The present disclosure relates, in exemplary embodiments, to a compression garment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates, in exemplary embodiments, to a compression garment for post-surgery use.
The invasive nature of cardiothoracic surgery demands increased recovery time due, in most part, to the sternotomy and the extended length of time over which the sternum heals. As such, the daily activities of the patient may slow the healing process due to the pressure placed on the sternum as a result of patient movement, breathing, and/or coughing. Ultimately, this pressure may cause stress on the sternal wires and/or stitching holding the patient's chest cavity closed, thereby slowing the healing process and potentially resulting in a reopening of the chest cavity. It would be desirable for a patient to have a garment that, when worn, could apply localized pressure to the sternal wound area.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description below.
Generally described, the present disclosure provides in a first exemplary embodiment a compression garment for use after cardiothoracic surgery, comprising a body panel configured to lie in proximity to an upper region of a patient and formed from a compression material, and including a front side adjacent to a front upper region of the wearer, and a rear side configured to lie adjacent to a rear upper region of the patient. Further included is a shoulder strap associated with the rear side of the body panel and configured to extend away from the rear side and configured to removably associate with the front side of the body panel, the shoulder strap is adjustable to adjust the extension of the shoulder strap. The garment also includes a pillow formed in the front side, the pillow having a generally oblong shape and sized to project inwardly towards the patient, the pillow configured to apply pressure to the sternal area.
Other features will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
The drawings disclose exemplary embodiments in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures, of which:
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (for example, cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, or the like) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, “upper” and “lower” as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (for example, “horizontally”, “upwardly”, or the like), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
As shown in
The garment 12 is further configured to tightly secure the upper region 20 of the patient 10 when in use such that a front upper region 26 of the patient 10 and a rear upper region (not shown) of the patient 10 are simultaneously engaged. In exemplary embodiments, the body panel 14 may also include a side seam 32 integrally formed in the lateral side 28. In exemplary embodiments, the body panel 14 includes two lateral sides 28 configured to engage a side body portion (not shown) of the patient 10 and couple the front side 22 and rear side 24, thereby forming the body panel 14 from a singular piece of material. Further, the garment 12 may include side seams 32 integrally formed in both lateral sides 28. In exemplary embodiments, the body panel 14 is formed from at least one resiliently elastic material such that the body panel 14 is form-fitting. In exemplary embodiments, the body panel 14is further formed by side seams 32 into the lateral sides 28. The garment 12 is can be made in different sizes so as to be configured to accommodate patients 10 ranging in weight and body mass distribution.
The side seams 32 are configured to release a portion of the compression applied on the upper region 20 of the patient 10 by permitting some of the force from the elasticity of the body panel 14 to be distributed away from the patient 10, thereby allowing patients with increased visceral fat to use the garment 12 and do so more comfortably. Illustratively, the resiliently elastic material is formed from fabric having a 4-way stretch and configured to apply a calculated compression value appropriate to each size type of patient 10 so that the compression is consistent and comfortable for each patient 10. The calculated compression value may be determined based on various factors such as a patient's weight, height, body mass distribution, and other factors that, when taken in the aggregate, result in a compression value unique to each patient 10. The compression characteristics are substantially maintained throughout the time the patient 10 wears the garment 12. This is true whether the patient 10 is sedentary or active as the form-fitting material is configured to maintain constant pressure on the patient 10 such that the pillow 18 remains in constant contact with the upper region 20 of the patient 10.
In using the garment 12, the post-operative patient 10 does not have not have to use other commonly known methods of applying pressure upon her/his upper region 20. Further, the garment 12 can reduce or eliminate problems associated with using a cardiac pillow alone, such as the patient's noncompliance or reflexive movements, patient's with dementia, or the like. This places the mind of the patient 10, a caregiver, and a patient's family more at ease as there is less personal responsibility required of the patient 10 to comply with proper use of the garment 12. As such, until the garment 12 is removed from the patient 10, the garment 12 will maintain constant pressure on the patient's upper region 20.
Illustratively, the garment 12 is removably put on by the patient 10 to provide the aforementioned pressure on the upper region 20 of the patient 10 as shown in
The garment 12 is now positioned on the patient 10 with the front upper region 20 facing away from the rear side 24 of the body panel 14 and the patient's arms extending through the apertures 44. The caregiver may then engage the closure mechanism 34 and secure the garment 12 on the patient 10. In assuring proper positioning of the pillow 18, the caregiver should confirm that the pillow 18 is positioned on the front upper region 20 of the patient 10 prior to securing the garment 12. Proper placement of the pillow 18 varies between patients 10 due to body mass composition, anatomical features, the patient's unique incision, and other factors. As such, the pillow 18 is deemed properly placed when the desired calculated compression is applied on the stitching/sternal wires proximate to the patient's incision. Illustratively, the incision extends along the sternum/breastbone of the patient 10 in a generally vertical manner in relation to a central axis 36.
In exemplary embodiments, the body panel 14 of the garment 12 includes a front side 22, a rear side 24, and a lateral side 28 formed from a continuous piece of fabric such that the body panel 14 is uninterrupted as shown in
In exemplary embodiments, the front side 22 of the body panel 14 may include a pocket 46, as shown in
An opening, such as, but not limited to a slit 52 may be formed within the pocket 46 and may extend through the front side 22, thereby allowing access to the patient 10. The slit 52 is configured to receive at least one tube, such as a chest tube (not shown), or other device, removably coupled to a drain (not shown) removably implanted in the patient 10 following a cardiothoracic procedure so to allow for proper drainage of liquid formed as a result of the surgery. The slit 52 is sized such that it may receive the tube(s) and allow for the tube(s) to extend through the front side 22 of the body panel 14. Alternatively, the tube(s) may be received within an opening forming a flap (not shown). In exemplary embodiments, a closure mechanism 54 may be formed in the pocket 46 proximate to the slit 52 (as shown in
The rear side 24 of the body panel 14 is associated with the shoulder strap 16 at the upper edge 42 of the rear side 24 so to allow for the releasable coupling of the shoulder strap 16 and the front body 22. Illustratively, the garment 12 may include at least two shoulder straps 16, each configured to abut a portion of a wearer's shoulder (not shown). As shown in
As discussed above, in exemplary embodiments the pillow 18 may be integrally formed in the front side 22 of the body panel 14 as shown in
In use, the rear side 24 is worn proximate to the rear upper region of the patient 10, the lateral sides 28 engage the side body portion (not shown) of the patient 10, the front body 22 engages the front upper region 20 of the patient 10, and the patients arms extend through the apertures 44 formed in the garment. The caregiver may then guide a tube, coupled to a drain, through the slit 52 such that it extends away from the patient 10 and is configured to collect fluid resulting from the surgery. Upon positioning the tube through the slit 52, the caregiver actuates (e.g., zips) the closure mechanism 54 so that the patient 10 is removably positioned between the front side 22, the back side 24, and the lateral sides 28. In light of the size and body mass of the patient 10, the caregiver removably couples the shoulder straps 16 to the front side 22 by extending the shoulder straps 16 upwardly around the shoulders of the patient 10 and, when engaged with the shoulders, pulling the straps 16 downwardly towards the front side 22 until the straps 16 releasably engage the front side 22. The pillow 18 is now tightly compressed against the patient's incision, and the patient 10 is free to continue with daily activities and prescribed therapies with increased comfort and expedited healing.
As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
It should further be noted that any patents, applications and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Although only a number of exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/681,451, filed Jun. 6, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62681451 | Jun 2018 | US |