Patent Application
20240225909
This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/EP2021/064951, filed Jun. 3, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
The present disclosure relates to a compression garment including a pants section, for example for use in the treatment of lymphatic diseases.
Garments which are able to apply pressure to a body part of a subject are known as compression garments and have been used for a variety of therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications, such as treating lymphedema, enhancing athletic performance or for cosmetic purposes. The application of pressure to the affected body part can alleviate symptoms of lymphatic disease and prevent or slow disease progression.
Prerequisite for a successful compression therapy is a proper fit of the garment. Garments which fit poorly on the affected body part will reduce adherence of the patient, i.e. reduce the amount of time in which the patient is wearing the garment, and will also not produce the desired compression level in all areas of the affected body part. In particular for strongly affected body parts, which can have a large diameter and an uneven surface morphology, it can be difficult to ensure a good, long-lasting fit of the garment. For such body parts, it has, thus, become routine to manufacture customized garments which are specifically adapted to the body part by manufacturing the garments based on measurements of the respective body part.
One body area, in which it is frequently difficult to ensure a proper and comfortable fit of compression pants or tights, is the area of the buttocks, hips and belly. Patients suffering from lipedema in this area often have a hip and belly area with a large circumference in comparison with a rather small waist. At present, the rear side of compressive pants can include two individual pieces of a knitted fabric, each covering one buttock, which are connected with a seam that is adapted to be located approximately over the intergluteal cleft of the wearer. Alternatively, the front and the back of the pants are knitted independently and connected with seams on the sides of the wearer. According to patient's feedback, prior art seams are often perceived as annoying, rubbing and sometimes uncomfortable when sitting because tension can appear on the seam. Seams are less flexible than the knitted material, especially if two seams overlap. Moreover, current products only have little adaptation to the anatomical shape of men and women, as the upper part is regularly knitted into a tube-like shape. This not only leads to a lack of comfort when the garment is worn, but can also result in an irregular compression profile along the leg.
There is, thus, a need in the art for well-fitting compression pants with an improved, i.e. accurate, compression profile along the length of the leg, buttock, hip and belly region of a wearer.
The compression garments as described herein include a pants section with a rear side that has a seamless insert covering at least part of both buttocks (butt cheeks). The width as well as the shape of the insert can be adapted to the size and shape of the wearer's buttocks, thus, providing a highly comfortable and therapeutically accurate garment.
In a first aspect, the disclosure relates to a compression garment including a pants section with a rear side, wherein the rear side includes an insert, a first side section and a second side section, the first side section being connected to a first side of the insert, the second side section being connected to a second side of the insert, wherein the insert is adapted to extend over at least part of both buttocks of a wearer, and wherein the insert consists of a seamless knitted fabric.
The compression garment is suitable for use in the treatment or prevention of various diseases or conditions which require treatment or prevention with compression therapy. These diseases and conditions include diseases and conditions treated with garments of Compression Class 1, Compression Class 2, Compression Class 3 or Compression Class 4. Diseases and conditions treated with garments having Compression Class 1 (CCL 1) can be e.g. selected from the group consisting of tired, heavy, aching legs; minor varices without edema; mild swelling of the feet, ankles and legs; onset of pregnancy-related varices; primary or secondary lymphedema in International Society of Lymphology (ISL) stages I-III; and lipedema. Diseases and conditions treated with garments having Compression Class 2 (CCL 2) can be e.g. selected from the group consisting of tired, heavy, aching legs; moderate to severe varices with and without edema; moderate to severe pregnancy-related varices with and without edema; moderate edema; chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) C3-C5 according to CEAP; venous edema, skin alterations; healed ulcus cruris; venous ulcers; superficial thrombophlebitis/SVT; diseases and conditions resulting from vein surgery; diseases or conditions resulting from sclerotherapy; post-traumatic edema; post-operative edema; primary or secondary lymphedema in ISL stage II; phlebolymphedema; lipedema. Diseases and conditions treated with garments having Compression Class 3 (CCL 3) can e.g. be selected from the group consisting of severe varices with or without edema; severe edema; chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) C3-C6 according to CEAP; venous edema; skin alterations; healed ulcus cruris; ulcus cruris; venous ulcers; post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS); superficial thrombophlebitis/SVT; conditions or diseases after vein surgery; conditions or diseases after sclerotherapy; primary or secondary lymphedema in ISL stage II; risk of rapid edema rebound; and lipedema. The lymphedema can be e.g. lymphedema with or without shape distortions.
The disclosure also relates to methods for the treatment or prevention of any of the aforementioned diseases by wearing the compression garment described herein as well as to the compression garment for use in a method of treatment or prevention of any of the aforementioned diseases by wearing the compression garment.
Depending on the location and extent of the disease, patients require compression therapy in different areas of the lower body. The compression garment can, e.g., be pants or tights, wherein pants can be of different lengths and the tights can e.g. be open-toe or closed-toe tights. The compression garment can also be a hybrid of pants and tights, i.e. a pant-like structure having one closed-toe leg such as a tight and one pants leg. The terms “tights” and “pantyhose” are used synonymously herein. Additionally, the terms “pants” and “pair of pants” are used synonymously herein.
The upper (cranial/proximal) end of the pants or tights can be adapted to end in the hip or waist region of the wearer or it can reach up to the rib region. In the area of the legs, i.e. the distal part of the pants, the pants can be adapted to end around the thighs, e.g. the proximal or distal part of the thighs, proximally or distally from the knee, around the lower leg, e.g. in the proximal or distal part of the lower leg, proximally or distally from the ankle or around the feet. Some patients require the compression treatment only or predominantly in one leg and not in the other. A garment with leg sections of different lengths is, therefore, also possible. Any combination of the aforementioned embodiments of pants or tights is contemplated herein. The garment may, e.g. have one leg in a closed-toe tights configuration and a second leg that is adapted to end proximally of the knee of the wearer.
The garment is suitable to exert a therapeutic, pre-determined pressure on the body part or the body parts on which it is worn, when worn correctly. For this purpose, the garment is preferably a customized compression garment, i.e. manufactured taking the circumferences and lengths of the legs and lower torso of the wearer into account. Nevertheless, the garment can also be a premade, i.e. off-the-shelf, garment. The wearer, i.e. the patient in need of treatment, would then choose the garment that has the best fit. The “wearer” mentioned herein is usually a patient, e.g. a patient in need of compression therapy in the area of the legs, buttocks, hips, belly and/or waist.
The garment can, e.g. be a compression garment having compression class (CCL) 1, 2, 3 or 4. The pressure value at the ankle in these compression classes is 18-21 mmHg (class 1), 23-32 mmHg (class 2), 34-46 mmHg (class 3) and at least 49 mmHg (class 4). Classification of the garment into these compression classes can be done according to RAL-GZ 387/1. Preferably, the garment is a compression class 1, 2, 3, or 4 garment, most preferably a compression class 1, 2 or 3 garment.
The garment comprises a pants section with a rear and a front side. Each side is adapted to fit the respective side of the wearer's body in the lower torso area, in particular the pelvis area, and upper area of the legs. The rear side of the pants section is, hence, adapted to fit/cover a section of the rear side of the wearer's body, specifically, the buttocks and the rear of a proximal part of the legs of the wearer. The rear side of the garment includes an upper section that is adapted to cover the buttocks and the intergluteal cleft of the wearer and a lower part adapted to cover at least the upper part of the legs of the wearer. The garment can, e.g. be pants or tights as mentioned above.
The rear side includes an insert, a first side section and a second side section. Each of these parts—the insert, the first side section and the second side section are different pieces of fabric or parts of different pieces of fabric. In other words, the insert, the first side section and the second side section are not part of the same seamless piece of fabric. To form the garment, they have to be connected first, e.g. by seams as outlined elsewhere herein. A “seam” as used herein and in the usual sense of the word is a line where two or more pieces of knitted fabric are held together by (sewn) stitches.
In one embodiment, the insert as described herein is a first piece of knitted fabric, the first side section a part of a second piece of knitted fabric, and the second side section a part of a third piece of knitted fabric. The insert could only be present in the rear part of the garment and not in the front. The insert could end approximately in the middle of the crotch area. Alternatively, the insert could extend to the front part of the garment, in particular in garments adapted to fit a male person. In such an embodiment, the insert, the first side section and the second side section are parts of a first piece, a second piece and a third piece of knitted fabric, respectively. The insert can be present only in the rear part of the garment or also be present in (extend to) the front side of the garment, e.g. extend from the rear part through the rear and front part of the crotch area into the front part of the garment.
In both described embodiments, the first, second and third pieces of knitted fabric are distinct, individual pieces (in other words: seamless) and have to be connected to each other and, potentially, to further pieces of knitted fabric to form the compression garment. The pieces from which the compression garment is formed can be knitted into the desired shape and size or cut from a larger piece of knitted fabric.
The insert is adapted to extend over (cover) at least part of both buttocks of a wearer, e.g. 10% or more of the surface area of each buttock, 15% or more, 20% or more, 25% or more, 30% or more, 35% or more, 40% or more. In other words, the insert can be adapted to cover from 10% to 60%, from 15% to 60%, from 20% to 60%, from 25% to 60%, from 30% to 60%, from 35% to 60%, or from 40% to 60% of the surface area of each buttock of the wearer.
The insert can make up for 30% or more of the area of the compression garment in the rear side of the pants section, e.g. 35% or more, 40% or more, 45% or more, 50% or more. In other words, the insert can make up for from 30% to 75%, from 35% to 75%, from 40% to 75%, from 45% to 75%, from 50% to 75% of the area of the compression garment in the rear side of the pants section. The insert making up for e.g. 30% or more of a certain area of the compression garment means that the surface area of the insert covers 30% or more of the surface area of the respective area of the compression garment.
The insert is, further, adapted to extend over at least part of the intergluteal cleft of the wearer. This means that the insert is substantially in the middle of the rear side of the pants section of the garment. In transverse direction (from proper left to proper right of the garment), the insert is located between the first side section and the second side section.
In longitudinal direction, the insert is located between leg sections of the garment and, potentially, a waistband section. The “waistband section” is the rear part of a waistband. The waistband usually spans around the entire waist. When no waistband is added to the garment, the insert can form part of the upper end of the garment.
To distinguish the left and the right part of the garment, the terms “proper left” and “proper right” are used herein. The “proper left” is the side of the garment that would be regarded by the wearer as the left side when the garment is worn correctly (i.e. with the insert covering at least part of both buttocks). The “proper right” is the side of the garment that would be regarded by the wearer as the right side when the garment is worn correctly.
The garment can include two leg sections—a first leg section adapted to cover at least part of the proper left leg of the wearer and a second leg section adapted to cover at least part of the proper right leg of the wearer. The first and the second leg sections have at least partially the shape of a tube and are located distally from the pants section. Each leg section encircles at least part of a leg.
Because the-seamless-insert is covering at least part of the intergluteal cleft of the wearer, the garment includes no seam in the area covered by the insert. The insert can be adapted to cover the entirety of the intergluteal cleft of the wearer. The insert consists of a seamless knitted fabric, preferably a flat-knitted fabric. The term “seamless” means that the fabric does not include any seams in the respective area. Usually, this will be achieved by knitting the respective seamless piece in the desired shape and size on a knitting machine or by cutting the respective piece of knitted fabric from a larger piece of knitted fabric.
The different pieces of the garment (e.g. the insert, the first side section and the second side section) can be knitted fabric, such as a flat-knitted or a circular knitted fabric. They are, in other words, inclusive of seamless knitted fabric. Preferably, like the insert, the first side section and the second side section each consist of seamless knitted fabric. The knitted fabric of the insert as well as the other pieces from which the garment is manufactured can be a double-layer knitted fabric, which can e.g. be manufactured on a knitting machine having at least two needle beds. The two layers of the knitted fabric can have different, complementing properties that can be created by using particular yarns and/or knitting techniques. It has, for example, been proven particularly advantageous to use a knitted fabric including a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic yarn, such as the knitted fabric described in WO 2020/207600 A1 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The forming of particular stitches with these yarns on the needle beds of the knitting machine can create a knitted fabric that is able to transport liquid from the inside of the garment to the outside.
The insert has a shape that allows it to be connected to the first side section and to the second side section. The side sections are connected to the insert on opposite sides of the insert (opposite in transversal direction of the rear side). In other words, the insert is located between the two side sections. The side sections are preferably not connected to each other or otherwise adjacent to each other in the rear side of the pants section. The first side section is connected to a first side of the insert, and the second side section is connected to a second side of the insert. The first side of the insert can be substantially opposite the second side of the insert. This means that the first and second side sections of the garment are connected to substantially opposite sides of the insert. The phrase “sides of the insert” refers to the edges of the insert. It does not refer to the extended surface areas which are parallel to the wearer's skin, when the garment is worn.
Preferably, the first and second side sections are located on different sides of the median plane of the garment. In line with the standard use of the term, the “median plane” of the garment divides the garment—and its rear side—into a left and right part.
The first side section can, for example, be on the “proper left” side of the rear part (i.e. the side that would be regarded by the wearer as being on the left side of the garment when worn) and the second side section can, for example be on the “proper right” side of the rear part (i.e. the side that would be regarded by the wearer as being on the right side of the garment when worn). Preferably, the first and second side sections are not adjacent to each other, but fully separated from each other by the insert as mentioned above.
In other words, the first side section can be adapted to cover a part of a first buttock of the wearer (e.g. the buttock on the “proper left” of the wearer) and the second side section can be adapted to cover a part of a second buttock the wearer (e.g. the buttock on the “proper right” of the wearer).
The first and second side sections will usually be connected to the insert by means of a seam. Thus, in some embodiments, the first side section is connected to the first side of the insert by means of a first seam and the second side section is connected to the second side of the insert by means of a second seam. The skilled person will be able to find a seam that is suitable to join these pieces of the compression garment. The seams which are used to connect the different parts of the compression garment are preferably relatively flat, in particular on the surface of the garment that is worn on the skin of the wearer (the “inner surface”). Particularly preferred seams are flat on the inner as well as the outer surface of the garment. Thereby, the wearing comfort of the garment as well as its visual appearance is enhanced.
The knitted fabric in the respective seam can be overlapping, but is preferably not folded. In other words, the knitted fabric from the first or second side portion can overlap with the knitted fabric of the insert in the area of the seam. The knitted fabric will then be connected with one or more threads. The resulting seams can be termed overlapping seams. It is not necessary to fold the fabric in this area as this would thicken the seam to an undesirable extent. Alternatively, the knitted fabric from the first or second side portion can merely contact each other without overlap. In other words, the seams can alternatively be abutted seams.
The one or more threads used for making the seam can be standard yarns used in the art. In one embodiment, the seam can have a thickness of up to 230% of the thickness of the side portions, preferably of up to 220% or less, such as 215%. In other words, the seam can have a thickness of from 200% to 230% of the thickness of the side portions, preferably of from 210% to 230%, such as of from 220% to 230%. It will be understood that the thickness of the fabric in a middle region of each side portion is 100%. Due to the non-folded overlap of the fabric from each side portion in seams with overlapping knitted fabric, the thickness in the seam area will be doubled, i.e. be 200% of the thickness in a middle region of the side portion. The one or more threads used will add to this thickness in the range of 10% to about 30%. Accordingly, in abutted seams, the seam can have a thickness of up to 130% of the thickness of the side portions, preferably of up to 120% or less, such as 115%. In other words, the abutted seam can have a thickness of from 100% to 130% of the thickness of the side portions, preferably of from 110% to 130%, such as of from 120% to 130%.
The seam can be generated with an overedge chain stitching technique. This has the advantage that the resulting seam will be flexible as well as durable and comfortable to wear. The overedge chain stitching technique is preferably selected from the group consisting of overedge chain stitching type 607 and 605, preferably 607. These stitching types are known in the art. They belong to the class 600 of cover-seam chain stitches.
The seams which connect the insert and the side sections can be arranged to be substantially in the middle of the respective buttock. More importantly, they are designed to be continuous with a seam in the rear part of the respective leg section. The seam, in other words, runs from the proximal part of the rear side of the pants section in distal direction over the part of the garment that is adapted to cover the respective buttock into and along the respective leg section in distal direction. The respective seam can be a substantially straight seam, in particular a seam that looks substantially straight when viewing the garment from behind the wearer. This does, of course, not exclude that the seam adapts in a form-fitting manner to the bumps in the area of the buttocks and the rear part of the legs of the wearer. When viewed from the side, the seam may, thus, not look straight.
The leg sections of the garment can each include a seam running in longitudinal direction substantially in the middle of the rear of the leg section. Preferably the leg sections (including front and rear of the respective leg section) do not include further seams running in longitudinal direction, more preferably they do not include any further seams—with the exception of potential closing seams at the distal end of the leg sections of the garment. The garment does, in these cases not include any seams on the front side of the garment in the area of the legs of the wearer, with the exception of potential closing seams at the distal end of the leg sections of the garment.
The leg sections of the garment are, in other words, each preferably manufactured from a single piece of knitted fabric that is closed in the back of the respective leg with a seam, e.g. in the middle of the leg. This design is particularly comfortable because it reduces the number of seams considerably. Additionally, the respective pieces of knitted fabric can be manufactured in a customized manner on e.g. flat-knitting machines and, therefore, specifically adapted to the shape and size of the wearer. The leg sections can, for example, be knitted substantially as described in WO 2019/224204 A1, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
The insert includes or consists of a proximal and a distal part. The distal part is connected to the leg sections of the garment and can extend into the crotch area of the garment, i.e. the area which is adapted to cover the crotch of the wearer.
It has been found that a particularly good fit of the garment is ensured when connection endpoints E1 and E2 are each located at a particular height within the garment. The connection endpoints E1 and E2 are the points on the outer circumference of the insert which mark the end of the connection to the first side section and the second side section, respectively. Proximally from the connection endpoints E1 and E2, respectively, the first and second seams are connecting the first side section and second side section, respectively, to the insert. Distally from the connection endpoints E1 and E2, the continuous first and second seams are connecting two sides of the respective leg section with each other.
The part of the insert located proximally from connection endpoints E1 and E2 can be regarded as the proximal part of the insert; the part of the insert located distally of the connection endpoints E1 and E2 can be regarded as the distal part of the insert.
Distally from connection endpoints E1 and E2, the insert is shaped in a manner so that it can extend into the crotch area. The distal part of the insert includes a distal rear section and a crotch part. The crotch part of the insert is termed “crotch part of the insert” herein because it is adapted to extend into the crotch area. In the crotch part of the insert, the sides of the insert can also be connected to the respective leg sections of the garment, in particular to the part of the leg sections which is adapted to be worn on the inner side of the respective leg.
The insert can have a maximal width (W) that is 30% or more of the maximal width (W′) of the rear side, such as 35% or more, 40% or more, or 45% or more. In other words, the maximal width (W) of the insert can be from 30% to 60% of the maximal width (W′) of the rear side, from 35% to 60%, from 40% to 60%, from 45% to 60%, or from 45% to 55%. The maximal width is the width measured in transverse direction, i.e. substantially parallel to the upper end of the garment. As the stitch courses in the knitted fabric will usually also run in transverse direction, the maximal width can also be the longest stitch course in the insert. The maximal width can be between the connection endpoints E1 and E2. Depending on the wearer's shape (e.g. the difference in circumference in hip and waist area), the maximal width can, however, also be in another part of the insert. In this embodiment, the stitch course between connection endpoints E1 and E2 is shorter than the stitch courses distally and proximally therefrom.
The stitch course within the insert that is adapted to be located in the middle of the crotch area of the wearer (in anterior to posterior direction) is termed “middle course”. In the crotch area, in particular at the middle course, the insert is narrower (i.e. courses include less stitches) than in the distal rear section and the proximal rear section, in particular narrower than the distance between the connection endpoints E1 and E2.
The insert includes at least three sections which are knitted in a single piece. In particular, the insert includes a crotch part, a distal rear section and a proximal rear section. Crotch part and distal rear section form the distal part of the insert mentioned above. The proximal rear section can form the proximal part of the insert mentioned above. The virtual line between connection endpoints E1 and E2 separates the distal from the proximal rear section. As outlined above, the proximal rear section up until and including connection endpoints E1 and E2 is connected to the first side section and the second side section.
The first side section can be a part of a first seamless hip-to-leg portion, the second side section can be a part of a second seamless hip-to-leg portion, and the first and second hip-to-leg portions are each adapted to extend from the hip region of a wearer to at least the thigh region of the wearer. These hip-to-leg portions can each be a single piece of knitted fabric. The hip-to-leg portions can, in other words, also be termed hip-to-leg parts. They can, in preferred embodiments, be large enough to extend from the rear side of the garment to the front. The hip-to-leg portions can include the above-mentioned side sections as well as the leg sections. In other words, the first leg section can be a part of a first seamless hip-to-leg portion and the second leg section can be a part of a second seamless hip-to-leg portion. In these embodiments, the leg sections of the hip-to-leg portions are each adapted to wrap around the leg of a wearer and formed into a tube-like structure with a seam in the middle of the rear part of the leg section.
The first seam and the second seam—which are described elsewhere herein and which connect the side sections to the insert—can each extend from the pants section into a first leg section and a second leg section, respectively. The leg sections are each adapted to cover at least part of a leg of a wearer. In the first leg section, the first seam can connect a first side of the first hip-to-leg portion with a second side of the first hip-to-leg portion. This part of knitted fabric in the garment is, in other words, forming a first tube-like structure. The first seam runs continuously from the proximal (cranial) part of the garment to the distal end of the garment. The same applies to the second seam, which can connect a first side of the second hip-to-leg portion with a second side of the second hip-to-leg portion.
The proximal and distal rear sections of the insert are preferably connected to different, non-adjacent sides of the piece of knitted fabric included in the hip-to-leg portions. The non-adjacent sides connect in the connection endpoints E1 and E2.
The particular placement and shape of the insert, which is described elsewhere herein in more detail, and the use of hip-to-leg-portions reaching from the waistline to the distal end of the garment prevents constriction in the transition zone between the leg sections and the pants section. Prior art garments are often not ideally adapted to the wearers body shape in this transition zone or the different garment parts do not fit together perfectly.
Moreover, in the manufacture of a garment as discussed herein, the dimensions of the leg sections can be determined in the same calculation step as those of the pants section. In other words, the method for manufacture of a compression garment as discussed herein (described in more detail elsewhere herein) can include a step of calculating the dimensions of the hip-to-leg portions. The calculation could take into account at least one length and/or at least one circumference of the wearer's leg in the area of the leg section of the pants section as well as at least one length and/or circumference of the wearer's leg in the area of the respective leg section of the garment. Thereby, it can be ensured that the proximal end of each leg section is attached harmoniously to the pants section. In contrast, in present state of the art calculations, the pants sections are often calculated separately from the leg sections and it cannot always be guaranteed that the upper end of the leg sections (standard measurement value cG) fits the respective counter-part of the pants section properly.
The length of the crotch part of the insert and the distal rear section of the insert is dependent on the circumference of the garment in the thigh region. In other words, the lengths of the crotch part of the insert and the distal rear section of the insert are adapted to have the same length as the side of the knitted fabric of the hip-to-leg portion that is connected to these parts of the insert. The lengths can be given e.g. in cm or number of stitch courses.
The optimal distance between the connection endpoints E1 and E2 in the insert, i.e. the width of the piece of seamless knitted fabric at this position can be calculated using the Theorem of Pythagoras (C12-a2=b12) and (C22-a2=b22), with c1 and C2 being the lengths of the (lateral) sides of the distal rear section of the insert as measured between the respective connection endpoint E1 or E2 and the respective start of the crotch part of the insert; and a being the inner length of the distal rear part, measured from crotch part to proximal rear section in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insert (i.e. in stitch wale direction, i.e. orthogonally to the stitch courses); and b1+b2+crotch part width=distance between E1 and E2 (compare
The insert can extend beyond the middle of the crotch area to the front part of the garment. Depending on the needs of the wearer, the part of the insert which is located in the front of the garment can be shorter or longer. For example, the garment can be adapted to be a garment for male wearer or a garment for a female wearer. In particular for female wearers it is not necessary to add additional pieces of knitted fabric to the front of the garment, but the insert can nevertheless have a short front section. Should the garment, however, be adapted to be worn by a male wearer, then it has been found to be advantageous if the compression garment includes an additional piece of knitted fabric as a second insert for the front. This additional piece of knitted fabric will be termed “fly part” herein.
The fly part is connected to the hip-to-leg portions described herein in the front part of the compression garment. In particular, the fly part is between the first and the second hip-to-leg portion. The connections may again be made with suitable seams. In addition, in one embodiment, the fly part can be connected to the insert in the crotch area with a seam. In an alternative embodiment, the insert and the fly part can be arranged to overlap in the front part of the compression garment, thus, creating a fly opening. In preferred embodiments, the fly opening is tilted, i.e. neither parallel to a transverse nor to a longitudinal axis of the garment. On its proximal end, the fly part can be connected to a waistband.
The compression garment can include a waistband. Accordingly, the rear side of the compression garment, may include a waistband section. The “waistband section” is the part of the waistband that adapted to be worn on the rear side of the wearer. The waistband and its waistband section can form the proximal (cranial) end of the garment. The waistband can run around the entire front and rear side of the garment. Thereby, a particularly good fit of the garment can be ensured. It is also possible to equip the waistband section with sticking properties. It can, for example be knitted with yarns having high friction.
To ensure a particularly good fit of the garment, the number of pieces of knitted fabric which are connected to form the garment and, thus, the number of connecting seams, is preferably kept to a minimum. The rear side of the garments can, therefore, consist of the insert, the first side section, the second side section, the waistband section and seams connecting the aforementioned sections and insert. A male compression garment may consist of the insert, the first hip-to-leg-portion, the second hip-to-leg-portion, the waistband, the fly part and seams connecting the aforementioned sections and insert. A female compression garment may consist of the insert, the first hip-to-leg-portion, the second hip-to-leg-portion, the waistband and seams connecting the aforementioned section, part and insert. Each of the aforementioned parts can be a single piece of seamless knitted fabric.
In a second aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for determining measurement information for manufacturing a compression garment, including a) selecting a wearer in need of compression therapy with compression pants and/or compression tights; b) acquiring measurement information from the wearer, wherein the measurement information includes: i. optionally, circumference measurements obtained in the torso, hip, and/or leg area; ii. optionally, length measurements obtained in the torso, hip, and/or leg area; and iii. a measurement of the total rise length (IL), and a simultaneous measurement of the front rise length (IL1); and c) optionally, manufacturing a compression garment based on the measurement information acquired in step (b) or selecting a pre-fabricated compression garment based on the measurement information acquired in step (b).
The “total rise length” is the distance between a starting point in the middle of the anterior waistline and an endpoint in the middle of the posterior waistline, wherein the measurement is taken through the crotch area. The “front rise length” is the distance between the starting point in the middle of the anterior waistline and the middle of the crotch area.
The measurements, in particular the measurement in step (b)(iii) can be made with a measuring tape including a slider. The slider is movably attached to the measuring tape. This means that the slider can be moved along the measuring tape to different positions, i.e. different positions at the scale of the measuring tape. While the slider is movable along the scale, it will not slide on its own. Instead it will maintain its position on the scale to which it has been moved by the medical practitioner performing the measurement (fitter) or by the wearer himself/herself. During the measurement in step (b)(iii), the medical practitioner performing the measurement can place the slider in the middle of the crotch area of the wearer. While the slider is moved into the middle of the crotch area, one end of the scale on the measuring tape is held to the starting point in the middle of the anterior waistline of the wearer. It is particularly advantageous that the slider can be moved and placed in the middle of the crotch area by the wearer herself/himself because there is no need for the medical practitioner to touch the intimate crotch area of the wearer.
After moving the slider to the middle of the crotch area, the medical practitioner can guide the measuring tape to the endpoint in the middle of the posterior waistline while maintaining the end of the scale on the measuring tape on the starting point in the middle of the anterior waistline and/or maintaining the slider in the middle of the crotch area.
Accordingly, a “simultaneous” measurement of the total rise length (IL) and the front rise length (IL1) means that at least part of the measuring instrument (e.g. the measuring tape) is kept constant relative to the wearer's body during both measurements. In preferred embodiments, the simultaneous measurements in step (b)(iii) use a measuring tape including a slider and the slider is placed in the middle of the crotch area.
The acquisition of measurement information in step (b)(ii) can include measuring the length of the crotch height (IK). As is well known in the art, the crotch height is the distance from the soles of the wearer (or the floor on which the wearer stands) to the middle of the crotch area.
The acquisition of measurement information in step (b)(ii) can include measuring a hip height (IH) in the hip area, wherein the hip height (IH) is at least 3 cm higher than the crotch height (IK) and, preferably, taken at the hip height where the hip has the largest circumference. The hip height is the distance from the soles of the wearer (or the floor on which the wearer stands) to the aforementioned point of the hip with the largest circumference, wherein this point is at least 3 cm higher than the crotch height.
In a third aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a compression garment, preferably a compression garment as described elsewhere herein, including a) obtaining measurement information from a wearer, preferably as described elsewhere herein, or obtaining measurement information for a pre-designed compression garment; b) manufacturing the compression garment based on the measurement information, by connecting three or more pieces of seamless knitted fabric and thereby forming the compression garment, wherein the three or more pieces of seamless knitted fabric include at least a piece of seamless knitted fabric forming an insert; a piece of seamless knitted fabric forming a first hip-to-leg portion; a piece of seamless knitted fabric forming a second hip-to-leg portion; and optionally, a piece of seamless knitted fabric forming a waistband section; and wherein compression garment fabricated in step (b) includes a pants section with a rear side, wherein the rear side includes the insert, a first side section and a second side section, the first side section being connected to a first side of the insert, the second side section being connected to a second side of the insert, and wherein the insert is adapted to extend over at least part of both buttocks of a wearer. In other words, the compression garment has the properties defined herein for the compression garment as discussed herein.
As explained in more detail elsewhere herein, the knitted fabric can be a double layer knitted fabric. For example, the knitted fabric can be manufactured in a step (a1) on a knitting machine having at least two needle beds (V, H), wherein the knitted fabric includes a first layer made of a hydrophilic yarn on the first needle bed (V), a second layer made of a hydrophobic yarn on the second needle bed (H) and the second layer includes spaced apart split stitches made of the hydrophilic yarn. This configuration ensures a good transport of the liquid to the outside of the garment, away from the skin of the wearer.
In a fourth aspect, the disclosure relates to a compression garment manufactured according to the method for manufacturing a compression garment described herein.
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are shown schematically in the drawings.
These and other aspects of the disclosure will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
Additional advantages, characteristics, and features of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. However, the invention is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments.
The compression garment 10 has the form of tights (pantyhose) with a closed-toe configuration on both foot parts. The tights include a pants section 12 having a rear side 14 and a front side. The rear side 14 of the pants section includes the insert 16, a first side section 18 and a second side section 20. It can be seen that the first and the second side sections 18, 20 are part of the first and second hip-to-leg portion 38, 40, i.e. a part of the seamless piece of knitted fabric forming the respective portion.
Further to the first and second side sections 18, 20, respectively, the first and second hip-to-leg portions 38, 40, each include a leg section—the first and second leg section 42, 44, respectively—and a front part. These leg sections 42, 44 each extend along and around one leg of the wearer. The leg sections 42, 44 are, in other words, covering the middle and lower legs of the wearer—those sections which are not covered by the pants section 12 of the compression garment 10.
Additionally, the first and second hip-to-leg portions 38, 40, each include a front part which together with the front part of the waistband 33 form the front part of the pants section 12 of the tights.
It can be seen that the insert 16 is located in the middle of the rear side 14 of the pants section 12 between the first side section 18 and the second side section 20. Thereby, the insert 16 covers the intergluteal cleft as well as parts of both buttocks of the wearer. The insert is broad enough to make up for 30% or more of the area of the compression garment 10 in the rear side 14 of the pants section 12.
The insert 16 fits snugly and comfortably on the portion of the rear of the wearer that it is supposed to cover. To achieve this purpose, the shape and dimension of the insert 16 as well as the shape and dimension of the remainder of the garment are adapted precisely to the wearer's measurements that have been taken in advance of manufacturing the customized garment. It will be understood that it is also possible to manufacture pre-fabricated garments of the same type.
A first side 22 (edge) of the insert 16 is connected to the first side section 18 with a first seam 30; a second side 24 of the insert 16 is connected to the second side section 20 with a second seam 32. Both seams 30, 32 extend further along the leg in distal direction beyond the direct connection to the insert 16. Specifically, in connection endpoints E1 and E2 (see
To accommodate the male physique, the compression garment 10 intended for a male wearer includes a fly part 54 in the front side of the garment 10. In the embodiments shown, the fly part 54 consists of a seamless piece of knitted fabric.
The embodiment shown in
The embodiment shown in
It can be seen that the waistband 33 in
It can be seen that the insert 16 in
The maximal width W′ of the rear side 14 of the pants section 12 of the garment 10 is longer than the maximal width W′ of the garment in
The insert 16 consists of a double-layered, seamless knitted fabric 28. It includes a proximal rear section 50 (proximal part) that is located in the rear of the compression garment 10 between the first side section 18 and the second side section 20 and connected to these two side sections 18, 20 with its first side 22 and its second side 24, respectively. The distal end of the proximal rear section 50 is formed by an imaginary line connecting the connection end points E1 and E2. The maximal width W of the insert 16 is calculated as described elsewhere herein.
The insert 16 additionally includes a distal part including a distal rear section 48 and a crotch part 46. It can be seen that the crotch part 46 is considerably narrower than the average width of the distal rear section 48 and the average width of the proximal rear section 50. Thereby, the crotch part 46 is adapted to be worn between the legs in the crotch area. The distal rear section 48 connects the crotch part 46 and the proximal rear section 50. The distal rear section 48 and the proximal rear section 50 in the embodiment shown here and other embodiments have a trapezoid form, in particular the form of an equilateral trapezoid.
It can be seen in
(C12-a2=b1) and (C22-a2=b22). b1+b2+ crotch part width can then be used to calculate the distance between E1 and E2. More details on these calculations are described elsewhere herein.
These measurements can then influence the shape and dimensions of the compression garment, which is particularly beneficial for patients with an unusual ratio between the size of the belly area and the size of the rear (buttocks and hip) area.
Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments, but rather that modifications can be made in such a way that individual features are omitted or other combinations of the individual features presented are realized, provided that the scope of protection of the appended claims is not exceeded. The present disclosure includes any and all combinations of the individual features presented.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/064951 | 6/3/2021 | WO |
