Patent Application
20240423296
The present invention is related to post-surgical compression garments that close in the back, and more particularly, to a garment for post-operatively immobilizing surgically corrected tissues to ensure proper healing from, in any combination, breast lift and breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction of the stomach, waist and hips, and gluteoplasty procedures including buttock enhancement and contouring, having a main securing zipper closure located in the back of the garment.
One of the drawbacks of compression garments available today is that they close in the front. Prior to the present invention, there has never been a compression garment with back closure for post-surgical healing and rehabilitation.
With the increase in medical technology, there has been an increase in cosmetic surgery. A recent treatment is known as a “mommy makeover”, a treatment intended to reverse the natural effects of childbearing on various parts of the body. A mommy makeover is a combination of surgeries involving the breast, the abdomen, the liposuctioning of the waist, the hips and thighs, and buttock augmentation to restore the body to the contoured appearance of the patient prior to childbearing. This can be done in one procedure, most commonly involving a breast lift and/or breast augmentation in combination with abdominoplasty or a tummy tuck, and buttock augmentation/contouring. These multiple procedures can also be staged into different procedures.
Breast augmentation involves using a breast implant to lift the breast and provide a bigger breast. Oftentimes that is done in combination with a breast lift. The breast lift involves getting rid of excess skin, and redraping the skin to provide a lift and better contouring of the breast. Both of those procedures can be done at one time, based on the patients characteristics, or it can be done in a staged fashion with breast lift being done first and implant or augmentation being done at one or more later stages.
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty removes excess skin and fat from below the umbilicus or belly button to the super pubic area above the pubis. Then the skin is redraped, with the incision basically along the lower waist line.
Abdominoplasty can also be combined with liposuction to better improve the contour of the abdomen. Liposuction of the waist and sometime of the hips and thighs can be done simultaneously or in future stages. Abdominoplasty can also be used to recentralize the muscles in the abdomen to provide better contouring and a more firm appearance of the abdomen which is often lost after pregnancy.
Gluteoplasty procedures including buttock augmentation improve the contour, size and shape of the buttocks. A buttock lift improves the tone of the underlying tissue in the buttocks. A Brazilian butt lift is a common buttock enhancement procedure.
Buttock augmentation, or gluteal augmentation, is used to improve the contour, size and/or shape of the buttocks. This is done through the use of buttock implants, fat grafting or sometimes a combination of the two. Buttock implants are silicone-filled devices that are surgically placed deep within the tissues of the buttock. Buttock augmentation through the use of fat grafting involves the transfer of fat from one area of the body into the tissues of the buttocks. This technique is sometimes referred to as a Brazilian butt lift.
A buttock lift, or gluteal lift, improves the shape and tone of the underlying tissue that supports skin and fat in the buttock area. Aging, sun damage, pregnancy, significant fluctuations in weight and genetic factors may contribute to poor tissue elasticity that can result in sagging of the buttocks. In order to achieve a smoother and more pleasing contour, excess sagging skin and fat are removed. Buttock lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat nor are they intended to add volume to the buttocks. Fat grafting, buttock implants or auto-augmentation (when some of your own tissue is left underneath the skin) can be used to add volume. Liposuction is sometimes added for better contouring.
Thus wearing of compression garments during the period of time during which the surgical wounds involved in breast augmentation and lifts, abdominoplasty, liposuction and gluteoplasty including buttock augmentation are healing and rehabilitating, is recommended.
Properly designed and fitted medical compression garments provide tension gradients that pressurize the underlying, disturbed, malleable tissue layers both for assuring contact for proper healing and for contouring anatomical surfaces to promote, engender, or support a desired therapeutic, structural, or cosmetic benefit. “High” pressure compression garments can provide pressure gradients, ranging up to 15 to 20 torr across an anatomical body surface of a patient that will induce pressure gradients in the underlying malleable tissues for disbursing and directing fluids (gases and liquids) seepage and diffusion of such fluids into underlying lower pressure regions. Given, accurate compression and patient compliance, wearing a medical compression garment significantly affects outcome. Patients who comply with a treating plastic surgeon's prescribing recommendations to wear a properly designed compression garment report and enjoy a greater sense of overall satisfaction associated with the results their procedure, particularly those reporting 100% compliance versus those who wear a compression garment less than a prescribed or recommended time.
Unfortunately, typical compression garments use zippers or other closing device which leave marks on the skin under compression, and are prone to leave compression marks or indentations, unless they are properly guarded and padded, or otherwise designed to avoid the cited drawbacks.
Post-surgery, compression garment with back closures are described that include left and right upper molded breast cups joined by symmetrical left and right inner and outer elastic power-net fabric panels having elastic seams, seamed underarm reliefs between front and back shoulderstrap anchor tabs, an elastic seamed, scalloped front collar with molded breast cups, left and right thigh sleeves including a convenient crotch opening for compressing the torso, tummy and thighs of a human body, while incorporating joined, symmetrical, left and right molded, gluteal-shaping, elastic power-net fabric domes for shaping the gluteal region or buttocks of a human body. Elastic seams used throughout embodiments of the present invention allow for form-fitting without binding or constraint in areas.
It would be desirable to have a compression garment with back closure suitable for post-surgical use.
It would be desirable to have a compression garment with back closure, i.e., can be easily closed from the rear with a zipper, set of hook and eye closures, or other type of closure including buttons, snaps, hook and loop material, etc.
It would be a further advantage to have a post-surgical compression garment with back closure specifically made for providing compression during the healing process following a mommy makeover.
It would be a further advantage to have such healing garment specifically designed with the main closing element or closure located in the back of the garment, thus preventing indentations or other marks of compression directly on top of the wounds caused by the various surgical procedures of the mommy makeover.
One embodiment of the present invention, is a post-surgery, compression garment for post-operatively immobilizing surgically corrected tissues to ensure proper healing, the garment having a rear side main securing vertically-oriented zipper and graded compression with greatest compressivity located in the abdomen with graded diminishing compression extending upward to the breasts, around the side flank areas and across the hips and waist with compressivity and support in the bra and buttocks areas.
Additional information related to the present invention and regarding post-surgical healing can be found online. As early as 2008, American manufacturing firm Design Veronique of Richmond, California published it's Whitepaper on post-surgical healing entitled ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A MEDICAL COMPRESSION GARMENT & ITS ROLE IN POSTSURGICAL HEALING (https://www.designveronique.com/sites/default/files/DV_Postsurgical_White_Paper_2008.pdf). The publication is also found online at Design Veronique website: https://www.designveronique.com/the-learning-center #section-heading-32.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,784,347 issued Jul. 22, 2014 to Smith provides background information and details of manufacturing that are utilized in the present invention, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Smith teaches a post-surgery, high-back, compression garment also for post-operatively immobilizing surgically corrected tissues to ensure proper healing and provide molded gluteal-shaping that preserves desired anatomic curvature enhancements and corrections in the gluteal regions of the human body. However, this garment does not have rear side main securing vertically-oriented zipper and graded compression with greatest compressivity located in the abdomen with graded diminishing compression extending upward to the breasts, around the side flank areas and across the hips and waist with compressivity and support in the bra and buttocks areas.
Techniques and machines for molding synthetic fabrics including spandex-nylon blend “power-net” fabrics are well known (See for example U.S. Pat. No. 7,776,770, Wang et al, & U.S. Pat. No. 8,262,434, Falla et al). In general, the garment pattern pieces are cut and sewn together. Gluteal panels may be molded using a dome molding machine to form a dome (See FIGS. 8-10 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,776,770, Wang et al,) before being sewn into the garment. Alternatively the gluteal panels can be sewn into the garment before molding in which case the seams closing the thigh panels and front torso panels must be left open to allow the gluteal panels to be positioned on the machine to form a desired dome.
The present invention is a compression garment with back closure for post-operatively immobilizing surgically corrected tissues to ensure proper healing from, in combination, breast lift and breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction of the stomach, waist and hips, and gluteoplasty procedures including buttock enhancement and contouring. The garment comprises a front side having a central mid panel which compresses the lower abdomen of a user, a central upper panel extending upward toward the chest area of the user, side panels and central lower panels extending on either side of the garment up to the breast area of the user and down to the user's waist below the user's abdomen. The garment further comprises two molded and seamless breast supporting cups coupled to the upper panel and side panels with lower wireless, self adjusting stretch casing. A neckline extends across the top portions of the breast supporting cups from a centerpoint outward. Lower front shorts portions extending downward from the central lower panels with a lower strip portion having a gripping device attached thereto. A rear side has an upper portion having a top edge, a mid section flank compression panel extending downward from the upper portion, and minimally compressive supportive molded buttocks coupled to the base of the mid section flank compression panel. One or more centrally located elongated closing devices selected from the group consisting of zippers, buttons, fabric snaps, hook and eye tape, hook and loop material extending from the top edge of the upper portion downward through the mid section flank compression panel to the buttocks. A thick guard made of a plush protective material disposed along the inside of the one or more centrally located elongated closing devices to protect the skin of the user from the compressive forces developed within the closing device in a closed position. Lower short portions extending downward from the molded buttocks with a lower strip portion having a gripping device attached thereto, thereby forming a compression gradient extending throughout the garment from a most compressive and inelastic central mid panel which lies across the lower abdomen of the user to a less compressive upper panel and side flank compression panels that covers the upper abdominal region and sides flank regions of the user to yet less compressive side panels and lower panels that cover the sides and lower lap regions of the user to the least compressive breast cups, molded buttocks and lower shorts which provide the least amount of compression to the breasts, buttocks and upper legs but also provide support in those areas. The lower shorts portion also comprises a reinforced open crotch. A pair of shoulder straps extend from the neckline on the front side to the top edge of the upper portion on the rear side of the garment.
Benefits and features of the invention are made more apparent with the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are applied to like elements.
The description that follows is presented to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principals discussed below may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but the invention is to be given the largest possible scope which is consistent with the principals and features described herein.
A reinforced front center seam 102 runs down the center of the front side 140 of the garment 100 starting from the upper flat hem neckline 104. The upper front portion of the garment 100 consists of molded double layer seamless, cotton-knit cups 106. The bias cut cups 106 contour and support the breasts. Starting at the centerpoint 108 of the neckline 104, the cups 106 are bounded downwardly and outwardly by wireless, self-adjusting stretch casing 110. At the centerpoint 108 is a convenient location to place a small logo or medallion 109 on the garment 100 in the form of a woven emblem, button or fabric snap, etc.
Beneath the cups 106, the novel central full abdominal graded compression panel system consists essentially of 2 each of identical opposing central upper panels 112, identical opposing central mid panels 114, identical opposing side panels 116 and identical opposing central lower panels 118. A strong stretch blind hem stitch 119 is used to outline the upper central panels 112, the lower central panels 114 the side panels 116 and the central lower panels 118. It will be understood that the two portions of the opposing central upper panels 112 could be formed as a single central upper panel, and the central mid panels 114 could similarly be formed into a single central mid panel portion.
Short leg portions 120 extend from the front side 140 of the garment 100 to the lateral sides 150 of the garment 100 to the rear side 160 of the garment 100. A reinforced open crotch 122 allows hygienic comfort for the user. The lower edge 124 of the short portions 120 is made with power elastine lace and coated with a gripper silicon on at least the inside of the lower edge 124.
Front detachable and adjustable shoulder straps 125 extend from the front side 140 over the user's shoulders to the rear side 160 of the garment. A strong bra strap slide 126 allows for adjustability of the strap 124 as desired. In addition, double-reinforced strap attachments 128 are utilized on both the front side 140 and on the rear side 160 of the garment 100.
On the rear side 160 of the garment 100, a central back locking zipper 162 is lined on the interior with a comfortable plush guard 164 having hook and eye tape 166 to protect the user from the slider 168. Attached to the pull 170 is a pull cord 172 to assist the user of the garment 100 operate the rear zipper 162. The base of the zipper 162 is reinforced with a bottom stop 174. Plush guard 164 is made of any type of soft, absorbent, non-irritating fabric made of natural and/or synthetic materials would be suitable in this application. The guard 164 could be layers of fabric, padded, or other construction suitable for preventing irritation, indentation or pressure marking of the underlying skin.
In addition, rear upper portions 180 are bounded by the upper neckline 104 that extends from the front side 140 around the lateral sides 150 to the rear side 160 beneath the shoulder straps 125. The rear upper portions 180 are also bounded by the opposing side panels 116 and the central zipper 162 in the middle of the rear side 160. Mid section flank compression panels 182 couple to the bottom of the rear upper portions 180 and to the opposing side panels 116 using the strong stretch blind hem stitch 119 used in the front side 140 of the garment 100.
A minimally compressive molded buttocks portion 184 couples to the lower edge of the flank compression panels 182 with a strong flat surge stitch 186. As on the front side 140, the lower shorts portion 120 has a base edge 124 with lace and inside coated silicone gripping surface to prevent the garment 100 from riding up the leg of the user (not shown). The reinforced opening in the crotch 122 extends from the front side 140 to the rear side 160 of the garment 100.
The areas that appear darker in the shading have more compression. This is achieved by overlapping fabric panels in strategic areas. For example, the darkest panel is a combination of the central mid panels 114 that cover the lower tummy. Applying maximum compression in this area helps with the healing of the abdominoplasty incision. This is achieved using 4 layers of strong, elastic material. A second zone consisting of a combination of the right and left upper panels 112. A third level compressive zone is achieved at the side panels 116 and central lower panels 118, as well as across the rear flank panels 182. A fourth level compression is achieved using highly supportive but less compressive construction in the bra portions as well as the shorts and buttocks molds 184. The single layer of highly fabric provides the least amount of compressive force in the bra area 106 as well as in the shorts 120. Likewise, the buttock molds 184 have the least amount of compressive force. However, the buttock molds 184 are molded to provide support but not necessarily high compression.
Thus, when the main vertically-oriented zipper 162 is located on the rear side 160 of the garment 100, and a plush fabric guard 164 is layered directly underneath the zipper 162, the compressed tissue in the area directly beneath fabric guard 164 of the zipper 162 does not become deformed or show a series of indentations in the skin due to the zipper 162 pressing into the tissue.
Thus, the compression garment with back closure 100 of the present invention can easily be closed from the rear and the back closure provides preferred comfort, aesthetic and ergonomic functionality. A rear-closure in a compression garment 100 of the present invention provides an alternative to compression garments that close in the front, have bulky zippers or other front closures that are uncomfortable to wear, can cause pain or bruising to underlying skin, tissue or bones, and deform the underlying tissue making the garment irritating to wear and also deforming to the user's body.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications and patent documents referenced in the present invention are incorporated herein by reference.
While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, with the limits only of the true purview, spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is related to co-pending related U.S. design patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled POST-SURGICAL COMPRESSION GARMENT filed ______, attorney docket number DV-101-A. This application is also related to co-pending related U.S. design patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled POST-SURGICAL COMPRESSION GARMENT filed ______, attorney docket number DV-101-B.
