Reinforced therapeutic wrap and method
A therapy wrap for treatment of at least a portion of an animate body having improved kink resistance. The therapy wrap may be selectively reinforced for improved kink resistance in only a portion of the wrap. The reinforcement may decrease the kink radius. The wrap may include a kink reducer in all or only a selected kink-prone region. The kink reducer may be selectively configured attachment points or spot welds. The therapy wrap may include a reinforcement layer of one or more discrete reinforcement members. The wrap may be formed by pre-tensioning the material layers while forming the fluid bladder and/or gas pressure bladder. The therapy wrap may be adapted to compensate for conditions that normally cause kinking of the wrap or buckling of the fluidic channels. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the wrap and methods of administering a temperature-controlled treatment to an anatomical body part.
1 . A therapy wrap for providing heating or cooling to an anatomical body part, the therapy wrap comprising:
a flexible fluid bladder for containing a heat exchange medium, the flexible fluid bladder including an inlet, an outlet, a fluid flowpath connecting the inlet and the outlet, the flexible fluid bladder composed of a first layer of a flexible material that overlays a second layer of a second flexible material, wherein the first and second layer are sealed along a common border thereof; and
a gas pressure bladder overlaying the flexible fluid bladder for applying a compressive force to a portion of the flexible fluid bladder in contact with the anatomical body part;
wherein at least a portion of the flexible material of the first layer is tensioned and a corresponding portion of the second flexible material of the second layer is not tensioned to increase resistance to kinking of the flexible fluid bladder.
2 . The therapy wrap of claim 1 , wherein the at least tensioned portion of the first layer is tensioned by heating.
3 . The therapy wrap of claim 1 , wherein the at least tensioned portion of the first is tensioned by stretching.
4 . The therapy wrap of claim 1 , wherein the flexible fluid bladder forms a curved shape upon the first layer being stretched relative to the second layer.
5 . The therapy wrap of claim 1 , wherein the gas pressure bladder is composed of a third layer of a third flexible material,
wherein the third flexible material of the third layer is sealed along the common border to form the gas pressure bladder.
6 . The therapy wrap of claim 1 , wherein the flexible fluid bladder includes a plurality of attachment points positioned and dimensioned to increase resistance to kinking of the flexible fluid bladder in a region of the flexible fluid bladder prone to kinking during use.
7 . The therapy wrap of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of attachment points connecting the first layer and the second layer the flexible fluid bladder and defining a plurality of fluidic channels in the fluid flowpath.
8 . The therapy wrap of claim 1 , wherein the flexible fluid bladder includes a reinforcement member positioned and dimensioned to increase resistance to kinking of the flexible fluid bladder in a region of the flexible fluid bladder prone to kinking during use, wherein the reinforcement member is a rigid member selected from a group consisting of a wire, an exoskeleton, a ribbon, a sheet, a substrate and a combination of the same.
9 . The therapy wrap of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener for holding the therapy wrap in a desired location on an anatomical body part.
10 . The therapy wrap of claim 9 , wherein the fastener comprises a first section, the first section projecting in a direction away from a side edge of at least one of the flexible fluid bladder or the gas pressure bladder.
11 . The therapy wrap of claim 10 , wherein the first section includes a hook material, wherein when the therapy wrap is wrapped around the anatomical body part, the first section of the fastener couples to an opposite side of the therapy wrap to provide an inwardly directed compressive force.
12 . The therapy wrap of claim 9 , wherein the portion of the first flexible material of the first layer is further tensioned by a second fastener for holding the therapy wrap in a second desired location on the anatomical body part.
13 . The therapy wrap of claim 12 , wherein the fastener and the second fastener each are composed of a hook-and-loop material.
14 . The therapy wrap of claim 12 , wherein the second fastener is spaced apart from the fastener along an edge of the therapy wrap.
15 . The therapy wrap of claim 9 , wherein the fastener is provided on a sleeve sized and configured to receive the flexible fluid bladder and the gas pressure bladder, wherein, when the flexible fluid bladder and the gas pressure bladder are received within the sleeve, the fastener is provided outside a seam forming the sleeve.
16 . The therapy wrap of claim 1 , wherein the at least tensioned portion of the first is pre-tensioned during manufacturing of the flexible fluid bladder.