine.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer wearable harness comprises two stretchable elongated bands coupled to the inner wearable harness, and wherein a first portion of the outer wearable harness is couplable to a second portion of the outer wearable harness.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one engine comprises at least four engines or at least eight engines.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a majority of the inner wearable harness is formed from a pliable non-rigid material.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the outer wearable harness is coupled to the inner wearable harness.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one engine is releasably coupled to the inner wearable harness using a hook and loop system.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of the oscillation force is adjustable.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the oscillation force is adjustable.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more batteries coupled to the inner or outer wearable harness which powers, during use, the at least one engine.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner wearable harness comprises fastening systems which couple, during use, the wearable system to the subject.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner wearable harness comprises fastening systems which couple, during use, the wearable system to the subject, and wherein as the fastening systems are activated the fit of the wearable harness is adjusted to the subject.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer wearable harness adjusts, during use, a fit of the inner harness to the subject's torso.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer wearable harness, when activated, adjusts the oscillation force applied by the at least one engine by applying pressure to the activated engines such that the activated engines are pressed against the subject to more effectively convey the oscillation force to the treatment area.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner wearable harness further comprising at least four engines positioned, after the inner wearable harness has been positioned on the subject, on different areas of the inner wearable harness to allow selective placement of engines adjacent areas of the subject's chest.

15. A kit for clearing a biological airway, comprising:

an inner wearable harness worn, during use, on a torso of a subject, wherein the inner wearable harness includes a plurality of intersecting bands having an opening for a head of the subject, and openings for arms of the subject, and wherein the plurality of intersecting bands includes at least two bands that are perpendicular to each other;

a plurality of engines which when activated apply an oscillation force to at least one treatment area of the subject, wherein at least one of the plurality of engines is releasably couplable to the inner wearable harness using the at least two bands such that the at least one of the plurality of engines is selectively positionable relative to the subject, wherein a position of the at least one of the plurality of engines is adjusted by repositioning the at least one of the plurality of engines along the at least two bands in a first direction along a first one of the at least two bands or in a second direction along a second one of the at least two bands, and wherein the oscillation force mobilizes, during use, at least some secretions in an airway within the subject at least adjacent the treatment area;

a second elastic flexible layer outside of the inner wearable harness and compressible onto the inner wearable harness and the plurality of engines to compress the plurality of engines against the subject's chest at least adjacent the treatment area that need airway secretion mobilization; and

a controller that is coupled to the plurality of engines that allows the subject to activate and/or adjust an output of the plurality of engines.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Sep 17, 2021
From: TACTILE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, INC. (DBA TACTILE MEDICAL)
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057612/0760 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2021
From: INTERNATIONAL BIOPHYSICS CORPORATION
To: TACTILE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 057459/0012 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2016
From: SHOCKLEY, HAROLD DAVID, JR; MARCEK, GEOFFREY ALBERT; ELLIS, ROBERT WILEY
To: INTERNATIONAL BIOPHYSICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037656/0702 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62060772 · Oct 7, 2014
Provisional Application 62101131 · Jan 8, 2015
Provisional Application 62183819 · Jun 24, 2015
Related Publication 20160095792A1 · Apr 7, 2016