Abstract:
A method of treating a user seated in a seat to reduce the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The method includes providing a vibrator, locating the vibrator in proximity to a lower extremity of the user, and applying a vibratory stimulus to a portion of the lower extremity of the user with the vibrator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/572,313 filed on May 18, 2004. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     INTRODUCTION  
       [0002]     Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) refers to a potentially fatal condition which tends to afflict passengers on extended travel or other persons in situations associated with prolonged immobility of the lower extremities.  
         [0003]     Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of blood clots in the veins of the leg. One of the main causes of DVT is restricted blood flow. Long distance travelers, including but not limited to air passengers, are particularly vulnerable to DVT because they are more likely to sit immobile for long periods of time.  
         [0004]     Air travelers are particular vulnerable, given the relatively cramped quarters in commercial airplanes. Members of the following groups are at particular risk for DVT: those with thrombophilia (heightened tendency towards clotting); those recovering from recent surgery or injury; those with a history of heart or lung trouble; those with a history of cancer; women using oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy; pregnant women; those aged over 40; those with recent medical illness; overweight people; heavy smokers; heavy drinkers; and those prone to dehydration.  
         [0005]     Various recommendations have been provided for prevending or reducing the risk of DVT. For example, it is recommended to wear surgical stockings and to stand up and take a brief walk or do some leg stretching exercises. This walking or stretching should be done every 90-120 minutes, if possible. Other recommendations include breaking ultra long-haul journeys into multiple segments, e.g. spending a night in Southeast Asia before flying on to or back from Australia.  
         [0006]     While some recommendations to avoid DVT are more practical than others, all require a positive action by the passenger. For this reason, the passenger must be aware of the risk of DVT and must also be willing to take precautionary and or proactive measures before and/or during travel.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need for cost-efficient devices and associated methods for passively reducing the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     The present teachings provide a method of treating a user seated in a seat to reduce the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The method includes providing a vibrator, locating the vibrator in proximity to a lower extremity of the user, and applying a vibratory stimulus to a portion of the lower extremity of the user with the vibrator.  
         [0009]     The present teachings also provide a device for treating a user seated in a seat to reduce the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The device includes a vibrator for producing a vibratory stimulus associated with the seat, and a control module for selectively applying the vibratory stimulus to a lower extremity of the user. Selective application of the vibratory stimulus to the lower extremity of the user improves circulation of the lower extremity and thereby reduces the likelihood of DVT.  
         [0010]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an exemplary anti-DVT device according to the present teachings, the device shown operatively associated with a seat and a passenger or other user;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating operational components of an exemplary anti-DVT device according to the present teachings; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of an exemplary anti-DVT method according to the present teachings. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0016]     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary anti-deep vein thrombosis (“anti-DVT”) device according to the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character  100 . The anti-DVT device  100  is shown operatively associated with a seat  112  and a seated passenger or other user  114 . The seat  112  can be a seat of an airplane, bus, train, automobile, truck or other transportation means, although the present teachings are not limited to travel applications. In this regard, the seat  112  can also be an office chair, a wheel chair or other chair or seat on which a person is seated over long periods at a time for various reasons, including job-related or disability-related reasons.  
         [0017]     The anti-DVT device  100  is shown located in close proximity to a lower extremity  88  of the seated user  114 . More specifically, the anti-DVT device  100  can be positioned below the seated user  114  adjacent the thighs  84  of the user  114 . In the exemplary illustration of  FIG. 1 , the anti-DVT device  100  can extend downwardly along a front edge of the seat  112  and can include portions additionally positioned adjacent an upper portion of the calves  80 . The anti-DVT device  100  can also include portions directed to an anterior thigh surface  82 , and posterior and/or lateral (or medial) thigh surfaces  86 . Alternatively, separate anti-DVT devices  100  can be provided for each targeted portion of the user&#39;s lower extremity  88 .  
         [0018]     The anti-DVT device  100  can be removably or permanently placed relative to the seat  112 , for example on the seating surface of the seat  112  or along a side or edge or other portion of the seat  114 . The anti-DVT device  100  can include fastening means  102 , including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®, for securing the anti-DVT device in place relative to the seat  112 , and, optionally, around the thigh  84  or calf  80  of the user  114 . Alternatively, the anti-DVT device  100  can be permanently secured to the seat  112  and, optionally, removably secured relative to the user  114 , around the calf  80 , for example.  
         [0019]     The anti-DVT device  100  can be operable for producing a mechanical vibratory stimulus, such as a localized vibratory massage. The strength of the vibratory stimulus can be adjustable to suit the particular needs of the user  114  using known control devices and methods. As will be discussed below, the strength of the vibratory stimulus can be adjusted according to a characteristic of the particular user  114  seated on the seat  112 .  
         [0020]     With continued reference to  FIG. 1  and additional reference to  FIG. 2 , the anti-DVT device  100  can generally include a vibrator  116  for providing a vibratory stimulus, a control module  118  for controlling the vibrator  116 , and a power source  120  for powering the vibrator  116 . The power source  120  can be a removable or a rechargeable battery source. The power source  120  can also be connected to a main power supply, such that the vibrator  116  can be powered directly or indirectly through an electric system associated with the vehicle, house, hospital, or office, depending on the particular application. The vibrator  116  can include a single or multiple vibrator portions, such as any of those illustrated by reference numerals  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c , although fewer or additional vibrator portions can be included. The vibrator portions  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c  can be globally or individually controlled, either automatically, or selectively by the user, to provide localized vibratory stimulus.  
         [0021]     The control module  118  can operate for controlling the vibrator  116 . More specifically, the control module  118  can control opening and closing of a switch  122 . When the switch  122  is closed, the vibrator  116  produces and delivers the vibrating stimulus to the user  114 . It will be appreciated that a single switch  122  can be used to control all the vibrator portions  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c , although separate switches  122  can also be used for each of the vibrator portions  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c . When the switch  122  is open, as shown in  FIG. 2 , no vibrating stimulus is produced by the vibrator  116 . The control module  118  can operate in a conventional manner to cyclically open and close the switch  122  for cyclically delivering the vibrating stimulus to the user  114 . In this regard, it is not necessary to continuously deliver the vibratory stimulus to the user  114 . For energy-conserving purposes, for example, the control module  118  can operate in active mode or in sleep (non-active) mode, either in an automatic (passive) mode or by selective activation by the user. The control module  118  can also operate to selectively activate one or more of the vibrator portions  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c.    
         [0022]     The control module  118  can include a conventional microprocessor, a programmable logic controller, or other known control devices that can operate the vibrator  116  automatically or with active user input. The control module  118  can include, when desired in a particular application, a visual display, and various user-operable control, input, and/or selector buttons, including, for example, on and off buttons, intensity selector buttons, duration selector buttons, mode selector buttons, such as sleep mode, manual mode, automatic mode, or other control or input buttons. The control module  118  can also include adjustability means for a particular characteristic of a user  114 . In certain applications, the control module  118  can include, for example, a sensor  119  for sensing a body weight or a body mass index (BMI) or other body or weight or size or mass characteristic of the user  114 . The sensor  119  can send a signal to the control module  118 . In response to the signal, the control module  118  can automatically adjust the strength of the vibrator stimulus according to the characteristic of the user  114 . In this manner, a stronger stimulus can be delivered to heavier/bigger passengers and a weaker stimulus can be delivered to lighter/smaller passengers. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor  119  can function to adjust the cyclical operation of the switch  122 , such that the switch  122  is closed for a longer period of time for heavier/bigger passengers. The sensor  119  can also function to adjust both the strength of the vibratory stimulus and the period of operation. For manual/active control by the user  114 , the sensor  119  can be also bypassed. Alternatively, sensor information can be supplemented by user input, such as age, gender or other relevant information, enabling the control module  118  to provide a user-customizable vibratory stimulus schedule by varying duration and strength according to inputs received. Relevant algorithms based on empirical data can be included in the control module  118  for producing such customized schedules.  
         [0023]     As discussed above, the anti-DVT device  100  can function either passively in an automatic mode, actively by user input and participation, or in a combined mode. In the passive mode, for example, the anti-DVT device can function automatically without any positive input required by the user  114 . In this manner, the benefits of the anti-DVT device  100  can be obtained without any reliance on the passenger  114  for its operation. In certain applications, however, it may be desirable to provide the passenger  114  with control that overrides the automatic operation of the control module  118 , such that the anti-DVT device can operate in active/manual or semi-automatic mode. In this regard, the vibrator  116  can provide desired relaxation for short or extended periods of use. Similarly, the passenger  114  can control the strength of the vibratory stimulus.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary method for preventing or reducing the risk of DVT according to the present teachings is illustrated. The method can include providing a vibrator, as illustrated at aspect  150 . The vibrator  116  described above in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or other known vibrators  116 , can be used. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the vibrator  116  can be located in close proximity to the lower extremity  88  of a seated user  114 , as illustrated at aspect  160 . The vibrator  116  or vibrator portions  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c  can be positioned adjacent the posterior surfaces of the user&#39;s legs. More particularly, the vibrator portions  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c  can be positioned to apply vibration the user&#39;s thighs and to an upper portion of the user&#39;s calves, or other portions of the lower extremity of the user  114 .  
         [0025]     The vibrator  116  can produce a vibratory stimulus, as illustrated as aspect  170 . As discussed above, the stimulus can be produced in a passive or fully automatic mode without any passenger input, although semi-automatic and manual modes can also provided for at least partial control by the user  114 .  
         [0026]     The strength of the vibratory stimulus can adjusted according to a characteristic of the user  114 , as illustrated at aspect  180 . The strength of the vibratory stimulus can be adjusted, for example, according to a sensed weight or a sensed body mass index (BMI) of the user  114 . The vibratory stimulus can be expected to provide a pleasant and relaxing sensation, improve circulation and at least reduce the risk of deep vain thrombosis for users experiencing long periods of immobility in their lower extremities.  
         [0027]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.