US 12,083,036 B2
Chamber cushion, seal and use thereof
Jerome K. Aarestad, Escondido, CA (US); Kent Gandola, San Diego, CA (US); David Giuntoli, San Diego, CA (US); and Jeff Mullally, La Mesa, CA (US)
Assigned to SOMMETRICS, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by SOMMETRICS, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/982,381.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/260,211, filed on Nov. 25, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0055975 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61H 9/00 (2006.01); A61F 5/56 (2006.01); A61F 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 5/56 (2013.01) [A61H 9/0057 (2013.01); A61F 2013/00174 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1609 (2013.01); A61H 2201/165 (2013.01); A61H 2205/026 (2013.01); A61H 2205/04 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a therapy device configured for the administration of negative pressure upon an external location of a human overlying the anterior triangle of the neck, the method comprising:
providing a vessel configured to define a chamber at the external location of the human;
providing a cushion element comprising a fluidly sealed chamber, a non-flowing material positioned within the fluidly sealed chamber, the non-flowing material configured to provide mechanical support to the fluidly sealed chamber to prevent regional collapse of the fluidly sealed chamber when the therapy device is mated to the human and a therapeutic level of negative pressure is applied within the vessel, and
providing a semi-rigid ribbon layer positioned within the fluidly sealed chamber and on a surface of the non-flowing material; the semi-rigid-ribbon layer providing rigidity which is configured to displace a load of the fluidly sealed chamber when the therapeutic level of negative pressure is applied,
affixing the cushion element on a peripheral edge of the vessel to define a skin contact surface at the external location such that the cushion element lies between the peripheral edge of the vessel and the skin contact surface.