Patent ID: 7767874

Claim:
A medical device for removal of excess fluids from body tissue, comprising: a composite multilayered assembly for compressing body tissue of a patient in a controlled and graduated manner, said composite multilayered assembly having an outer layer; an inner layer for engaging or contacting the skin about an affected portion of the body of a patient, said inner layer cooperating with said outer layer to enhance uniform distribution of compression about the affected portion of the patient; and flexible intermediate layers positioned between said outer layer and said inner layer, said flexible intermediate layers comprising an elastomeric layer having a different composition and structure than said inner and outer layers, said elastomeric layer being flexible to conform to the affected portion of the body of the patient; and a resilient layer secured to said elastomeric layer, said resilient layer having a different composition and structure than said inner and outer layers, said resilient layer selected from the group consisting of an array, series, set, matrix, pattern, and plurality of discrete spaced elastomeric components, channels between said spaced elastomeric components on a surface of said resilient layer to enhance flow of excess fluids from the body tissue of the patient, and each of said elastomeric components having a maximum span smaller than said elastomeric layer and being smaller than said outer layer and said inner layer, a converging section defining substantially straight tapered lines, tapered channels, or tapered cannels for augmenting gradient pressure and enhancing flow of excess fluids away from the affected portion of the body of the patient; said tapered lines including longitudinally extending tapered lines and/or laterally extending tapered lines; and said tapered channels including at least one longitudinally extending, tapered channel and/or at least one laterally extending tapered channel.