Importance

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Abstract

A garment includes a compression system useful for stimulating venous and/or arterial blood flow in a limb, such as the foot or leg, by applying cyclic compressive pressures thereto. The garment has at least one inflatable bladder which is gradually inflated to slowly compress the foot substantially in the sole, the upper dorsi-medial areas, and dorsi-lateral areas of the foot, and then deflated to rapidly release the pressure. The muscle mass of the foot is thus squeezed and, upon sudden release, reactive hyperaemia is produced which increases arterial inflow, thus increasing venous flow in the foot and/or the leg thereof. The compression system may be used alone or in conjunction with a garment of similar structure, applied to other portions of the limb, such as the calf or thigh, for simultaneous or sequential stimulation of venous blood flow in the limb.

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First Claim