Title of Invention

A DEVICE FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROVIDING RELIEF FOR PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ELEPHANTIASIS / FILARIASIS

Abstract According to the present invention there Is provided a device for management and providing relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis of leg type of ailments comprising shaped bag fabricated in such a manner to match the contour and shape of human leg, the said bag consists of two walls being front wall and back wall, the upper and lower parts of said front wall and back wall being made of any flexible material, the said walls being fully sealed on one side and partly on other side, means for sealing the opened side provided therein, atleast two valves being fitted on the upper portion of the bag, one for inserting compressed air and second for measuring the pressure, means for preventing excessive bulging of outer wall height tapes are being provided inside the double walls of the bag.
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The present invention relates to device for management and providing relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis of a leg type ailments.
Elephantiasis type of element is commonly referred to as Filariasis, which is characterised by gross thickening of skin and connective tissue, especially of legs caused by blockage of lymphatic vessels, usually by infestation with filaria worms. This is a major public health problem in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
It has reported that in India about 27 million people carry microfilaria caused by larvae of adult worms in their blood and 21 million people have filariasis. Recent studies reveal that about 412 million people living in endemic areas in India are at risk.
PROBLEMS OF FILARIA PATIENT:
Filaria is not a killing disease but is responsible for great suffering to the patient on massive swelling of leg. Elephantiasis is the end result of filariasis. This is hyperplasia of skin and connective tissue.

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On super infection on the affected part may lead to septic lymphangities or abscess formation.
It is a social stigma particularly among the unmarried women.
It has been found that surgery in an earlier stage of Elephantiasis to open pathways for lymphatic obstruction may be helpful. Excision by surgery of adventitious tissue sometimes provides relief to the patient, but adventitious tissue may grow again. This type of surgical operations are expensive and the patient has to be confined in bed for a long period.
Management of elephantiasis/filariasis using drugs is also in vogue and may be effective to reduce the massive swelling but in good number of patients exhibit serious allergic reactions. The common drug used is Diethyl Carbamazine (DEC). However, the same is toxic in nature and cannot be prescribed particularly to pregnant women, people having heart ailments, liver diseases and kidney troubles.
It has been further reported that application of elastic bandage may help for forcing lymph out of the affected site. However this has

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disadvantages - in that pressure cannot be measured and pressure is nonuniform on the affected part Furthermore, the patient feels discomfort and pain if the elastic bandage is excessively tightened. If bandage is loose, no purpose would be served. Repeated use of the tape looses its effectiveness of elasticity.
It has therefore, been a long felt need to develop such a device which obviates the disadvantages mentioned above.
It has been further long felt need to develop such devices which not only is cheaper in cost but is easy to handle and reusable and has lonqer
life.
These and other objects have been achieved by the proposed device of the present invention.
The basic utility of the device of the present invention is to provide relieve to the sufferings of the huge number of Filaria patients by providing

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a pressure device for the management of Filariasis massive swelling of leg as a treatment to the affected people under minimum medical supervision or under persons having a little training.
According to the present invention there is provided a device for management and providing relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis of a Leg type of ailments comprising 'L' shaped bag fabricated in such a manner to match the contour and shape of human leg, the said bag consists of two walls being front wall and back wall, the upper and lower parts of said front wall and back wall being made of any flexible material, the said walls being fully sealed on one side and partly on other side, means for sealing the opened side provided therein, atleast two valves being fitted on the upper portion of the bag, one for inserting compressed air and second for measuring the air pressure, means such as height tapes for preventing excessive bulging of outer walls being provided inside the double walls of the bag.
The other end of the bag is partially sealed at thigh portion and a flexible material is made of natural rubber coated with cotton fabric,

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synthetic fabric, synthetic material and/or combination thereof. The said means for excessive bulging of walls, when compressed air is inserted consists of height tapes which are built in between the double walls of the bag. The said height tapes are provided in the center of the bag and on the sides of the bag to retain the shape of the bag.
The said taping means are preferably provided at the thigh end to retain the shape of leg. For reinforcement and stitching line, likewise taping means are provided. Taping means may be made of any conventional material like rubberised cotton fabric, cotton fabric, synthetic fabric and/or combination thereof.
We shall now describe the present invention with reference to accompany drawings which are given by way of illustration but do not restrict the scope of invention.
1. Fig. 1 illustrates the device of present invention in deflated condition;

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2. Fig. 2 shows the device of present invention in inflatable condition;
3. Fig. 3 shows schematic representation of the bag of the present invention.
The bag of present invention is more or less appeared to be an English alphabet 'L' shaped which consists of foot end 4 and thigh end 3 and is made out of rubberised cotton fabric or any other like material such as cotton, synthetic material and/or combination thereof.
Fastening means 2 is provided between the foot and knee portion of the bag. Two air valves (1) are provided on the thigh end for pumping compressed air and for measuring the air pressure by manometer or any other conventional means.
Height tape 5 is provided preferably in the middle of the bag between the double walls of the bag to control excessive bulging of walls when compressed air is inserted through air valve 1 and could transmit the pressure on the patient's leg. Height tape 6 is provided at the thigh area to maintain the shape of bag.

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These height tapes are built in between the 2 layers on all inner sides of the bag to maintain the shape of bag when inflated (8).
To provide extra reinforcement, tapes with stitching are provided (9) and (10). Rubberised cotton fabric being used for making the body of the bag (11).
At the foot end, control tape (7) is provided to retain the shape of the bag. Likewise, at thigh end inside taping (8) is provided to retain the shape of bag.
It is also preferable to provide tape (9) for reinforcement which are stitched at the outer edge of the bag at leg and thigh portion of the bag.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:
The device of the present invention is made out of natural rubber coated cotton fabric double wall 'L' shaped bag fabricated in such a manner

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to match the contour and shape of a human leg. The bag can be easily inserted on the swelled leg of a Filaria patient covering the foot to thigh like an inflatable sack.
Two rubber made valves fitted on the upper portion of the bag, one is for inserting compressed air second one is connected to a manometer to measure the pressure of the air compressed inside the bag.
A plastic slide fastener of from 30cm to 40cm long is fitted at the tower halves of the bag for easy donning and doffing. Air pressure may be applied between the walls of the bag, gradually inflated and exert uniform pressure through out the circumferences of the swelled leg of the patient Air pressure can be measured with the help of a manometer or any other instrument and the pressure can be from 0.5 to 4 psi maximum.
To prevent excessive expansion of the outer wall of the bag, height tapes are used inside the double walls of the bag as controlling parts during the fabrication of the device.

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The bag is highly flexible, comfortable to use because the outer walls are made out of cotton fabric or like material. It can be usable for years together. It is hygienic and is made out of Bio-degradabie materials like natural rubber and cotton fabric.
Compressed air may be inserted with the help of manually operated foot-pump or by small electrically operated air compressor or simply by hand operated bicycle pump. Hence, the device can be used for the management of elephantiasis/filariasis even in remote areas.
The total bag is fabricated out of unvulcanised rubberised fabric and simultaneously vulcanised to make the joints permanently sealed to ensure that the whole bag is fully leak proof and highly flexible to provide comfort to the patient while use.
After vulcanization the bag is stitched to give the desired shape. Rubberised tapes are stitched at the joints to give extra reinforcement to the sack. Slide fastener is fitted by stitching on the outer profile of the bag for easy put on over the swelled leg of the patient.

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No synthetic fabric has been used which may cause discomfort to the patient while use because of its non breathable character. And the synthetic fabric is not biodegradable may be allergic to the ailing patient
Pressurisation of the lymph at the stage of lymphoedema of a Fileria patient with a measured air pressure by the help of the invented highly flexible inflatable bag will be of great help for forcing lymph out of the affected site.
This will help to reduce the excessive swelling which is the cause of suffering to the filaria patient On repeated administration of this pressure treatment by this method will help in reducing the swelling of the patient The amount of pressure necessary for the patient and the number of sittings required at a particular stage of lymphoedema are to be advised by the medical practitioner.

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WE CLAIM:
1. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis of leg type of ailments comprising 'L' shaped bag fabricated in such a manner to match the contour and shape of human leg, the said bag consists of two walls being front wall and back wall, the upper (3) and lower parts (4) of said front wall and back wall being made of any flexible material, the said walls being fully sealed on one side and partly on other side, means for sealing the opened side provided therein, at least two valves (1) being fitted on the upper portion of the bag, one for inserting compressed air and second for measuring the pressure, means for preventing excessive bulging of outer wall height tapes (5,6) are being provided inside the double walls of the bag.
2. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible material is made of natural rubber coated with cotton fabric, synthetic fabric, synthetic material and/or combination thereof.
3. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein the other end of the bag is partially sealed at thigh portion (3).
3.
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4. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the said means for fastening (2) consists of chain or slide fastener or Velcro tapes (5, 6) or the like.
5. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the said means for excessive bulging of walls when compressed air is inserted consists of height tapes (5, 6) which are built in between the double walls of the bag.
6. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said height tapes (5, 6) are provided in the center of the bag or on the sides of the bag.
7. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 6, wherein taping means are provided to retain the shape of the bag.
8. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in claim 1, wherein taping means are provided at the thigh end (3) to retain the shape of bag.
8.
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9. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 8, wherein taping means arc provided with stitching (9, 10) for reinforcement.
10. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said taping means arc made of any conventional taping material like rubberized cotton fabric, synthetic fabric and/or combination thereof.
11. A device for management and providing-relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis for management and providing relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis of a Leg type of ailments substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 26th day of August 1998
According to the present invention there Is provided a device for management and providing relief for patients suffering from Elephantiasis/Filariasis of leg type of ailments comprising shaped bag fabricated in such a manner to match the contour and shape of human leg, the said bag consists of two walls being front wall and back wall, the upper and lower parts of said front wall and back wall being made of any flexible material, the said walls being fully sealed on one side and partly on other side, means for sealing the opened side provided therein, atleast two valves being fitted on the upper portion of the bag, one for inserting compressed air and second for measuring the pressure, means for preventing excessive bulging of outer wall height tapes are being provided inside the double walls of the bag.

Documents:


Patent Number 195746
Indian Patent Application Number 1531/CAL/1998
PG Journal Number 30/2009
Publication Date 24-Jul-2009
Grant Date 16-Dec-2005
Date of Filing 26-Aug-1998
Name of Patentee BENGAL WATERPROOF LTD.
Applicant Address 'DUCKBACK HOUSE' 4TH FLOOR, 41, SHAKESPEARE SARANI, CALCUTTA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 BIRESWAR BANERJEE B12/3, KARUMAYEE ESTATE, SALT LAKE, CALCUTTA 700091
PCT International Classification Number N/A
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA