Patent ID: 7810519

Claim:
A pneumatic compression apparatus for applying compression to a patient, the pneumatic compression apparatus comprising: a compression sleeve sized and shaped to be applied to a limb of the patient; a fluid connector apparatus connected for fluid communication with the compression sleeve, the fluid connector apparatus comprising; a first connector including a first plurality of fluid ports at least one of the fluid ports comprising a coupling port having a port seat therein defining a fluid orifice, a coupling fitting adapted for removably mating with the coupling port, a valve disposed in the coupling port for movement relative to the coupling port, the valve being operatively engaged with the coupling fitting when the coupling fitting is mated with the coupling port of the first connector to hold the valve away from the fluid orifice, the valve being disengaged from the coupling fitting when the coupling fitting is removed from the coupling port of the first connector, the valve moving upon removal of the coupling fitting from the coupling port into engagement with the port seat to reduce a dimension of the fluid orifice without completely closing the fluid orifice, the reduced dimension of the fluid orifice being sized to approximate pneumatic characteristics of fluid flow to a portion of the compression device when the valve is out of engagement with the port seat, the coupling fitting including an engagement portion engageable with the valve when the coupling fitting is mated with the coupling port of the first connector to hold the valve away from the fluid orifice, the valve including a plunger engageable with the engagement portion of the coupling port, and a spring biasing the valve seat toward the port seat in the coupling port.