Inflatable anti-shock and splinting trousers

Abstract

Several embodiments of inflatable trousers and their auxiliary equipment are disclosed whereby the trousers are inflated in a controlled and precise manner. The form of the garment facilitates application to an infirmed individual by having a front and rear panel which are integral along the inseam of the legs, are separate at the top of an abdominal region, the region of the perineum and at the bottoms of the legs, and are separable along the outer side margins from the top to the bottoms of the legs. Fasteners such as slide fasteners are provided for selective closure along the outer side margins of the garment. One or more inflatable chambers are located within the garment to extend over substantial regions thereof and impose pressure over the enclosed body portion as the entire enclosed abdominal area and both legs or, selectively, the respective legs and an abdominal region. A relatively rigid outer reinforcing panel militates against ballooning in the abdominal region. Selective valving between the chambers and the exterior of the garment enables gas pressure adjustments within the respective chambers as where treatment requires access to a leg or the lower abdomen. Aneroid gauge couplings and bleed valves either in the pressurizing gas lines or in separate conduits to the chamber interiors facilitate precise adjustment of pressures. Color coding of controls, gauges and conduits and/or their couplings facilitate utilization of polychambered garments.