Patent ID: 8043239

Claim:
A method for treating a patient, said method comprising: applying at least one housing having a shell to at least one body segment of the patient so as to at least partially surround the at least one body segment, said shell having an interior wall and an exterior wall, said interior wall containing air transfer openings permitting air flow into a space interior to the interior wall and spacer means having a number of elements sufficiently rigid to maintain said exterior wall in spaced relation with said interior wall, said elements having air transfer openings so as to permit air flow between said walls; supplying compressed gas from a device to supply pressurized gas to the at least one housing; and controlling the flow of compressed gas from the device to supply pressurized gas to the at least one housing and operation of a pump operable to cause negative pressure relative to atmospheric pressure be applied in accordance with cardiac systole and cardiac diastolic of the patient to apply a positive relative to atmospheric pressure and a negative relative to atmospheric pressure within said space in synchronization with heart function.