Patent Application
20250000180
The present invention relates to brassieres in general and, more particularly, to adaptations thereof for providing treatment and/or pain relief.
The inframammary fold (IMF) is anatomically defined as the region where the skin of the lower pole of glandular breast tissue meets the chest wall. The breast naturally creases at this landmark, and in large breasts or ptotic breasts the skin on the underside of the breast often approximates the skin beneath the inframammary fold, thus folding back upon itself.
These opposing layers of skin at the IMF may result in skin-on-skin friction and an accumulation of moisture. Either of these factors can result in irritation, inflammation, and even the loss of the most superficial layer of the skin-on-skin at the fold. This can lead to a variety of complications, including bacterial or fungal infections.
Additionally, skin-on-skin configurations such as the IMF are particularly susceptible to Acute Radiation Dermatitis (ARD). In addition to discomfort due to the itching, burning, and irritation, ARD can result in secondary bacterial and yeast superinfections. Treatments for ARD typically include topical preparations, such as moisturizing with oil-in-water moisturizers, creams, ointments, topical corticosteroids, etc.
The present invention provides treatment, comfort, and a goal of reduction in pain for a patient experiencing inflammation, infections, and other skin problems occurring at or very near the IMF.
The illustrative embodiment of the invention is a brassiere that is capable of accommodating devices, etc., that implement various treatment/pain-relief (hereinafter collectively “treatment”) modalities for addressing the aforementioned issues.
In accordance with the present teachings, such a brassiere includes or accepts a retaining structure(s) (hereinafter “retainer”) near to or overlying the IMF of the wearer of the brassiere. Consequently, the retainer is disposed in a region near the bottom of the breast cups. In this context, the retainer should position the treatment devices, etc., at the margin of or overlying the IMF; the retainer may extend 20 to 30 millimeters (mm) inferior to the lowest point of the breast cups.
The retainer has a form suitable for receiving the articles, etc., that implement treatment/pain-relief modalities. Those treatment/pain relief modalities include, without limitation, cryotherapy, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, or vibro-analgesia. As such, the retainer may support a cooling pack, cooling tubes, tubes containing electrically conductive wires, etc.
In some embodiments, the retainer is a sleeve. In some other embodiments, the retainer is a plurality of loops. In some embodiments, the retainer comprises a plurality of pockets. Other configurations of the retainer, as may occur to those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure, may suitable be used.
In some embodiments, the retainer is integral to the brassiere; that is, the retainer is a permanent feature thereof. In some other embodiments, the retainer is a discrete component that removably couples to a brassiere, such as via the use of hook-and-loop fastener.
In some embodiments, the invention provides a treatment brassiere comprising an inframammary-fold treatment-device (IMFTD) retainer.
In some embodiments, the invention provides a treatment brassiere comprising two breast cups and an inframammary-fold treatment-device (IMFTD) retainer.
In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for treating skin irritations associated with an inframammary fold, the method comprising disposing an inframammary-fold treatment device, or a part thereof, in an inframammary-fold treatment-device (IMFTD) retainer of a brassiere; and activating the inframammary-fold treatment device, unless the inframammary-fold treatment device is passively acting.
In accordance with the present teachings, a brassiere, such as brassiere 100, is modified so that it is capable of accommodating articles, devices, etc., that implement various treatment/pain-relief modalities for addressing issues arising at the inframammary fold (IMF).
Modalities for treatment and pain relief for a patient experiencing inflammation, irritation, infections, and other skin problems occurring in the region of the inframammary fold may include, among any others, one or more of the following: cryotherapy, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, and vibro-analgesia.
The therapeutic benefits of cryotherapy—cold therapy—have been known for many years. Multiple mechanisms are believed to contribute to the therapeutic benefit of cryotherapy, including a slowing of the inflammatory process, reduced nerve-conduction velocity, and the induction of vasoconstriction. The use of ice/cold packs for reducing inflammation and swelling, and providing pain reduction and analgesic relief is well accepted in medicine and homeopathic strategies. More recent developments include devices that circulate a cooling fluid (typically chilled water) through tubes, and thermoelectric devices. Thermoelectric cooling (solid-state cooling) utilizes the Peltier effect to remove heat. Thermoelectric coolers for pain management are commercially available from Innovative Medical Equipment, LLC of Beachwood Ohio, and others.
PEMF therapy applies intermittent, short duration, magnetic-field pulses to living tissue. This induces electrical currents in the therapy zone. PEMF has a variety of applications, and as is relevant here, may provide pain and inflammation relief. PEMF devices are commercially available from Resona Health of Cocoa Beach, FL, and others. Applying vibratory stimulation to the skin may reduce pain. This effect is known as vibratory analgesia. Vibratory pain relief devices are commercially available from Pain Care Labs of Atlanta, GA, and others.
As used in this disclosure and in the appended claims, the term “inframammary-fold treatment device” refers to any of the devices or parts thereof (e.g., tubing, etc.) that are used to treat inflammation, irritation, infections, and other skin problems occurring in the region of the inframammary fold.
Retainer 220 may have any one of several different forms, such as to best accommodate the form factor of the treatment device. In the embodiment depicted in
In the illustrative embodiment, IMFTD retainer 220 spans the front of brassiere 200, and includes opening 222 at one or both ends. Opening(s) 222 enables access to the interior of IMFTD retainer 220, such as to place cooling packs, tubes, etc., within IMFTD retainer 220.
In the illustrative embodiment, IMFTD retainer 220 is permanently affixed (e.g., thread, fabric glue, fusible bonding tape, etc.) at its upper and lower edges to cradle 104 of brassiere 200. In some other embodiments, IMFTD retainer 220 is configured as a flap; that is, the lower or upper edge of the IMFTD retainer is permanently affixed to cradle 104, whereas the other (long) edge is detachable from cradle 104 (e.g., using hook-and-loop fastener, snaps, etc.).
In yet some further embodiments, IMFTD retainer 220 is removably attached to brassiere 200. In some of such embodiments, IMFTD retainer 220 can be formed into a tube having a strip of hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., VELCRO® brand hook-and-loop fastener, available from Velcro Co. of Manchester, New Hampshire) disposed thereon. A complementary strip of hook-and-loop fastener, to which IMFTD retainer 220 may be removably coupled, is affixed to the bra. (More precisely, one of the strips contains the “hooks” and the other strip contains the “loops”.)
As an alternative to using two paired sections of hook-and-loop fastener, one section of hook-and-loop material (the hook section) can be used in conjunction with a “hook-compatible fabric” (i.e., VELCRO®) receptive). A strip of such hook-compatible fabric can be located below cups 102 for receiving a strip of hooks that is disposed on IMFTD retainer 220. Such fabric is commercially available from Darlington Fabrics of Westerly, Rhode Island, and others.
IMFTD retainer 220 may be formed of any suitable material, and may match the fabric used for cradle 104. In some embodiments, IMFTD retainer 220 is formed of, or otherwise incorporates, a portion of a stretchable material (e.g., spandex, etc.), to accommodate packs, tubes, etc., that have a diameter/width that is larger than could be otherwise be accommodated via IMFTD retainer 220 if it were formed of a non-stretch material.
It is notable that as IMFTD retainer 420 follows underwire channel 114, portions of the IMFTD retainer may curve upwardly, extending above a wearer's inframammary fold. In some alternative embodiments, IMFTD retainer 420 follows a portion, but not all of underwire channel 114. In such embodiments, the bottom edge of IMFTD retainer 420 should not extend more than 30 mm below the lowest portion of the breast cups.
All considerations applying to IMFTD retainers 220, 320, 420, and 520 (manner of attachment to the brassiere, materials selection, etc.), as previously described, apply equally to IMFTD retainer 620.
As mentioned earlier in this disclosure, brassieres are available in a wide variety of designs and configurations. For example, some bra designs may not include curved (u-shaped) cups, rather having a more linear profile at the bottom of the cup region. It is to be understood that brassieres depicted in the accompanying Figures are provided by way of illustration, not limitation, and the various embodiments of IMFTD retainers disclosed herein may be readily incorporated into such other brassiere designs.
In some embodiments, a brassiere in accordance with the present teachings includes an IMFTD retainer, but does not include breast cups. Such a brassiere may be used, for example, by patients that have had a mastectomy, but no reconstruction.
It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just one example of the illustrative embodiment and that many variations of the invention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63523808 | Jun 2023 | US |
