Abstract:
A pump assembly ( 200 ) for therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus, the assembly comprising a common pump unit ( 210 ), control means ( 160 ), and, first and second valve means ( 201;202 ), each valve means comprising a cycle control valve means, said cycle control valve means being provided with at least one fluid passageway and each valve means being adapted to be positioned to predetermined conditions so as to regulate fluid quantity in respective therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus, each valve means is adapted to perform at least one respective inflation/deflation sequence, and the assembly being such that, in use, on air being required by a valve means at a particular instance during the respective inflation/deflation sequence, the control means activates the common pump unit and air is pumped to an air outlet to feed air to the at least two valve means, and the pump assembly being such that the first and second valve means are operable both singularly and simultaneously.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority filing benefit of Great Britain Application No. GB 0500117.7 filed Jan. 6, 2005.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to pump assemblies, and in particular to pump assemblies for therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus are generally of two types, pressure relieving supports and compression therapy garments. Pressure therapy garments are adapted to be secured around a specific limb (for example a calf, a thigh or a foot) of a patient. Control of such garments is conventionally effected by a pneumatic pump unit.  
         [0006]     Pressure relieving supports are typically in the form of mattresses and cushions and comprise multiple inflatable cells which are sequentially inflated and deflated to provide appropriate pressure area therapy.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention seeks to provide an improved pump assembly for therapeutic cell apparatus.  
         [0008]     According to the invention there is provided a pump assembly for therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus, the assembly comprising a common pump unit, control means, and, first and second valve means, each valve means comprising a cycle control valve means, said cycle control valve means being provided with at least one fluid passageway and each valve means being adapted to be positioned to predetermined conditions so as to regulate fluid quantity in respective therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus, each valve means is adapted to perform at least one respective inflation/deflation sequence, and the assembly being such that, in use, on air being required by a valve means at a particular point during the respective inflation/deflation sequence, the control means activates the common pump unit and air is pumped to an air outlet to feed air to the at least two valve means, and the pump assembly being such that the first and second valve means are operable both singularly and simultaneously.  
         [0009]     In a highly preferred embodiment the inventive assembly advantageously allows multiple inflatable cell apparatus to operate simultaneously and at least two of the inflatable cell apparatus being subjected to different inflation/deflation sequences. For example, an inflatable support and two pressure garments could be operated simultaneously from the inventive pump assembly. In one embodiment more than two different types of inflatable cell apparatus are capable of being inflated/deflated by the pump assembly.  
         [0010]     An inflation/deflation sequence preferably comprises at least one or a combination of (i) inflating at least one cell of an inflatable cell apparatus to a particular pressure, (ii) maintaining a predetermined pressure in at least one cell of an inflatable cell apparatus for a predetermined time, (iii) inflating and/or deflating cells in a predetermined sequence, (iv) inflating and/or deflating at least one cell at a particular rate of inflation and/or deflation.  
         [0011]     The common pump unit preferably consists of one pneumatic pump unit.  
         [0012]     Preferably the cycle control means comprises a rotatable valve member which is adapted to be rotated to predetermined angular positions.  
         [0013]     Preferably where the inflatable cell apparatus comprises a plurality of cells the predetermined conditions are indexed so that the cells can be selectively inflated.  
         [0014]     Preferably each valve means further comprises a static valve member, said static valve member being provided with at least one fluid passageway which is adapted to be communicable with the inflatable cell apparatus and the rotatable valve member being arranged to be rotatable with respect to the static valve member. Most preferably the inflatable valve member is adapted to be rotated into a position in which said at least one fluid passageway of the rotatable valve member is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid passageway of the static valve member.  
         [0015]     The rotatable valve member is desirably provided with at least one fluid passageway for inflation of at least part of the inflatable cell apparatus and with at least one fluid passageway for deflation of at least part of the inflatable cell apparatus, and in use the rotatable valve member can be rotated to predetermined angular positions to effect at least one of inflation and deflation of the apparatus.  
         [0016]     Most preferably two passageways for inflation are provided which are angularly spaced by 180°.  
         [0017]     In a highly preferred embodiment the rotatable valve member is rotatable with respect to the static valve member so as to determine whether a fluid passageway of the static valve member is brought into fluid communication with either an inflation passageway or a deflation passageway of the rotatable valve member.  
         [0018]     Preferably the static valve member comprises a plurality of fluid passageways, each fluid passageway being associated with a respective cell of an inflatable cell apparatus.  
         [0019]     In a preferred embodiment the static valve member is provided with at least two sets of a plurality of fluid passageways, each set of passageways being adapted to be associated with a respective inflatable cell apparatus.  
         [0020]     In preferred embodiments, said fluid passageways of the rotatable valve member and the static valve member extend from one side of the respective valve member to an opposite side of the respective valve member.  
         [0021]     Channels are desirably formed in an outer surface in the static valve member, the channels being in fluid communication with fluid passageways of the static valve member, and said channels extending substantially laterally of the fluid passageways.  
         [0022]     At least two fluid passageways may be fluidically connected by a channel.  
         [0023]     The control means is preferably provided with control data, the control data being representative of instructions for controlling the pump unit and the valve means to perform at least one inflation/deflation sequence. Most preferably at least one set of instructions is stored for respective inflation/deflation sequences for each of the first and second valve means.  
         [0024]     The control means is most preferably linked to a position sensor for sensing the angular position of the valve means and to a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in at least one cell of an inflatable cell apparatus. The control means is preferably configured to control the pump means and the valve means in response received signals from the position sensor and the pressure sensor, compare said pressure and position signals to the control data and operate the valve means and/or the pump means as required.  
         [0025]     The control means is preferably configured to adjust the angular position of the rotatable valve member to a desired angular position in response to a first signal relating to a current angular position, and in response to a second signal relating to angular displacement of the rotatable valve member during movement thereof to the desired angular position, said second signal being issued by the position sensor.  
         [0026]     The control means preferably comprises a rotatable component which is connected to the rotatable valve member and is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced index features, and the control means further comprising a radiation sensor, and in use, rotation of the rotatable component causes the index features to selectively control radiation received by the sensor.  
         [0027]     At least one valve means is provided with an associated socket which is adapted to receive a plug of therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus.  
         [0028]     Conveniently where the control means comprises RAM (Random Access Memory) a user may input a desired set of inflating/deflating control instructions to be stored by the data storage device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a pump assembly for therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus,  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the various components of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the of the socket/valve assemblies of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of the pump unit and the valve/socket arrangements of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is an exploded front isometric view of part of pneumatic pump assembly in accordance with the invention,  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is an exploded rear view of the part of the pneumatic pump assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a rear elevation of the static valve member shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a rear isometric view of the static valve member shown in  FIG. 3 ,  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a front isometric view of the static valve member shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ,  
         [0039]      FIG. 10  is a front elevation of the rotatable valve member shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  
         [0040]      FIG. 11  is a front isometric view of the rotatable valve member shown in  FIG. 6 ,  
         [0041]      FIG. 12  is a front elevation of the optical disc shown in FIGS. I and  2 ,  
         [0042]      FIG. 13  is a front elevation of the intermediate plate shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  
         [0043]      FIG. 14  is a front isometric view of the intermediate plate shown in  FIG. 9 ,  
         [0044]      FIG. 15  is a front elevation of the connector plate shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  
         [0045]      FIG. 16  is a rear isometric view of the connector plate shown in  FIG. 11 ,  
         [0046]      FIG. 17  is a rear elevation of the static valve member onto which the outline of the rotatable valve member in a first position has been superimposed  
         [0047]      FIG. 18  is similar to  FIG. 17  with the rotatable valve member shown in a second position,  
         [0048]      FIG. 19  is similar to  FIGS. 17 and 18  with the rotatable valve member in a third position,  
         [0049]      FIG. 20  is similar to  FIGS. 17, 18  and  19  with the rotatable valve member shown in a fourth position,  
         [0050]      FIG. 21  is similar to  FIGS. 17, 18 ,  19  and  20  with the rotatable valve member shown in a fifth position,  
         [0051]      FIG. 22  is a (somewhat schematic) cross-section of the components shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in an assembled state in which one plug has been inserted into one of the sockets of the connector plate,  
         [0052]      FIG. 23  is an enlarged view of a socket indicated by the enclosed region of  FIG. 22 ,  
         [0053]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of an inner housing of the pump assembly of  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0054]      FIG. 25  is an exploded perspective view of the inner housing of  FIG. 24 ,  
         [0055]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a non-return valve,  
         [0056]      FIG. 27  is a side elevation of the non-return valve of  FIG. 26 , and  
         [0057]      FIG. 28  is a flow diagram of process steps to determine connection status of a therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0058]      FIG. 1  shows a portable pneumatic pump assembly  200  for therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus, the assembly being provided with a first valve/socket assembly  201  and a second valve/socket assembly  202 , the first valve socket assembly comprising a pair of sockets  209 . Each valve/socket assembly comprising a rotatable valve member which regulates air to and from an inflatable cell apparatus attached to each valve/socket assembly, with air being provided by a common pneumatic pump unit  210 . The pump assembly  200  is provided with a control panel comprising a keypad  203  for user input and a display screen  204 .  
         [0059]     Each valve/socket arrangement comprises a rotatable valve member  2 , a static valve member  3 , the rotatable valve member  2  being arranged to be rotatable with respect to the static valve member  3 . The valve components of a valve/socket arrangement  201 ′ (which is very similar to arrangement  201 ) comprising two sockets  209 ′, is now discussed, in which it is also to be noted that the valve components of the arrangement  202  are very similar to the arrangement  201 ′ save for a different airway configuration (as best seen in  FIG. 4 ) and a different socket.  
         [0060]     With further reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11  the rotatable valve member  2  is of disc-like form and is provided with a ‘blind’ recess  10  of substantially skewed X-shape which is formed in the front surface thereof. The valve member  2  further comprises two through-holes  11  forming fluid passageways which are angularly spaced by 180° about the centre point of the valve member  2 .  
         [0061]     A third though-hole  12  is provided in the rotatable valve member  2  of which the angular separation from each of the holes  11  is 75° in each case.  
         [0062]     The rearward surface of the rotatable valve member  2  is provided with rib  13  which extends in a direction which is substantially parallel to the diameter of the valve member.  
         [0063]     With reference in particular to  FIGS. 7, 8  and  9  the static valve member  3  is essentially of plate like form and is provided with a first set of horizontally aligned ports  14 ,  15  and  16  and a second set of horizontally aligned ports  17 ,  18  and  19 , said ports providing fluid passageways. A port  20  is also provided in the static valve member  3  which is located substantially centrally of said valve member.  
         [0064]     As seen best in  FIGS. 9 and 10  channels  21  and  22 , which are of substantially arcuate outline, provide fluid communication between ports  14  and  17 , and ports  16  and  19  respectively. The channels  21  and  22  are provided with branch channel positions  23  and  24  respectively which extend substantially horizontally towards the vertical axis of the static valve member  3 .  
         [0065]     The ports  15  and  18  which are located centrally of each set of ports are each provided with upper and lower channel portions which are in fluid communication with the respective port. The port  15  is provided with an upper channel portion  25  and a lower channel portion  26 , and the port  18  being provided with upper channel portion  27  and lower channel portion  28 .  
         [0066]     The rearward face of the static valve member  3  is also provided with a plurality of pressure relief recesses  31 ,  32 ,  33  and  34 .  
         [0067]     Turning to  FIG. 9  showing the front face of the static valve member  6  each port  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  there is an associated outwardly extending annular wall  14   a,    15   a,    16   a,    17   a,    18   a  and  19   a  respectively.  
         [0068]     Equally angularly spaced around the ports  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19  and  20  and arranged in a circular formation, a first set of eight attachment through-holes  35  are provided. The static valve member  3  is also provided with a second set of four attachment through-holes  36  which are located towards the corners of the valve member  3 .  
         [0069]     The valve/socket assembly  201 ′ further comprises a motor  40 , an optical disc  41 , a sensor  42 , a transmission disc  43  and a spring  44 .  
         [0070]     The motor  40  comprises an output shaft portion  46  onto which is rotatably mounted the optical disc  41 . The shaft portion  46  is received in a collar  47  and is fast with the optical disc  41 . The collar  47  passes through the disc  41  and through two sleeves  50  which are provided on opposite sides of the disc  41 . The shaft portion  46  extends through an aperture in cylindrical housing  48  and the distal end of said collar  47  is fixedly attached to the rearward face of the transmission disc  43 .  
         [0071]     The optical disc  41  is provided with twenty three slots  51  and one slot  52 , the slots  51  and  52  are angularly spaced around the disc  41  and the slot  52  being slightly wider than the slots  52 .  
         [0072]     A position sensor device  42  is attached to bracket  55  by way of a two-piece fastener arrangement shown at  56  and  57 . The sensor device may generally be described as a phototransistor device which comprises two limbs  60  and  61  which are spaced such that in use they flank the optical disc  41 . The limb  60  is provided with an inwardly directed light emitting device (not shown) and the limb  61  is provided with a light sensor (not shown) which is directly opposite the light emitting device.  
         [0073]     The transmission disc  43  is provided with eight equally angularly spaced ports  45  and comprises a locating formation  63  on the front face thereof. The locating formation  63  comprises two spaced walls  64  which are adapted to receive the rib  13  of the rotatable valve member  2 .  
         [0074]     The spring  44  is adapted to fit over the locating formation  63  and the rib  13  and so be interposed between the transmission disc  43  and the rotatable valve member  2 .  
         [0075]     Located adjacent to the front face of the static valve member  3  there is provided an intermediate plate  66 . The intermediate plate  66  is provided with two sets of three ports  67  which are arranged to correspond with the arrangement of the ports  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  of the static valve member  3 . Each port  67  comprises an outwardly extending conduit portion  68  on front and rear faces of the intermediate plate  66 .  
         [0076]     The intermediate plate  66  is provided with two cut-outs  69  and  70  which are located generally between the two sets of ports  67 . The intermediate plate is further provided with four attachment holes  73  which are located towards each corner of the plate.  
         [0077]     Moving further forward there is provided a plate  71 . The plate  71  is provided with two cut-outs  72  and  73  which are dimensioned to accommodate the conduit ports  68  of the intermediate plate  66 .  
         [0078]     The connector plate  80  is formed with the two socket formations  209 ′ which are each adapted to receive one of the garment plug of a garment or a support. Each socket formation  209 ′ comprises three connection conduits  83  each of which, in use, corresponds to an associated inflatable cell or group of cells of a pressure therapy garment or pressure relief support.  
         [0079]     The rearward ends of the conduits  83  are each provided with a non-return or shut-off valve arrangement which comprises a valve plate  100  and a spring  101 . The valve plates  100  each comprise four guide limbs  105  which are configured to be received in a respective conduit  83 . (Valve plates  100  are omitted from  FIG. 6  for reasons of clarity.)  
         [0080]     A front facing annular shoulder  106  is provided around the guide limbs  105  and is axially spaced from the bases thereof. In use the shoulder  106  receives an o-ring seal (omitted from  FIGS. 26 and 27 ).  
         [0081]     The valve plate  100  is provided on the rear facing surface thereof with an annular shoulder  107  which is adapted to locate one end of the respective spring  101 .  
         [0082]      FIGS. 22 and 23  show the components of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in an assembled state. As is evident fasteners  84  are passed through aligned attachment holes  65 ,  36  of the intermediate plate  66  and the static valve member  3  respectively and into respective blind bores  120  of the housing  48 . The transmission disc, the spring  44  and the rotatable valve member  2  are thus contained within the housing  48 . The action of the spring  44  is to cause the rotatable valve member  2  to resiliently bear against the rearward face of the static valve member  3  and be in fluid sealing engagement therewith.  
         [0083]      FIG. 3  shows the valve/socket arrangement  202  in an assembled state wherein the socket comprises an annular wall  241  and six ports  240 , and said socket is configured to receive a suitably dimensional plug of a pressure garment/support. Each of the ports  241  is adapted to be connected to a respective conduit of a suitable plug with each conduit being connected to an inflatable cell or a group of inflatable cells.  
         [0084]     Rearward of the socket there is provided a housing  242  which accommodates, inter alia, rotatable and static valve components very similar to those described above. Moving further rearward there is provided an optical disc and sensor device for sensing the angular position of the rotatable valve component. Lastly a housing  243  accommodates a motor for driving the rotatable valve component.  
         [0085]     As best can be seen in  FIG. 2  the pump assembly  200  further comprises a control PCB  160 .  
         [0086]     The control PCB  160  is provided with control data which is representative of instructions for various inflation/deflation sequences for the respective valve/socket assemblies  201  and  202 . In particular the data relates to how the rotatable valve components and the pump unit are controlled so as to achieve a particular inflation/deflation sequence.  
         [0087]     The PCB  160  is provided with an input signal from the keypad  203 , and with inputs from the pressure and rotational position sensors of each valve/socket assembly.  
         [0088]     The pneumatic pump unit  210  of known type is adapted to provide pressures between 20 and 120 mmHg. The unit comprises two electromagnetically oscillating reed assemblies, used to drive two pairs of diaphragms and non-return valves. Use of two oscillating reed assemblies enables the unit to be balanced and acoustically quiet.  
         [0089]      FIGS. 24 and 25  show the innards of the pump assembly which comprises an internal housing  250  which is provided with four anti-vibration mounts  225  which contact with the external housing. An uppermost part  221  of the internal housing  250  comprises an electrical terminal box (unreferenced) to which the terminations are shown at  222 . The housing part  221  further comprises a series of moulded baffles which form a silencer. The principal part  223  of the inner housing comprises two chambers  224  which are each adapted to receive an oscillating reed assembly. Each assembly comprises two diaphragms  226  that act as bellows. The diaphragms  226  are sandwiched between two mounting plates  227 , each mounting plate  227  being provided with two non-return valves  235  which are fitted in opposing orientations so as to allow air in and out with each oscillation.  
         [0090]     Each pair of diaphragms  226  are actuated by a respective reed oscillator which comprises a resilient end  229  and a free end  230  which is provided with a permanent magnet.  
         [0091]     In use respective coil assemblies in parts of the housing adjacent the free ends  230  have alternating currents passed therethrough so causing the reed oscillators to oscillate in phase. Inlet and outlet apertures formed in the housing  223  and located in register with the non-return valves allow air to be drawn into each diaphragm and urged out respectively towards common air outlet elbow  214 .  
         [0092]     With reference to  FIG. 4  the common air outlet  214  is connected to inlets  213  which direct air to respective valve/socket arrangements  201  and  202  via respective non-return valves  215 . Each valve/socket assembly is provided with a pressure sensor  220  which is configured to measure the pressure of air in a cell or a group of cells of a garment or support.  
         [0093]     By way of example the sockets  209 ′ are adapted to receive plugs of pressure of therapy garments, for example a calf garment and a foot garment, and the socket  202  is adapted to receive the plug of a support, for example a mattress. Where three therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus are connected to the assembly  200  the control PCB is capable of simultaneously implementing respective inflation/deflation sequences for both valve/socket arrangements. It should be noted that the same inflation/deflation sequence is applied to both garments connected to the sockets  209 , however the garments may consist of a calf garment and a foot garment.  
         [0094]     The control PCB  160  is configured such that whenever either of the inflation/deflation sequences requires air to be fed into a garment/support the pump unit  210  is activated, otherwise the pump is not activated. In other words an ‘on-demand’ system is used. It is evident therefore that the pump unit  210  is of a sufficient capacity to be able to provide air to three inflatable cell apparatus simultaneously.  
         [0095]     It will be appreciated that the control PCB may be programmed to be capable of implementing more than one inflation/deflation sequence for each valve/socket assembly, and there may also be the possibility of a user being able to vary an inflation/deflation sequence (within certain parameters).  
         [0096]     The operation of the assembly  200  when connected to a pressure therapy garment is now described. A pressure therapy garment (for example a calf or a leg garment) is connected to one of the sockets  209 ′. The plug  130  is connected to the garment (not illustrated) by way of three flexible plastic tubes  132  (as seen in  FIG. 22 ) which provide fluid communication with respective cells of the garment.  
         [0097]     As is seen best in  FIG. 22  inner conduits  131  of the plug  130  engage with the limbs  105  of the respective valve plates  100  and urge said valve plates in a rearward direction against a resilient force of the associated springs  101  thus providing fluid communication between the inflatable cells of the garment and the ports  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  of the static valve member  3 .  
         [0098]     With reference to  FIG. 23  when the valve plates  100  act to seal the conduits  83  (ie when a therapy garment connector is not present or is not correctly positioned in a respective socket) said valve plate is seated on a chamfered shoulder  142 .  
         [0099]     As previously described the optical disc  41  enables the angular position of the rotatable valve member to be determined. The slot  52  is wider than the other slots  51  so as to indicate 0° position. As the optical disc is rotated the disc  41  will periodically block light from reaching the light detecting device provided on the limb  61  and will result in a signal that is effectively a square wave. Thus the slot  52  will produce a ‘pulse’ of longer duration which is indicative of 0° position and the number of subsequent pulses produced by the narrower slots  51  will determine the angular displacement from the 0° position. Since twenty four slots are provided the optical disc  41  enables a resolution of 15°. Signals from the sensor arrangement  42  are sent to the data processor of the PCB  160  and the rotatable valve member is rotated to a desired angular position in response to stored information as to a current angular position and the (feedback) signal received from the sensor arrangement  42  as the optical disc is rotated.  
         [0100]     During a start-up procedure it is first determined whether zero, one or two therapy products are connected to the pump assembly. On start up, the PCB  160  issues a signal to index the optical disc  41  first to the 0° and then to the 75° position, the first inflation position for the first pressure therapy product. A pulse of air of approximately  0 . 2  seconds duration is issued and the resulting back pressure in the rotatable valve assembly is measured by a pressure sensor  220  and logged. If a back pressure below a predetermined stored value is detected, this indicates that a product plug  130  is present in the corresponding connector socket because the air pulse is delivered past the opened valve plates  100  and into effectively an infinite volume. If a back pressure above the predetermined pressure value is detected, this indicates that there is no product present, because the closed shut off valve  100  results in the air pulse being delivered into the relatively small enclosed volume in the rotatable valve assembly.  
         [0101]     The PCB  160  then issues a signal to rotate the optical disc  41  to the 255° position, this is the first inflation position for the second product. The air pulse and detection procedure described above is repeated, and the PCB determines if a therapy product is present in the second connector socket of the valve/socket assembly  201 . The process is then further repeated for the socket of the valve/socket assembly  202 .  
         [0102]     The PCB  160  can now determine whether zero, one or two therapy products are present. The user is then required to manually inform the PCB  160 , by way of the user keypad  203 , of the type or types of therapy garment which is/are connected. For example, one or two leg garments could be attached, one or two foot garments could be attached, or a combination of two different product types could be attached.  
         [0103]     The required pressure control data stored in the memory of the PCB  160  for the particular therapy product type is then retrieved.  
         [0104]      FIG. 28  shows the various process steps  300  to  306  executed during the start-up procedure.  
         [0105]     A pressurised air inlet  110  is connected to the pneumatic pump  210 , such that in use air is urged into the housing  48 .  
         [0106]     The rotatable valve member  2  is initially rotated to 75° from the 0° position as shown in  FIG. 17 . In this position air is able to pass through one of the ports  11  and into port  14  of static valve member  3  and into port  16  of the same by virtue of the channel  21 . The pressure sensor  220  monitors the pressure of air in each of the conduits  83  which pressure measurements correspond to the pressure in the respective cells of the garment. It is important to note that the inflation time (i.e. the time for which the rotatable valve member  2  is held in a particular position) is dependent on the pressure measurements and not on a predetermined time. Signals indicative of the pressure readings are sent to the control PCB  160  from the pressure sensor  220  which is located in port  121  (see  FIG. 2 ), in the housing  46 .  
         [0107]     Once the predetermined pressure is reached the rotatable valve member is rotated to the 105° position shown in  FIG. 18  so that one of the ports  11  is brought into alignment with the upper channel  25  and the other port  11  is brought into alignment with the lower channel  28 . In such a position air is caused to inflate the cells which are in communication with the parts  1   5  and  18 .  
         [0108]      FIG. 19  shows the rotatable valve member in the 135° position in which the cells in communication with ports  16  and  19  of the static valve member  3  are inflated. The port  19  receives a supply of air via the channel  22 .  
         [0109]     The rotatable valve member is then rotated into the 80° position in which the blind recess  10  is brought into fluid communication with the branch channel portions  23  and  24  and the lower channel  26  and the upper channel  27 . In such a position the ports  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  are brought into fluid communication with the aperture  20  via the recess  10 . The aperture  20  is open to atmosphere and thus all the cells of both garments are deflated. The deflation process is similarly controlled in response to pressure measurements as described above.  
         [0110]     Two further positions of the rotatable valve member  2  are attainable, one of which is shown in  FIG. 21 . The port  12  is brought into alignment with the lower channel  28  so as to perform a so called kinked tube test on the centrally located connection tube between a plug in the lower socket  82  and the respective garment. If pressures above a predetermined level are measured in a selected conduit  83  then the PCB  160  causes an alarm signal to be activated.  
         [0111]     A further kinked tube test is also effected for the connection tube in communication with the port  15 .  
         [0112]     As should now be evident one rotation through 360° of the rotatable valve member  2  results in two inflation/deflation cycles.  
         [0113]     A significant advantage of the above described pump assembly  200  is that up to two different inflation/deflation sequences can be performed on up to three different therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus simultaneously from a single pump unit. In a modified embodiment additional sockets and/or socket/valve assemblies are provided so that additional inflation/deflation sequences can be performed simultaneously on additional therapeutic inflatable cell apparatus.  
         [0114]     It will be appreciated that the control PCB may be programmable to alter one or more parameters of stored inflation/deflation sequences.  
         [0115]     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments described above, it is evident that many alternatives, combinations, modifications and variations are apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of this invention, as set forth above are intended to be illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense. Various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.