US-20260124099-A1 - LYMPHEDEMA COMPRESSION SLEEVE APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

US20260124099A1US 20260124099 A1US20260124099 A1US 20260124099A1US-20260124099-A1

Abstract

A lymphedema compression sleeve apparatus and system. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a compression sleeve apparatus configured to apply variable pressure to a user's arm or leg via the use of a plurality of electric motors and wires/filaments disposed along a length of the compression sleeve apparatus. The plurality of electric motors may each comprise a shaft configured to drive one or more means for gathering a length of the wires/filaments in order to shorten the wires/filaments. The wires/filaments may be circumferentially disposed around the user's arm or leg when the compression sleeve apparatus is worn by the user. The action of shortening the wires/filaments via the electric motors creates pressure on the surface of the user's arm or leg to treat lymphedema symptoms. The plurality of electric motors may be engaged in a sequence to create a peristaltic action along the length of the compression sleeve.

Inventors

Desmond J. Pepe

Assignees

Desmond J. Pepe

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251201

Claims (20)

1 . A compression sleeve apparatus comprising: a sleeve comprising a fabric material, the sleeve being configured to be worn on an extremity of a user's body; a plurality of motors disposed along a length of the sleeve between a first end and a second end of the sleeve; a plurality of filaments disposed around a circumference of the sleeve, wherein each filament in the plurality of filaments is concealed between a first surface of the sleeve and a second surface of the sleeve such that each filament in the plurality of filaments is concealed from view and is separated from a surface of the user's skin when the sleeve is worn by the user, wherein each filament in the plurality of filaments is individually coupled to a shaft of a corresponding one of the plurality of motors such that the filament defines a loop around the circumference of the sleeve, wherein each motor in the plurality of motors is configured to rotate the shaft in a first direction to wind the corresponding filament around an axis of the shaft and to rotate the shaft in a second direction to unwind the corresponding filament from around the axis of the shaft; a controller operably engaged with the plurality of motors via at least one bus, the controller being configured to selectively engage each motor in the plurality of motors in the first direction and the second direction; and a power source operably engaged with the controller and the plurality of motors to provide electrical power to the controller and the plurality of motors.
2 . The compression sleeve apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each motor in the plurality of motors comprises a bi-directional direct current (DC) motor.
3 . The compression sleeve apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to engage the plurality of motors in a sequence such that the loops defined by the plurality of filaments are tightened and loosened in succession along the length of the sleeve to generate a peristaltic wave between the first end of the sleeve and the second end of the sleeve.
4 . The compression sleeve apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the peristaltic wave begins at a distal portion of the extremity and propagates toward a proximal portion of the extremity.
5 . The compression sleeve apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to engage the plurality of motors according to a plurality of selectable compression classes, each compression class corresponding to a different torque level applied to at least one of the plurality of motors so as to generate a corresponding pressure range via the plurality of filaments.
6 . The compression sleeve apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of selectable compression classes comprise class 1, class 2, class 3, and class 4 settings corresponding respectively to 20-30 mmHg, 30-40 mmHg, 40-50 mmHg, and 50-60 mmHg.
7 . The compression sleeve apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pressure sensors communicably engaged with the controller, the plurality of pressure sensors being configured to provide at least one pressure measurement associated with the plurality of filaments, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of one or more of the plurality of motors based at least in part on the at least one pressure measurement.
8 . The compression sleeve apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each filament in the plurality of filaments is constructed from wire or monofilament line and is housed in a pocket formed between the first surface of the sleeve and the second surface of the sleeve.
9 . The compression sleeve apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more pressure-distributing members disposed on or within the sleeve and configured to receive pressure from at least a portion of the plurality of filaments and distribute the pressure over a region of the extremity, wherein the one or more pressure-distributing members comprise at least one of: a rigid insert, a wire mesh, or one or more wires oriented along the length of the sleeve and intersecting the plurality of filaments.
10 . A compression sleeve system comprising: a compression sleeve apparatus, the compression sleeve apparatus comprising: a sleeve comprising a fabric material, the sleeve being configured to be worn on an extremity of a user's body; a plurality of motors disposed along a length of the sleeve between a first end and a second end of the sleeve; a plurality of filaments disposed around a circumference of the sleeve, wherein each filament in the plurality of filaments is concealed between a first surface of the sleeve and a second surface of the sleeve such that each filament in the plurality of filaments is concealed from view and is separated from a surface of the user's skin when the sleeve is worn by the user, wherein each filament in the plurality of filaments is individually coupled to a shaft of a corresponding one of the plurality of motors such that the filament defines a loop around the circumference of the sleeve, wherein each motor in the plurality of motors is configured to rotate the shaft in a first direction to wind the corresponding filament around an axis of the shaft and to rotate the shaft in a second direction to unwind the corresponding filament from around the axis of the shaft; a controller operably engaged with the plurality of motors via at least one bus, the controller being configured to selectively engage each motor in the plurality of motors in the first direction and the second direction; a power source operably engaged with the controller and the plurality of motors to provide electrical power to the controller and the plurality of motors; a wireless communications interface operably coupled to the controller; and an external electronic device configured to communicate with the controller via the wireless communications interface, wherein the external electronic device comprises a user interface configured to allow a user to command one or more operational modes of the controller.
11 . The compression sleeve system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the operational modes comprises engaging the plurality of motors in a sequence to generate a peristaltic wave between the first end of the sleeve and the second end of the sleeve.
12 . The compression sleeve system of claim 11 , wherein the peristaltic wave produces a graded pressure profile in which pressure applied by the plurality of filaments is greater at a distal portion of the extremity and less at a proximal portion of the extremity.
13 . The compression sleeve system of claim 10 , wherein the external electronic device comprises a smartphone running an application configured to display current operating parameters of the compression sleeve apparatus and to receive user input for selecting the one or more operational modes.
14 . The compression sleeve system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate real-time activity data for the compression sleeve apparatus to the external electronic device via the wireless communications interface, and wherein the external electronic device is configured to display the real-time activity data at the user interface.
15 . The compression sleeve system of claim 14 , further comprising an application server communicably engaged with the external electronic device, the application server being configured to receive the real-time activity data, to analyze the real-time activity data in combination with user-provided symptom information, and to transmit updated operating parameters for the compression sleeve apparatus based at least in part on the analysis.
16 . A method of applying compression therapy to an extremity of a user, the method comprising: providing a compression sleeve apparatus comprising: a sleeve comprising a fabric material configured to be worn on an extremity of a user's body; a plurality of motors disposed along a length of the sleeve between a first end and a second end of the sleeve; a plurality of filaments disposed around a circumference of the sleeve, wherein each filament in the plurality of filaments is concealed between a first surface of the sleeve and a second surface of the sleeve such that each filament in the plurality of filaments is concealed from view and is separated from a surface of the user's skin when the sleeve is worn by the user, wherein each filament in the plurality of filaments is individually coupled to a shaft of a corresponding one of the plurality of motors such that the filament defines a loop around the circumference of the sleeve; a controller operably engaged with the plurality of motors via at least one bus; and a power source operably engaged with the controller and the plurality of motors; placing the sleeve on the extremity of the user such that the plurality of filaments are circumferentially disposed around the extremity; and operating the controller to selectively energize the plurality of motors so that the shafts of the plurality of motors rotate in a first direction to wind the corresponding filaments around axes of the shafts to tighten the loops and apply radial pressure to the extremity, and rotate in a second direction to unwind the corresponding filaments from around the axes of the shafts to release the radial pressure from the extremity.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein operating the controller comprises engaging the plurality of motors in a sequence to generate a peristaltic wave of radial pressure along the length of the sleeve.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the peristaltic wave is configured to promote movement of lymphatic fluid from a distal portion of the extremity toward a proximal portion of the extremity.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising: measuring pressure associated with the plurality of filaments using a plurality of pressure sensors communicably engaged with the controller; and adjusting operation of at least one of the plurality of motors based at least in part on the measured pressure.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising: communicating activity data associated with operation of the compression sleeve apparatus and self-reported symptom information from the user to a remote computing system; analyzing, at the remote computing system, the activity data and the self-reported symptom information; and updating one or more operating parameters of the compression sleeve apparatus based at least in part on results of the analyzing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/819,128 , filed Aug. 29, 2024 and entitled, “LYMPHEDEMA COMPRESSION SLEEVE APPARATUS AND SYSTEM,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein in its entirety at least by virtue of this reference. FIELD The present disclosure relates to the field of lymphedema compression sleeves; in particular, a lymphedema compression sleeve apparatus and system comprising a variable pressure means and a peristaltic action means. BACKGROUND Compression sleeves and garments for lymphedema can help reduce pain and swelling by moving accumulated fluids away from the affected area (e.g., a person's extremities). Lymphedema sleeves and other compression garments are typically made of stretchy fabric that exerts pressure on the surface of a person's extremity when worn. This pressure helps drain the excess lymph that has accumulated in said areas. In general, there are two types of compression sleeves: daytime and nighttime lymphedema sleeves. Daytime lymphedema sleeves are typically configured to exert less pressure than nighttime lymphedema sleeves. Lymphedema compression sleeves are available off-the-shelf (i.e., ready-to-wear) or custom-made to a patient's measurements and functional specification (e.g., desired pressure). They come in a number of different styles and materials. Some daytime lymphedema sleeves also come with a glove or gauntlet already attached. Lymphedema sleeves come in different classes that are configured to exert different levels of pressure to the user's extremity. For example, in the United States, there are four pressure levels for lymphedema sleeves including class 1 sleeves, which are configured to exert 20 mmHg to 30 mmHg of pressure; class 2 sleeves, which are configured to exert 30 mmHg to 40 mmHg of pressure; class 3 sleeves, which are configured to exert 40 mmHg to 50 mmHg of pressure; and class 4 sleeves, which are configured to exert 50 mmHg to 60 mmHg of pressure. Due to the wide variety of arm sizes of users, and the variability of arm sizes caused by lymphedema symptoms, it is often difficult for users to find suitable off-the-shelf lymphedema sleeves—thereby requiring more expensive custom solutions. Additionally, since lymphedema symptoms can vary in severity over time, a user may also need multiple different classes of sleeves to treat their symptoms over time. This can also increase the cost of effective lymphedema treatment. SUMMARY The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide for a compression sleeve apparatus comprising a sleeve comprising a fabric material, the sleeve being configured to be worn on an extremity of a user's body; a plurality of motors disposed along a length of the sleeve between a first end and a second end of the sleeve; a plurality of filaments disposed around a circumference of the sleeve, wherein each filament in the plurality of filaments is operably engaged with each motor in the plurality of motors, wherein each motor in the plurality of motors is configured to wind each filament around an axis of a shaft when each motor in the plurality of motors is engaged in a first direction and unwind each filament from around the axis of the shaft when each motor in the plurality of motors is engaged in a second direction; a controller operably engaged with the plurality of motors via at least one bus, wherein the controller is operably configured to selectively engage each motor in the plurality of motors in the first direction and the second direction; and a power source operably engaged with the controller and the plurality of motors to provide a flow of power to the controller and the plurality of motors. In accordance with certain embodiments of the compression sleeve apparatus, the controller may be operably configured to selectively engage each motor in the plurality of motors in a sequence. In certain embodiments, the sequence comprises a peristaltic wave sequence between the first end of the sleeve and the second end of the sleeve. In certain embodiments, the controller may be operably configured to selectively engage each motor in the plurality of motors according to two or more pressure controls for winding each filament in the plurality of filaments around the axis of the shaft. In said embodiments, the compression sleeve apparatus may further comprise a plurality of pressure sensors communicably engaged with the controller to provide at least one pressure measurement