Patent ID: 6450981
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
A counterpulsation therapy system, comprising:at least one inflatable cuff that is adapted to be placed about a selected portion of a patient's body; an air-moving device other than an air compressor or compressed air reservoir for supplying unpressurized air said air moving device including a reciprocating element configured to air therein and including at least two ports for transmitting air from said device, each said port in communication with a different side of said reciprocating member; a conduit coupling said cuff to each of said ports of said air moving device; at least two check valves, intermediate said conduit, each of said at least two ports associated with one of said check valves, said check valves responsive to air movement caused by said reciprocating member in a manner to direct the air movement in the same direction from each of said ports to said cuff; a valve coupled to said conduit and electively controllable to selectively communicate said cuff with each of said ports in a repetitively manner to control inflation and deflation of said cuff by permitting selected unpressurized air movement through said conduit; and an electronic controller that controls said air moving device and said valve in said repetitive and sequential manner, said controller also including a program module that prompts an operator of the system through a plurality of initialization procedures and verifies that each of said procedures is completed before said controller will operate said air moving device and said valve.