Patent ID: 6620116
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: A61H,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of treating a medical condition using counterpulsation with electromechanically activated cuffs comprising the steps of:a. detecting physiological data from a patient through use of medical devices; b. transmitting said physiological data electronically from said devices to a processor; c. electronically processing said physiological data to determine when the patient's heart is in a diastolic or a systolic phase; d. electronically activating a plurality of electromechanical cuffs; each said electromechanical cuff having at least one constriction set, said constriction set having an actuator unit and a tension attachment, each said actuator unit being controllably operable to a plurality of positions, said plurality of positions being within a range of positions, said range of positions ranging from a relaxed position to a constricted position, a distance between said actuator unit and said tension attachment, said distance with said actuator unit in said relaxed position being greater than said distance with said actuator unit in said constricted position, and said distance directly related to each position of said actuator unit in said range of positions, and said actuator unit controllably operable from said relaxed position to any of said positions within said range of positions on activation; e. electronically timing said activation of each said electromechanical cuff to correlate with the phases of the patient's heart; and f. modifying said timing of said activation of said plurality of electromechanical cuffs according to changes in said physiological data affected by said activation.