Design of a non-invasive pulse rate controlled deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis lower limb device.

Patients with lower limb dysfunctions have a risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) symptoms if they are in a sitting posture for a long duration. In addition, unconscious patients undergoing a long hour surgery are also prone to DVT problems which further complicates the health of the patient under treatment. A prototype design in the form of an assistive and portable device to overcome deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is developed for surgical and non-surgical applications. The portable device facilitates the movement of the lower limb around the ankle to promote blood flow and overcome DVT problem. The device is designed using a pair of actuators that translates the linear motion to axial flexion and extension movement of the ankle. The ankle movement is synchronized with the patient's heartbeats to promote blood flow and complete the venous movement. In addition, an electrically driven intermittent pneumatic compression layer is wrapped around the calf muscle to further enhance the blood flow in the lower limb. The integrated device is lightweight and portable which can be issued by the hospital centers to the patients for domestic utilization.