Patent ID: 6179796
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
A lymphedema treatment apparatus adapted for placement on a trunk of a human body for mechanical stimulation of the lymphatic system, said apparatus comprising a wrap sized and configured to fit around a portion of the trunk of a human body, said wrap having a plurality of compartments wherein each particular one of said plurality of compartments receives and holds a bladder, each of the bladders and compartments having arcuate sides and being contiguously and sequentially arranged and aligned with said arcuate sides in adjoining side-by-side relation progressing radially outward from a predetermined point on the wrap that corresponds to a location of a preselected lymph node group on the trunk of the human body, pump means in fluid communication with each of said bladders for selectively pressurizing the bladders to a therapeutic pressure and to be depressurized so as to cause contraction of lymph collectors sufficient to move pooled fluids by promoting reabsorption of said pooled fluids within surrounding tissue.