EP3647476A1 - Knitted medical article - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical knitted part, in particular in the form of an orthopedic bandage or a bandage, for contacting a body part for medical or therapeutic treatment or for supporting the body part, the knitted part comprising a basic body (1) knitted from a basic knitted fabric and at least one pocket (3) for receiving a functional element (4). A simple, quick and inexpensive manufacture of such a knitted part for medical applications, which has a pocket into which a functional element can be inserted, which can have a therapeutic effect on a part of the body to which the medical knitted part is applied, is according to the The invention realizes that the knitted part is seamlessly knitted on a flat knitting machine, the pocket (3) being bag-shaped and seamlessly knitted into the knitted part.

Description

The invention relates to a medical knitted article, in particular in the form of an orthopedic bandage or a bandage, for contacting a body part of a patient for medical or therapeutic treatment or for supporting the body part, according to the preamble of claim 1. The medical knitted article according to the invention can in particular in the form of a tubular bandage, a stocking or sock, or a glove. The invention relates to a method for producing the medical knitted part.

From the EP 2 268 245 B1 is known as a compressive knitted part orthopedic aid in the form of a bandage, orthosis, splint or support, or a compressive garment or knitted part for the therapy or support of body parts with a functional element with an additional therapeutic effect, the functional element being introduced into a receiving device which adjoins an opening machined into the knitting part, which serves as access to the receiving device, the opening being machined into the knitting part as a slit formed in the transverse direction of the knitting in the knitting process. The receiving device can in particular be designed as a pocket that is sewn, welded or glued onto the knitted part. The functional element with additional therapeutic effect can in particular be a pad or an elastic molded body or a solid body. The functional element can have a therapeutic effect, such as an additional compression pressure, or other therapeutic effects, such as a tempering effect or a medical effect on the part of the body to which the orthopedic aid is applied.

The use of such functional elements, for example in the form of (partially) elastic pads, is known in the field of compression therapy in connection with compression articles, such as compression gloves or compression bandages, in order, for example, to exert an additional compression pressure on a part of the body to be treated, in areas or at certain points, which is applied via the from the compression part over a large area and evenly applied compression pressure.

The manufacture of the in the EP 2 268 245 B2 However, the described aid with insertable functional element proves to be complex and expensive, because after the opening in the knitted part of the knitted aid has been knitted, the pick-up device, for example in the form of a pocket, must be sewn, welded or glued onto the knitted part in a separate manufacturing step . The sewing, welding or gluing of the receiving device for the additional functional element requires an additional work step, which has to be carried out separately after the knitting of the knitted part and for which additional machines, for example a sewing, welding or gluing machine, have to be used. This is time-consuming and costly because the attachment of the pick-up device to the knitting part of the aid has to be carried out in a separate step after the knitting process has ended and additional machines and possibly consumables such as adhesives and sewing threads have to be provided for this.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to provide a simple, quick and inexpensive to manufacture knitted part for medical applications, which has a pocket into which a functional element can be inserted, which has a therapeutic effect on a part of the body on which the medical knitted part is applied is, can exercise.

This object is achieved with a medical knitted part with the features of claim 1. The method of claim 14 also contributes to the solution of the object. Preferred embodiments and applications of the medical knitted part according to the invention and of the production method result from the dependent claims.

The medical knitted part according to the invention can, for example, be in the form of an orthopedic bandage or a bandage for contacting a body part of a patient for medical or therapeutic treatment or for supporting the body part, the knitted part comprising a basic body knitted from a basic knitted fabric and at least one pocket for receiving a functional element, the pocket being seamlessly knitted into the base body and having an opening through which the functional element can be inserted and removed. The knitted part according to the invention is knitted seamlessly on a flat knitting machine, the pocket being sack or tube-shaped and directly on without a seam or other fixing means Basic body is knitted. The medical knitted part according to the invention can in particular have the form of a tubular bandage, a stocking or sock, or a glove.

According to the invention, in the knitting process on the flat knitting machine, when knitting the basic knitted fabric of the basic body, the sack or tubular pocket is also knitted in. At least one medically or therapeutically effective functional element can be introduced into the pocket, which is expediently designed as a sack or hose open on one side with the open side facing the base body. The functional element can be, for example, a pressure body, a cushion body, an inelastic or elastic molded body and in particular a pad. When the knitted part is applied to a body part of a patient, the functional element exerts a therapeutic or medical effect on the body part, for example a pressure and / or a temperature effect and / or a cushioning effect and / or an administration of a medically or therapeutically active substance to the body part . For the administration of a medically or therapeutically active substance to the body part, the functional element can, for example, be impregnated with a medically or therapeutically active substance which is delivered to the body part if the knitted part according to the invention has been introduced into the pocket provided for this purpose with a corresponding functional element is applied to the body part of the patient, so that the substance stored in the functional element can diffuse into the body part through the knitted bag. The functional element is expediently designed as a retard, which releases the medication at a slower rate.

The basic knitted fabric from which the basic body of the medical knitted part is made according to the invention can expediently be an extensible knitted fabric and in particular a compression knitted fabric. This has the effect that the medical knitted part exerts a uniform basic pressure on the body part over the entire area when it is in contact with a body part of a patient. When a functional element in the form of a pressure body or a pad is introduced into the pocket provided for this purpose in the knitted part according to the invention, the basic pressure exerted by the base body of the knitted part on the body part can be increased in certain areas or at points in the area in which the functional element abuts the patient's body part located.

To form the basic knitted fabric of the basic body as a compression knitted fabric, an elastic, stitch-forming knitting thread can be used when knitting the basic knitted fabric and / or an elastic weft thread can be integrated into the basic knitted fabric or inserted under tension.

The pocket which serves to hold the functional element is expediently knitted from a knitted pocket, the knitted weave of the knitted pocket being preferred and at least essentially corresponding to the knitted weave of the basic knitted fabric. Both the basic knitted fabric of the basic body and the knitted pocket from which the pocket is knitted can, for example, be knitted as a right / left knitted fabric from an elastic or inelastic and stitch-forming knitting thread.

There is preferably no weft thread in the knitted pocket. This ensures an easier insertion of the functional element into the pocket. However, it is also possible to insert an elastic weft thread in the knitted pocket, which pulls the knitted pocket and thus the pocket together in the transverse direction (that is to say transversely to the direction of the wales or in the circumferential direction of the tubular pocket). When using a weft thread in the knitted pocket, a resistance caused by the compressive effect of the weft thread must be overcome when the functional element is inserted into the pocket in order to be able to push the functional element completely into the pocket. However, due to the compressive effect of the elastic weft thread, the functional element introduced into the pocket is fixed in the pocket due to the compression pressure generated by the weft thread. This prevents the functional element from slipping in the pocket.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pocket knitted fabric therefore has an elastic weft thread, which is integrated into the pocket knitted fabric or inserted under tension, the elastic weft thread preferably being inserted or integrated into the pocket knitted fabric only in regions. It is particularly advantageous here if the elastic weft thread is inserted into the knitted pocket only in the proximal, open area of the pocket. In this particularly preferred embodiment variant, the pocket knitted fabric, which is only provided with a weft thread in some areas, exerts a compression effect only in the proximal region of the pocket, which is open and adjoins the basic body of the knitted part. This compression effect of the knitted pocket leads to a fixation of the functional element inserted into the pocket in the area of the opening of the pocket and prevents the functional element from accidentally slipping out of the pocket when the knitted part is carried.

In order to prevent the functional element from coming out of the pocket unintentionally, it is also possible to close the opening of the pocket by means of a seam after the functional element has been introduced. The seam can also expediently be opened again in order to be able to remove the functional element from the pocket. This enables an exchange of a used functional element by a new, therapeutically or medically effective functional element.

In contrast to the known generic knitted parts, such as that from the EP 2268245-A Orthopedic aids, in which an opening is first made in a basic knitted fabric and then a pocket is attached to the opening by sewing, gluing or welding, it is not necessary in the knitted part according to the invention to fix the opening in the basic knitted fabric, for example by means of strings or other finishing steps and attach the bag to the opening by a separate step.

Fig. 1:

Schematische Darstellung eines medizinischen Gestrickteils gemäß der Erfindung mit einer schlauchförmig ausgebildeten Tasche zur Aufnahme eines Funktionselements, wobei das Gestrickteil die Form eines Handschuhs aufweist;

Fig. 2:

Darstellung des Handschuhs von Figur 1 in einer an einer Hand eines Patienten angelegten Funktionsstellung;

Fig. 3:

Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform eines Gestrickbilds eines Taschengestricks für die Ausbildung der Tasche des erfindungsgemäßen Gestrickteils;

Fig. 4:

Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Gestrickbilds eines Taschengestricks für die Ausbildung der Tasche des erfindungsgemäßen Gestrickteils;

Fig. 5:

Darstellung eines Gestrickbilds des erfindungsgemäßen Gestrickteils im Übergangsbereich zwischen dem Grundgestrick des Grundkörpers und dem Taschengestrick für die Ausbildung der Tasche;

These and other features as well as properties, advantages and effects of the knitted part according to the invention result from the exemplary embodiments described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

Fig. 1:

Schematic representation of a medical knitted part according to the invention with a tubular bag for receiving a functional element, the knitted part having the shape of a glove;

Fig. 2:

Representation of the glove from Figure 1 in a functional position placed on a patient's hand;

Fig. 3:

Representation of a first embodiment of a knitted image of a knitted pocket for the formation of the pocket of the knitted part according to the invention;

Fig. 4:

Representation of a second embodiment of a knitted image of a pocket knitted fabric for the formation of the pocket of the knitted part according to the invention;

Fig. 5:

Representation of a knitted image of the knitted part according to the invention in the transition area between the basic knitted fabric of the basic body and the knitted pocket for the formation of the pocket;

In Figure 1 An embodiment of a medical knitted part according to the invention is shown in the form of a compression glove. The glove has a base body 1 with a palm and back part and adjoining finger parts 7 for receiving the five fingers of a patient's hand. The basic body 1 is designed as a knitted part and is produced from a basic knitted fabric 10 in a continuous knitting process. The basic knitted fabric 10 is a compression knitted fabric with an elastic weft thread integrated into the basic knitted fabric under tension. When using a compression knitted fabric with an elastic weft thread integrated into the basic knitted fabric 10, the basic body 1 generates a (full) flat, uniform compression pressure on the body part when the knitted part lies against a body part of a patient. The basic knitted fabric 10 is, however, not necessarily a compression knitted fabric.

The in Figure 1 The glove shown has in the base body 1 a pocket 3 knitted thereon, which is open on one side, namely in the proximal area, and closed in the distal area. The pocket 3 thereby has the shape of a sack open on one side with an opening 2, the opening 2 of the pocket 3 facing the base body 1 and being connected to it. A functional element can thereby be introduced into the pocket 3 through the opening 2.

In Figure 2 is the glove of Figure 1 Shown in a functional position applied to a hand of a patient, the pocket 3 being turned inside out in the direction of the palm of the hand and a functional element 4 being introduced into the pocket 3, so that the functional element 4 comes to rest in the region of the palm. Since the glove from Figure 1 formed from a compression knitted fabric and thus designed as a compression glove, this exerts uniform pressure over the entire area or over a large area on the patient's hand.

The functional element 4 can be, for example, a pressure or cushion body, in particular a pad. In the in Figure 2 Functional position of the glove shown lies against the palm of the hand (with the pocket knitted fabric 5 of the sack-shaped pocket 3 still lying between the palm and the pad) and thereby exerts an additional pressure which is greater than the pressure exerted on the hand by the compression glove goes out. The functional element 4 introduced into the pocket 3 thus acts as a pressure body.

Instead of a pressure body designed as a pad, an easily deformable cushion body, for example made of a foam, or some other medically or therapeutically effective functional element 4 can also be introduced into the pocket 3. In any case, the functional element 4 introduced into the pocket 3 exerts a therapeutic or medical effect on the body part on which the knitted part according to the invention is applied.

In the in Figure 2 The embodiment of a knitted part according to the invention shown in the form of a glove, the opening 2 is closed by a seam 9. The opening 2 is closed by the seam 9 after the functional element 4 has been inserted into the pocket 3. The seam 9 prevents the functional element 4 inserted into the pocket 3 from accidentally slipping out of the pocket 3 when the knitted part is worn.

To produce the knitted part according to the invention, such as that in the Figures 1 and 2 shown glove, the basic knitted fabric 10 of the basic body 1 is knitted seamlessly on a flat knitting machine with a front needle bed and a rear needle bed opposite this, a front layer of the basic knitted fabric on the front needle bed of the flat knitting machine and a rear layer of the basic knitted fabric on the rear needle bed and the front and the back layer of the basic knitted fabric are knitted together so that a tubular basic body 1 is created. In the embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2 the base body 1 of the glove has a palmar, front layer and a dorsal, rear layer and the finger parts 7, which serve to hold the fingers of one hand, are also tubular and seamless on the flat knitting machine in a continuous knitting process on the palmar and dorsal Knitted area of the base body 1. In the same way as the finger parts 7 of the glove from Figure 1 the bag-shaped pocket 3 is also attached to the base fabric 10 of the base body 1 knitted in the knitting process on the flat knitting machine. The sack-shaped pocket 3 also has a front layer and a rear layer, which are knitted on the front and the rear needle bed of the flat knitting machine and are knitted together in such a way that a tube-shaped or sack-shaped pocket 3 is created.

In the Figures 3 and 4th Two different exemplary embodiments of a knitted pocket 5 are shown, from which the area of the pocket 3 of the knitted part can be knitted. The pocket knitted fabric 5 preferably has a knitted weave which at least essentially corresponds to the knitted weave of the basic knitted fabric of the basic body 1. The basic knitted fabric of the basic body 1 and thus expediently also the pocket knitted fabric 5 can be designed, for example, as a right / left knitted fabric. To form the basic knitted fabric 10 of the basic body 1 as a compression knitted fabric, it can be provided that an elastic weft thread is incorporated in the basic knitted fabric 10. The pocket knitted fabric 5 in the Figures 3 and 4th In contrast, the exemplary embodiments shown have no weft thread.

That in the embodiment of Figure 3 The pocket knitted fabric 5 shown is knitted as a right / left hand knitted fabric from a stitch-forming knitting thread 6. The knitting thread 6 can be an elastic or an inelastic thread. In the knitted picture of the Figure 3 The front layer v and the rear layer h of the knitted pocket knitted fabric 5 can be seen, the front layer v being knitted on the front needle bed and the rear layer h being knitted on the rear needle bed of the flat knitting machine. The knitting thread 6 alternately forms loops and tuck loops both in the rear position h and in the front position v in the direction of the row of stitches m. The stitches and tuck loops of the knitting thread 6 are knitted together in the stitch direction s to form a stitch and the front layer v is knitted with the rear layer h to form a tubular knitted fabric. The tubular knitted fabric thus formed from the knitted pocket 5 forms the sack-shaped pocket 3.

In the in Figure 4 Embodiment shown are knitted in individual stitches m 'of the back layer h and the front layer v additional stitches in the form of spiked. This formation of spots in the knitted pocket 5 allows the volume of the sack-shaped pocket 5 to be increased, so that large-volume functional elements 4 can also be introduced into the pocket 3.

In order to fix a functional element 4 inserted into the pocket 3, the knitted pocket 5 can have an elastic weft thread, which is integrated into the knitted pocket 5 or inserted under tension. The elastic weft thread pulls the sack-shaped pocket 3 together in the circumferential direction, as a result of which the pocket 3 exerts compressive pressure in the circumferential direction on the functional element 4 inserted into the pocket 3 and thereby fixes it in the pocket 3.

In an expedient embodiment variant, which is not shown here in the drawing, the knitted pocket can have a weft thread inserted into the knitted pocket or integrated under tension only in predetermined areas, which produces a compressive effect of the pocket 3 and contracts it in regions in the circumferential direction. It is expedient if the compressive weft thread is provided in the region of the proximal opening of the sack-shaped pocket 3, which is connected to the opening 2 in the base body 1 of the knitted part. The compressive weft thread in the region of the opening of the sack-shaped pocket 3 prevents the functional element 4 from being able to slip out of the opening 2 of the pocket unintentionally. At the same time, the fact that the compression-giving weft thread is provided only in regions in the region of the pocket 3 adjoining the opening 2, but not in the rest of the pocket region, ensures that the functional element 4 is easily inserted without resistance.

1. A: Stricken der vorderen Lage (V):
   1. (1) Lage vorne (V) nach links Stricken;
   2. (2) Lage vorne (V) um 1 Nadel nach Links verhängt. (in Figur 5 dargestellt durch die Umhängepfeile U, die einmal nach hinten und dann mit Versatz nach Links und wieder nach vorne gehen);
   3. (3) Lage hinten (H) um 1 Nadel nach Links verhängt. (in Figur 5 dargestellt durch die Umhängepfeile U, die einmal nach vorne, Versatz nach Links und wieder nach hinten gehen);
   4. (4) Lage vorne (V) nach rechts Stricken;
2. B: Stricken der hinteren Lage (H):
   • (5) Lage hinten (H) nach links Stricken;
   • (6) Lage vorne (V) um 1 Nadel nach Links verhängt. (Umhängepfeile U einmal nach hinten, Versatz nach Links und wieder nach vorne);
   • (7) Lage hinten (H) um 1 Nadel nach Links verhängt. (Umhängepfeile U einmal nach vorne, Versatz nach Links und wieder nach hinten);
   • (8) Lage hinten (H) nach rechts Stricken.

In Figure 5 the knitted image of a knitted part according to the invention is shown in the transition area between the basic knitted fabric of the basic body 1 and the pocket knitted fabric 5 for the formation of the pocket in order to explain the knitting technique for knitting the pocket 3 into the basic knitted fabric 1. After knitting the pocket knitted fabric 5 (in Figure 5 shown below left) to complete the bag 3, the entire width of the basic knitted fabric 1 is hung with the weft needle by needle to the left and knitted again until the entire width of the bag 3 has been knitted. Here, the following sequence is repeated to knit the front layer (V) and the rear layer (H) of the basic knitted fabric onto the pocket knitted fabric 5 (steps (1) to (8) of the following sequence are shown in FIG Figure 5 shown on the far right):

1. A: Knit the front layer (V):
   1. (1) Front layer (V) knit to the left;
   2. (2) Front position (V) 1 needle to the left. (in Figure 5 represented by the arrow arrows U, which go backwards and then offset to the left and back again);
   3. (3) Position at the back (H) 1 needle to the left. (in Figure 5 represented by the arrow arrows U, which go forward once, offset to the left and back again);
   4. (4) Front layer (V) knit to the right;
2. B: Knit the back layer (H):
   • (5) Knit position at back (H) to the left;
   • (6) Front position (V) 1 needle to the left. (U arrows once backwards, offset to the left and forward again);
   • (7) Position at the back (H) 1 needle to the left. (U arrows once to the front, offset to the left and back again);
   • (8) Knit layer at the back (H) to the right.

This process with steps (1) to (8) is repeated depending on the width of the pocket 3. Has the bag 3 e.g. 20 needles width, there are 20 repetitions. In the area where the two hoses produced in this way are brought together, knitting is not - as usual - in a circle or tube, but in the "U" sequence from the front layer V to the rear layer H, and vice versa, i.e. 2 layers V in the front, 2 layers in the back H. This prevents the layers V, H from being joined in the area of the pocket 3, as a result of which the opening 2 is formed in the pocket 3.

The knitted part according to the invention can have various shapes. In addition to the in the Figures 1 and 2 In the embodiment of a glove shown, the knitted part can also be designed as a sock or stocking. Furthermore, the knitted part according to the invention can also be designed as a tubular bandage or bandage.

The knitted part according to the invention can be used in the orthopedic field to support or compressively treat body parts and joints. Furthermore, the knitted part according to the invention can be used to treat lymphatic insufficiencies, such as lymphatic or lip edema can be used. The knitted part according to the invention can also be used in the field of foot or hand rehabilitation. Furthermore, a knitted part which is expediently designed as a compression article according to the invention can be used in scar therapy, for example for the treatment of scars which result from burns or scalds.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. From the description of the function of the pocket 3 for receiving a functional element 4, it can be seen that, for example, the shape of the base body 1 of the knitted part according to the invention can be changed as desired. The shape of the pocket 3 can also be adapted to a predetermined shape of a functional element 4, so that the functional element 4 can be inserted into the pocket 3 with a precise fit. It also follows that the knitted weave of the basic knitted fabric, from which the basic body is knitted, and the knitted weave of the knitted bag, from which the pocket for accommodating the functional element is formed, can be varied and that all can be used to form the basic knitted fabric and the knitted pocket common knitted fabrics can be used.

Claims (15)

Medical knitted part, in particular in the form of an orthopedic bandage or a bandage, for contacting a body part for medical or therapeutic treatment or for supporting the body part, the knitted part comprising a basic body (1) knitted from a basic knitted fabric and at least one pocket (3) Includes a functional element (4), characterized in that the knitted part is seamlessly knitted on a flat knitting machine, the pocket (3) being bag-shaped and seamlessly knitted into the knitted part. Knitted part according to claim 1, characterized in that the or each pocket (3) has an opening (2) through which a functional element (4) can be introduced into the pocket (3). Knitted part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one functional element (4) is introduced into the pocket (3), the at least one functional element (4) being designed in particular as a pressure body or cushion body or as an inelastic or elastic molded body and in particular as a pad is. Knitted part according to claim 3, wherein the or each functional element (4) exerts a therapeutic or medical effect on the body part when the knitted part is applied to a body part, in particular a pressure and / or a temperature effect and / or a cushioning effect and / or an administration of a medically or therapeutically effective substance to the body part. Knitted part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the basic knitted fabric is stretchable and in particular in the form of a compression knitted fabric and for this purpose is preferably knitted from an elastic knitting thread (6) and / or contains an elastic weft thread which is incorporated into the basic knitting and in particular inserted under tension is. Knitted part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pocket is knitted from a knitted pocket (5), the knitted weave of which at least substantially corresponds to the knitted weave of the basic knitted fabric of the basic body (1). Knitted part according to claim 6, characterized in that there is no weft thread in the pocket knitted fabric (5). Knitted part according to one of claims 3 to 11, characterized in that the pocket (3) is closed at or at least near the opening (2) by a seam (9), the seam (9) after the functional element (4) has been introduced into the bag (3) has been attached. Knitted part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bag is knitted from a pocket knitted fabric (5), the pocket knitted fabric (5) being knitted from an elastic or inelastic knitting thread (6) and preferably as a right / left knitted fabric. Knitted part according to claim 9, characterized in that the knitting thread (6) in the pocket knitted fabric (5) forms tuck handles. Knitted part according to claim 10, wherein the tuck loops alternate with stitches in a course (m). Knitted part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (1) has the shape of a tubular bandage or a glove or a sock or a stocking. Use of a knitted part according to one of the preceding claims for the compressive treatment of the body part and / or for supporting joints of the body part and / or for the treatment of lymphatic insufficiency, and / or for foot or hand rehabilitation and / or for scar therapy. Method for producing a knitted part according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the base body (1) and the pocket (3) are knitted seamlessly in one knitting process on a flat knitting machine with a front needle bed and a rear needle bed, both the base body (1) as well as the pocket (3) are each tubular knitted. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the basic knitted fabric of the basic body (1) and the pocket knitted fabric (5) of the pocket (3) each have a front layer (v) and a rear layer (h) opposite the front layer (v), the front layer (v) being knitted on the front needle bed of the flat knitting machine and the back layer (h) on the rear needle bed of the flat knitting machine.

Images