Patent Application
20130085430
The present invention generally relates to compression sleeves, and in particular to a compression garment.
Active compression garments for applying intermittent compression to a limb have many applications, including deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, edema prevention, and aiding in wound healing. The performance of such compression garments is sensitive to the ability of the sleeve to retain its initial tension and the ability of the inflatable bladders to retain their original position around the leg. This can be very difficult when the compression garments are used during and after ambulation, such as walking, sitting, standing, and rolling over. The garments tend to slide down the limb (in particular, the leg) causing discomfort and misalignment of inflatable bladders within the garment with respect to the leg. Thus, a garment needs to “stay up” in use. The stay-up capability of such compression garments is very beneficial for effective compression treatment.
The stay-up ability of the compression garment or “sleeve” is complicated by the natural shape of the leg. A uniformly shaped garment, like many sleeves in the prior art, is naturally disposed to moving downwards when mounted on a leg.
In one aspect of the present invention, a compression sleeve for applying compression therapy to a wearer's body generally comprises a panel of conformable material including an upper proximal edge, a lower distal edge, first and second opposing side edges and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal edge to the distal edge. A first upper transition edge extends from the upper proximal edge to a first side edge, the first upper transition edge having one of a generally concave or linear shape. A second lower transition edge extends from the lower distal edge to the first side edge, the second lower transition edge having a generally concave or linear shape. At least one inflatable bladder is attached to the panel, and a fastener is able to secure the panel in a wrapped configuration around the wearer's body.
In another aspect of the present invention, a compression garment for applying compression therapy to a limb of a wearer generally comprises a compression sleeve including at least one inflatable bladder. The compression sleeve has a periphery including at least six edges, and is configured to wrap around the wearer's limb so that the at least one bladder encircles the limb for applying compression therapy to the limb. The shape of the sleeve conforming to the limb of the wearer and keeping the sleeve in place on the limb.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring now to the figures, in which like reference numerals identify identical or corresponding elements, various embodiments of the presently disclosed compression sleeve will now be described in detail. Referring in particular to
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The periphery further includes first upper transition edge 30 extending from the upper proximal edge 22 to first side edge 26. A second lower transition edge 32 extends from the lower distal edge 24 to the first side edge 26. The first upper transition edge 30 extends from the upper proximal edge 22 at about a 40 degree angle α (only one angle is shown). The first upper transition edge 30 has a generally concave shape. The second lower transition edge 32 has a generally concave shape.
A third upper transition edge 34 extends from the upper proximal edge 22 to the second side edge 28. A fourth lower transition edge 36 extends from the lower distal edge 24 to the second side edge 28. The third upper transition edge 34 extends at an angle or about 40° (angle {acute over (α)}) and the fourth lower transition edge 36 extend from the lower distal edge 24 at about a 40 degree angle β (only one angle is shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the overall shape of the upper and lower transition edges 30, 32, 34, 36 is generally concave. However, the overall shape of the upper and lower transition edges 30, 32, 34, 36 can have over configurations, such as generally linear, without departing from the scope of the invention. There are corners between the various peripheral edges of the sleeve 11. The corners each have a small radius of curvature and are generally convex in shape.
In use, the inner layer 13 is disposed most adjacent to the limb of the wearer and is in contact with the limb of the wearer, and the outer cover 19 is most distant from the limb of the wearer. It will be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to four layers. Also, it is understood that the configuration of the layers of the sleeve can be different than that disclosed in the illustrated embodiment.
Hook component 40 (
The first and second intermediate layers 15, 17 respectively, each include a single sheet of air impermeable material (broadly, “bladder material”). In the illustrated embodiment, the sheets 15, 17 may be made of a pliable PVC material. The inner and outer layers 13, 19 may be made of a polyester material. The inner layer 13 can be absorbent or provide wicking, and have a soft texture to provide a comfortable interface with the wearer's body. The second intermediate layer 17 is sealingly secured to the first intermediate layer 15 along bladder seam lines 23 defining a proximal bladder 25, an intermediate bladder 27 and a distal bladder 29, respectively, that are spaced apart longitudinally along the sleeve 11. It is understood that the intermediate layers 15, 17 may be secured together at other locations, such as around their peripheries. Also, the number of bladders may be other than three without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the terms “proximal”, “distal”, and “intermediate” represent relative locations of components, parts and the like of the compression sleeve when the sleeve is secured to the wearer's limb. As such, a “proximal” component or the like is disposed most adjacent to a point of attachment of the wearer's limb to the wearer's torso, a “distal” component is disposed most distant from the point of attachment, and an “intermediate” component is disposed generally anywhere between the proximal and distal components.
Each bladder 25, 27, 29 may receive fluid from a source of compressed fluid (not shown) via a dedicated proximal bladder tube 31, intermediate bladder tube 33, or distal bladder tube 35, respectively for inflating the bladders. However, a tube line need not be dedicated to a bladder to practice the invention. Each tube 31, 33, 35 is disposed, at least partially, between the second intermediate layer 17 and the outer cover 19, and secured between the first and second intermediate layers 15, 17 to the respective bladders 25, 27, 29 by the respective bladder seam lines 23. Other ways of securing the tubes 31-35 to the bladders 25-29 are within the scope of the invention. Distal ends of the tubes 31, 33, 35 are ganged together using a connector 41 that is adapted to fluidly connect the tubes to the source of compressed fluid. The source of compressed fluid may be an air compressor under the control of a microprocessor that sequentially pressurizes the bladders as is generally known in the art. An exemplary air compressor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,359 to Bock, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The upper proximal edge 22, lower distal edge 24, side edges 26, 28 and upper and lower transition edges 30, 32, 34, 36 of the sleeve 11 define a generally elongated octagonal shape of the sleeve, illustrated by the dotted outline O in
When inflated, the sleeves of the prior art tend to form gaps between the sleeve and the wearer's leg. These gaps inhibit the sleeve's ability to stay in place on the leg and provide the desired compression therapy to the leg. The transition edges 30, 32, 34, 36 of the sleeve 11 provide a shape that eliminates excess material that would form gaps when the sleeve 11 is wrapped around the wearer's leg and the bladders 25, 27, 29 are inflated. So the modified shape of the sleeve 11 allows the portion of the inner layer 13 which is directly opposite the wearer's leg to contact the wearer's leg without forming gaps when the sleeve 11 is wrapped around the wearer's leg and the bladders 25, 27, 29 are inflated. The sleeve 11 can provide positive location on the leg without the use of securement straps (i.e., elongate pieces of material attached to the sleeve and configured for wrapping around the wearer's body) or other means for holding the sleeve in place. Thus, the sleeve 11 relies on its shape and edge contours rather than additional strap components to keep the sleeve 11 in place on the leg resulting in more effective compression therapy to the wearer.
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Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
