GB2086712A

GB2086712A - Corset

Info

Publication number: GB2086712A
Application number: GB8133941A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-11-10
Filing date: 1981-11-10
Publication date: 1982-05-19
Also published as: GB2086712B; ZA816108B

Abstract

A medical/surgical corset which has an air bag (18) inside that part of the wall (12) thereof which overlies the abdomen of the wearer. The bag may be partly air- filled, for example, to between a third and a quarter of its natural volume. The bag can be sealed or can have a tube 28 through which air can be fed into the bag or let out of the bag. The bag can be constituted by two sheets of synthetic plastics material heat sealed or otherwise secured to one another around their peripheries. The thickness of the bag, measured between the two sheets which constitute it can be about 1 cm. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Corset According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a corset which includes a bag located adjacent the inner face of that part of the wall of the corset that covers the wearer's abdomen, the bag containing air the volume of which is between one third and one fifth of the natural volume of the bag.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a corset which comprises a sealed bag attached to the inner face of that part of the wall of the corset that covers the wearer's abdomen, the sealed bag containing air the volume of which is between one third and one fifth of the natural volume of the bag.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a corset which comprises a corset wall, fasteners for attaching one end of the corset wall to the other end, laces for pulling the corset tight around the abdominal region of the wearer, an air bag attached permanently or releasably to one end portion of the corset wall and extending from its releasable or permanent attachment in such manner that it lies behind the region occupied by the fasteners and behind the other end portion of the corset wall.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a corset which comprises a corset wall, fasteners for attaching one end of the corset wall to the other, laces for pulling the corset tight about the abdominal region of the wearer, and an air bag located inwardly of that portion of the corset wall which overlies the wearer's abdomen, the bag containing a volume of air such that, when the corset is tightened so as to fit the wearer comfortably, it has an internal pressure of between 30 and 40 mm Hg and a thickness, between its major front wall and its major rear wall, of between ,75 and 1,25 cm.

The thickness of the air bag can be 1 cm.

The corset, where the bag is not sealed, can include a tube protruding from the bag for enabling air to be fed into and expelled from the bag.

In the preferred form the air bag comprises corset as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said air bag comprises two sheets of synthetic plastics material welded together around their peripheries.

To minimise gape at the upper and posterior free border of the corset, the corset can include paravertebral stiffening members each of which comprises a main part, a leaf spring attached to the upper end thereof and a plurality of overlapping sections attached to the leaf spring, the spring being capable of deflecting inwardly to minimise corset gape bud being prevented by engagemant between the overlapping sections from flexing beyond a vertical position.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a pictorial front view of a corset in accordance with the invention, the corset being shown in its operative condition; Figure 2 is a plan view of an air bag forming part of the corset; Figure 3 illustrates further form of air bag; and Figure 4 illustrates a paravertebral stiffening member.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a surgical/medical corset comprising a wall 12 of a suitable corset material. Complementary fastener elements 14 are provided at ends 1 2.1 and 12.2 of the band, enabling the ends to be fastened together to form the anterior wall of the corset. The fastening elements 14 can press studs and hooks, sliding clasp fastener or 'Velcro' (registered Trade Mark). Laterally, on each side of the corset, laces 16 are provided which, when tightened, increase the pressure exerted by the corset on the body of a person wearing the corset. At the back or posterior part of the corset wall, the corset 10 has paravertebral stiffening members or 'steels' 17. These steels are moulded or shaped to conform to the human lumbo-sacral curves.

The corset 10 further comprises an air bag 18. In the form shown in Fig. 2 the bag 18 comprises an envelope 20 which includes two sheets of corset or other soft material between which there is arranged a bladder 22 of flexible, air-impervious material. The bladder 22 is confined by a line of stitching 24 which limits the area over which the bag 18 can, in use, exert pressure on the body of a person wearing the corset. The bag 22 has a tube 26 which protrudes from the envelope 20. The tube has at its end 28 a valve which can be closed. The valve can be in the form of a simple plug.

One side 20.1 of the envelope 20 is attached to the band 12 near the end 12.1.

This attachment may be permanent, for example by means of stitching, or it may be releasable, such as by means of 'Velcro' fastening means. The other sides 20.2, 20.3 and 20.4 of the envelope are left free. Alternatively, one side 20.1 can be stitched permanently to the corset and the other end releasably held in place by a Velcro' fastener.

It will be seen in Fig. 2 that the lower margin 24.1 of the stitching 24 is arched.

The bag 18 protrudes beyond the end 12.1 so that, when the corset is in its operative condition, the bag 18 will be disposed behind the fasteners 14, between the anterior wall of the corset and the anterior wall of the abdomen of the person wearing the corset.

A further form of air bag designated 30 is shown in Fig. 3 and comprises two sheets of synthetic plastics material heat sealed or otherwise secured together around their peripheries. A tube 32 has one of its ends secured to the bag in communication with the interior of the bag. A removable plug 34 closes the free end of the tube 32. The bag 30 is, as described in relation to Fig. 2 within a fabric envelope (not shown).

Depending on the size of the patient, which determines the size of corset needed, the bag 30 can have a natural volume of 1,5 or 2 or 2,5 litres. Synthetic plastics material sheeting with a thickness of 300 microns has been found to be suitable for use as the bag material.

The top edge of the bag extends parallel to, and slightly above, the top edge of the corset.

In use, the corset is placed around the body of a person, the laces 16 having previously been adjusted to suit the person.

The bag is after the laces are tightened, filled to between one fifth and one third of its volume with air. The volume of air in the bag is sufficient to hold its major walls apart but not to stretch or tension them. At this time it is found that bag has a thickness, measured between its major walls, of between ,75 and 1,25 cm, usually about 1 cm and an internal pressure of between 30 and 40 mm Hg.

Experimental work has shown that, almost invariably, if the wearer complains that the corset is uncomfortable because of the pressure it is exerting, the pressure is substantially higher that 30 to 40 mm Hg. A comfortable fit is obtained once the pressure has been reduced to the region of 30 to 40 mm Hg.

This pressure figure has been found to be remarkably consistent in experimental work on patients of different builds and masses. Furthermore, at this pressure, the bag is capable of conforming closely to the shape of the abdomen which again improves comfort as pressure points that might otherwise exist are eliminated.

Inflation of the bag 18 compresses the muscular wall of the abdomen, increasing the pressure upon the contents of the abdomen.

This will increase the hydraulic-like thrust exerted by the abdomimal contents on the anterior aspect of the person's lumbar spine causing flexion of the lumbar spine. Posteriorly, the lumbar spine is supported by the paravertebral steels 17.

The bag 18 is so designed that it exerts pressure only on the muscular wall of the abdomen and does not also press against the bony skeleton. Thus, the hydraulic pressure within the abdominal cavity can be increased with a minimum of wearer discomfort. The arched lower perimeter of the area over which the bag of Fig. 2 exerts pressure against the abdominal wall has been found further to improve wearer comfort.

The fact that the bag protrudes slightly above the top edge of the wall of the corset inhibits the tendency that the corset top edge has in the absence of the bag, to cut into the stomach of the wearer when the wearer bends forward.

If desired the tubes 26 and 32 can be omitted and the bags sealed during manufacture with an appropriate volume of air therein.

An inherent weakness of conventional corsets is their tendency to gape at the upper and posterior free border of the corset, this taking place between the upper part of the paravertebral steels and the upper lumbar spine. It has been found that the provision of the bag reduces this tendency to gape. A further improvement in this regard con be obtained by using the composite paravertebral stiffening member 36 shown in Fig. 4. This comprises a plurality of overlapping sections 38 each of which attached as its upper end to a length spring steel 40. The spring steel 40 is itself attached to the main part 42 of the paravertebral member 36. The spring steel 40 tends to pull the upper end of the member 36 in the direction of the arrow A. The structure is such, however, that movement of the upper section in the opposite direction beyond the vertical position illustrated is prevented.

Claims

1. A corset which includes a bag located adjacent the inner face of that part of the wall of the corset that covers the wearer's abdomen, the bag containing air the volume of which is between one third and one fifth of the natural volume of the bag.

2. A corset which includes a sealed bag attached to the inner face of that part of the wall of the corset that covers the wearer's abdomen, the sealed bag containing air the volume of which is between one third and one fifth of the natural volume of the bag.

3. A corset as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the volume of the air is between one quarter and one fifth of the natural volume of the bag.

4. A corset which comprises a corset wall, fasteners for attaching one end of the corset wall to the other end, laces for pulling the corset tight around the abdominal region of the wearer, an air bag attached permanently or releasably to one portion of the corset wall and extending from its releasable or permanent attachment in such manner that it lies behind the region occupied by the fasteners and behind the other end portion of the corset wall.

5. A corset as claimed in claim 4, in which one end of the air bag is permanently attached to said one end portion of the corset wall and there are means for releasably attaching it to said other end portion of the corset wall.

6. A corset as claimed in claim 1, 4 or 5, and including a tube protruding from the bag for enabling air to be fed into and expelled from the bag.

7. A corset which comprises a corset wall, fasteners for attaching one end of the corset wall to the other, laces for pulling the corset tight about the aboninal region of the wearer, and an air bag located inwardly of that portion of the corset wall which overlies the wearer's abdomen, the bag containing a volume of air such that, when the corset is tightened so as to fit the wearer comfortably, it has an internal pressure of between 30 and 40 mm Hg and a thickness, between its major front wall and its major rear wall, of between ,75 and 1,25 cm.

8. A corset as claimed in claim 7, in which the thickness of the air bag is 1 cm.

9. A corset as claimed in claim 7 or 8, and including a tube projecting from the bag whereby the pressure in the bag can be adjusted, and means for enabling the tube to be closed.

10. A corset as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said air bag comprises two sheets of synthetic plastics material welded together around their peripheries.

11. A corset as claimed in any preceding claim and including paravertebral stiffening members each of which comprises a main part, a leaf spring attached to the upper end thereof and a plurality of overlapping sections attached to the leaf spring, the spring being capable of deflecting inwardly to minimise corset gape but being prevented by engagement between the overlapping sections from flexing beyond a vertical position.

12. A corset as claimed in any preceding claim in which the top edge of the bag extends parallel to, and slightly above, the top edge of the wall of the corset.

13. A corset substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.