Pressurized liquid cast

1. A method of applying a pressurized fluid cast at a limb of a patient, said method comprising:

providing a sleeve having an inner wall and an outer wall with a cavity between said inner and outer walls;

wherein providing a sleeve comprises (i) cutting an appropriate length sleeve from a roll of tubing material to form a sleeve for a particular limb and (ii) sealing said inner and outer walls together at the ends of the cut sleeve;

providing at least one access port through said outer wall of said sleeve;

placing said sleeve at a limb of a patient such that said inner wall circumscribes the limb and is disposed at least partially along the limb, with said cavity and said outer wall being radially outward of said inner wall;

providing fluid to said cavity of said sleeve and pressurizing said fluid to a selected pressure to apply substantially uniform pressure at the limb of the patient; and

adjusting the pressure of said fluid within said cavity responsive to a determined change in pressure indicative of a change in swelling of the limb of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressurizing said fluid comprises pressurizing said fluid via a fluid pump in communication with said at least one access port.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising sensing flow of said fluid via a pressure sensor within said cavity of said sleeve, wherein said fluid pump is responsive to pump said fluid.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said fluid pump is selectively operable to increase or decrease the amount of fluid within said cavity of said sleeve.

5. The method of claim 2 , comprising closing said access port and disconnecting said fluid pump when a desired pressure is achieved.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein cutting said appropriate length sleeve and sealing said inner and outer walls together at the ends of the cut sleeve are done at the patient to provide a custom sleeve for the particular limb of the particular patient.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising shaping said sleeve to a desired shape so said sleeve generally conforms to the shape of the particular limb at which it is placed.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising forming an aperture through said inner wall and said outer wall and sealing together said inner and outer walls around said aperture so that said aperture provides a passageway through said sleeve.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing an inner wicking layer around and at least partially along the limb before placing said sleeve at the limb.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing an outer protective layer around said outer layer of said sleeve, wherein said outer protective layer is formed of a semi-rigid or rigid material that limits puncturing of said outer wall.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising adjusting a temperature of fluid within said fluid cavity.

12. A pressurized fluid cast for stabilizing a broken bone of a patient, said pressurized fluid cast comprising:

a sleeve having an inner wall and an outer wall with a fluid cavity between said inner and outer walls;

wherein said outer wall has at least one access port established therethrough;

wherein said sleeve is configured to be placed at a limb of a patient such that said inner wall circumscribes the limb and is disposed at least partially along the limb, with said fluid cavity and said outer wall being radially outward of said inner wall;

wherein said sleeve is adaptable to accommodate a particular patient injury and limb;

wherein fluid is provided within said fluid cavity and is pressurized to a selected pressure to apply substantially uniform pressure at the limb of the patient; and

a multi-lumen catheter at said at least one access port, wherein a first lumen of said multi-lumen catheter is connected to a fluid pump for supplying fluid to said fluid cavity and wherein a second lumen of said multi-lumen catheter is configured to drain fluid from said fluid cavity.

13. The pressurized fluid cast of claim 12 , wherein said fluid is pressurized via said fluid pump in communication with said first lumen at said at least one access port.

14. The pressurized fluid cast of claim 13 , further comprising a pressure sensor that senses flow of said fluid within said fluid cavity of said sleeve, wherein said fluid pump is responsive to said pressure sensor.

15. The pressurized fluid cast of claim 12 , comprising an inner wicking layer disposed around and at least partially along the limb and radially inward of said inner wall.

16. The pressurized fluid cast of claim 12 , comprising an outer protective layer radially outward of said outer wall, wherein said outer protective layer is formed of a semi-rigid or rigid material that limits puncturing of said outer wall.

17. The pressurized fluid cast of claim 12 , wherein a temperature of fluid within said fluid cavity is adjustable.

18. The pressurized fluid cast of claim 12 , wherein an aperture is formed through said inner wall and said outer wall and wherein said inner and outer walls are sealed together around said aperture so that said aperture provides a passageway through said sleeve.

19. The pressurized fluid cast of claim 12 , wherein fluid is provided within or removed from said fluid cavity to maintain the selected pressure as swelling of the limb of the patient decreases or increases.