The present invention relates to an applicator and method for applying compression stockings, compression bandages and other elasticised stockingettes to the limbs of a wearer. The present invention is particularly well suited to application and removal of compression stockings in the elderly but is not so limited.
Compression stockings and compression bandages are widely used on the arms and legs of people suffering from various medical conditions. The compression stockings are well suited to treat, minimize or prevent odema in the legs, particularly of people suffering from congestive cardiac failure. Stockings and compression stockings are also well suited to treatment of varicose veins, some ulcers and some forms of vasulitis. Compression bandages are often used to minimize scarring in burns case and to prevent bleeding and seepage from open wounds.
While there are many therapeutic indications for the use of compression stockings, their use is not without its challenges. Compression stockings come in a variety of sizes and, with reference to the legs, they may vary in diameter and length for use below the knee or to mid-thigh. Further, the degree of compression provided by these bandages is graded into progressive classes of decreasing elasticity and associated compression. While subsequent discussion will be restricted to compression stockings, it should be understood that this expression extends to various types of stockings, compression bandages and the like for the purposes of this specification.
Application of compression stockings requires the exertion of considerable effort and the use of digital and hand strength. This is often beyond the capacity of elderly users of compression stockings providing the unacceptable situation where the compression stockings could provide great benefit but they are unable to be applied. Non compliance with treatment regimes involving the application of compression stockings by patients is common and is recognised as a major factor in recurrence of a variety of treatable community health issues.
One response of health systems is to allot time for community nurses or similar to visit patients in their residences and apply the compression stockings. However, they must then revisit that patient to remove the compression stocking at the end of the day or after a suitable period of time. A further risk in application of the stockings arises from the often devitalized nature of the skin of elderly patients. The risk of bruising and skin breakage is high when manipulating a compression stocking on to a limb manually. This can be a considerable problem with a predisposition to developing ulceration magnified by poor micro-circulation in the area.
There is also a significant economic detriment in having to fund the attendance of a community nurse many times at a patient's home. A significant percentage of the budget of many community health schemes is directed towards providing assistance to patients to apply and subsequently remove compression stockings. It is known to use some devices for pre-loading compression stockings for application to a limb. These devices vary in their degree of difficulty of use associated with loading the compression stocking, their physical size, accessibility of the limb to the device, and transportability. In addition, such devices do not provide a method of removing the compression stocking from the limb.
It would be of benefit to provide a solution, even if partial, to this dilemma.
In a first aspect, although not necessarily the only or indeed the broadest aspect, the invention resides in an applicator for compression stockings, bandages and the like, the applicator comprising:
Preferably the applicator is oval or cylindrical. In one form, the body may be made of any suitable material, preferably of a smooth nature facilitating sliding of the compression stocking on and off the applicator. The body may be formed from a metal or a polymeric material.
The body may be formed in two inter-engagable parts which are separable.
The top preferably includes an outwardly flared rim at least in part. The rim may be formed with an anterior section, an intermediate section and a posterior section. The rim preferably includes a notch extending downwardly and dimensioned to facilitate loading of the compression stocking or bandage on to the applicator. The notch may be in the anterior section.
The intermediate section of the rim is preferably slightly convex.
The rim is preferably outwardly flared in the posterior section to initially anchor the stocking during loading. The rim in the anterior section may also be outwardly flared. The flare should be sufficient to provide retentive friction to the compression stocking when loading.
The slots are preferably opposed and in a cylindrical version may be diametrically opposed. There are preferably two slots but may be four or more. The slots are longitudinally extending. An upper end of each slot may be expanded to permit easier gripping of the compression stocking when loading the applicator.
The base may be flared to provide a barrier to limit the downward travel of the stocking when loading.
The base preferably includes an anterior foot opening preferably a foot arch to facilitate passage of the foot and ankle of a user. The foot arch may be bracketed by forward reaching tongues to help stabilise the applicator when standing on the base.
The applicator preferably includes two spaced handles, the handles engaged with the body at or around the base. The handles may be flexible. The handles are preferably dimensioned to extend upward in variable length for use by a person self applying the compression stocking to their leg. The handles may be formed from a flexible cord and may be nylon or other hard wearing resistant synthetic. The handles may be removable.
The applicator preferably includes attachment means for attaching a removal device for removing the stocking. The attachments means may comprise two opposed mounting points adjacent or near the base. The mounting points may be lugs adapted to receive a yoke or other arrangement to assist in removal of the stocking. The applicator may include a flexible yoke for removable engagement with the lugs. The flexible yoke may be continuous with a cord for applying traction to the body when removing the compression stocking. The flexible cord may be engaged with a pulley or pulley system for fixing to a static point and providing the ability for a person to remove their own compression stocking.
The applicator preferably further includes one or more removal retaining clips which are removably engageable with the rim to thereby clamp an upper section of the compression stocking to the body and allow removal by movement of the body with stocking attached away from a user. Preferably two removal retaining clips are provided for clip fit between the top of each slot and adjacent rim. Alternatively the clips may comprise two opposable lockable jaws.
In a further aspect, the invention may reside in a method of donning a compression stocking, the method comprising the steps of:
The method may further include the steps of loading the compression stocking on the applicator by:
The method may further include removing the stocking from a limb of a user, by:
The method may also include the step of attaching a cord to or around a base of the applicator and applying traction force to the applicator preferably by engaging the cord through a pulley system back to the user to remove the compression stocking.
Referring first to
In
In
In
The foot section 27 is automatically centred by even application of the compression stocking onto the outer wall 29.
Once loaded a leg or a other limb of a user 30 is aligned with the loaded applicator 10 and stocking 23 which is then urged in direction of arrow 31. As the applicator is advanced the foot engages the foot section 27 of compression stocking and further upward movement leads to the compression stocking simply slipping off the outer surface of the applicator under tension to thereby provide an even tensioned unloading of the compression stocking onto the limb. Simplicity and advantage of the device is readily apparent. A person may self apply the compression stocking by using the flexible handles 16, 18 which are not shown in
The applicator 50 has two longitudinal slots 57, 58 which are diametrically opposed and expanded in their uppermost sections 59, 60. The base 61 has two forwardly extending tongues 62, 63 which bracket a foot arch 64 in the anterior wall. The base 61 is open to provide a passageway 65 through the bottom of the applicator.
Two opposed lugs are formed or mounted adjacent to the base. The right hand lug 66 is visible and the left hand lug is not visible but is opposed to the right hand lug and on the opposite side of the applicator.
Two flexible and adjustable handles 67, 68 are provided and are engaged at or adjacent the base of the applicator. The handles may be removable.
In
In
In seeking to remove the compression stocking, the same applicator 50 may be used as shown in
The same modified device may also be beneficial when used on an arm of a patient.
The advantages of the present invention are readily apparent. A person may, unless severely disabled, apply their own compression stockings or bandages, particularly to the leg. This is also useful for an arm. Alternatively, a carer may use the present device for easy application with little risk of damage to the skin of the patient. A person wearing the compression stocking may put it on or remove it at will and may better suit the period of application to their particular therapeutic needs. Health workers will be called on less frequently and thereby provide a saving in both their time and economic outlay. The device is preferably made from a robust easily cleanable material that can be readily sterilised in the event of contamination with any bodily fluids. The flexible handles may be made to removably attach to the body which allows for their removal for use of the applicator by a carer or for cleaning. The handles may be formed from any material and any way that is suitable. They may even be formed as a solid or adjustable length handle.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU2007/000083 | 1/30/2007 | WO | 00 | 1/28/2010 |