Compression sequenced thermal therapy system
A sequential compression and temperature therapy blanket with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression.
1. A system for providing therapy to a patient, the system comprising:
a thermal therapy and compression blanket comprising:
at least one fluid bladder disposed about and thermally exposed to a portion of an appendage of a patient; and
a plurality of air chambers disposed outwardly of the at least one fluid bladder relative to the appendage of the patient;
a control unit that thermally conditions a heat-transfer fluid to a predetermined temperature for delivery to the at least one fluid bladder and that selectively provides compressed gas at predetermined times and in a predetermined pattern to the plurality of air chambers to cause compression of the at least one fluid bladder against the patient; and
wherein compressed gas is directed by the control unit to a first air chamber of the plurality of air chambers for a first predetermined time before the compressed gas is directed by the control unit to a second air chamber of the plurality of air chambers for a second predetermined time.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a heat-transfer assembly having thermoelectric coolers for actively thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit conducts the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid through the at least one fluid bladder and, contiguous thereto, provide compressed gas in the predetermined pattern.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is programmable and selectively provides compressed gas to each of the plurality of air chambers in a user-programmable pattern.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit provides compressed gas to a third air chamber of the plurality of air chambers for a third predetermined time after providing compressed gas the second air chamber.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control unit re-provides compressed gas to the first air chamber after providing compressed gas to the third air chamber.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit releases the compressed gas from the first air chamber before providing compressed gas to the second air chamber.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit releases the compressed gas from the first air chamber after providing compressed gas to the second air chamber.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises:
a reservoir for housing at least a portion of the heat-transfer fluid;
a three-point junction having three branches;
a first branch of the three branches for receiving the heat-transfer fluid from the reservoir;
a second branch of the three branches for receiving the heat-transfer fluid from the at least one fluid bladder; and
a third branch of the three branches for delivering the heat-transfer fluid to the at least one fluid bladder.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the heat-transfer fluid is circulated through the second branch, the third branch, and the at least one fluid bladder via a closed-loop fluid circuit.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein heat-transfer fluid may be added or removed from the closed-loop fluid circuit via the first branch.
12. A system for providing therapy to a patient, the system comprising:
a blanket comprising:
at least one fluid bladder disposed about and thermally exposed to a patient; and
a plurality of air chambers disposed outwardly from the at least one fluid bladder relative to the patient;
a control unit coupled to the at least one fluid bladder and the plurality of air chambers, the control unit thermally conditioning a heat-transfer fluid to a user-selectable temperature for delivery to the at least one bladder and, contiguous thereto, selectively providing compressed gas at a predetermined pressure to each of the plurality of air chambers in a user-selectable pattern;
the plurality of air chambers having at least a first air chamber and a second air chamber;
wherein the control unit directs compressed gas to the first air chamber for a first predetermined time before directing compressed gas to the second air chamber; and
wherein the control unit directs compressed gas to the second air chamber for a second predetermined time before directing compressed gas to the third air chamber.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control unit directs compressed gas to the first air chamber after directing compressed gas to a third air chamber of the plurality of air chambers for a third predetermined time.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control unit releases the compressed gas from the first air chamber after the first predetermined time.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control unit releases the compressed gas from the first air chamber after providing compressed gas to the second air chamber.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is programmable and contiguously flows the heat-transfer fluid through the fluid bladder at a user-programmable temperature while at the same time directs compressed gas to one or more of the plurality of air chambers in a user-programmable pattern.
17. The system of claim 12 and further comprising:
a heat-transfer assembly having thermoelectric coolers for actively thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control unit comprises:
a reservoir for housing at least a portion of the heat-transfer fluid;
a three-point junction having three branches;
a first branch of the three branches that receives the heat-transfer fluid from the reservoir;
a second branch of the three branches that receives the heat-transfer fluid from the at least one fluid bladder; and
a third branch of the three branches that delivers the heat-transfer fluid to the at least one fluid bladder.