GB2350798A

GB2350798A - Compression apparatus for stimulating blood flow

Info

Publication number: GB2350798A
Application number: GB0022814A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Mark Hampson; Heather Elizabeth Hutflesz; Rolf Schild
Original assignee: Huntleigh Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Huntleigh Technology Ltd
Priority date: 1997-08-09
Filing date: 1998-02-17
Publication date: 2000-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-17
Also published as: GB0022814D0; GB2350798B

Abstract

A garment for applying cyclic compressive pressure to a limb extremity, e.g. hand, thigh, calf or foot. The garment 10 is formed from two superposed sheets of plastics material 21 and 22. The inner plastics material 21 is preferably more elastic than the outer material 22. The sheets 21, 22 are high frequency welded together at their peripheries and internally defining a bladder 14. The high frequency weld is located internally of the peripheries of the garment 10 so that a hard edge consisting of the weld join and two material layers 21, 22 is avoided. The outer plastics material 22 is preferably cut close to the weld join leaving the more elastic softer plastics 21 material in contact with the skin, to minimise chafing of the skin, during use. The garment may also have through holes (not shown) for ventilation.

Description

2350798 COMPRESSION APPAUTUS FOR STIMULATING BLOOD FLO This invention

relates to a compression system to 5 improve the circulation in a limb extremity, and more particularly, to a foot compression system.

It is known to increase or stimulate blood flow by using a compression system to apply compressive pressures to a limb extremity, e.g. a hand, thigh, calf or foot. The compressive pressures may be cyclic and may vary from providing a massaging action to a sharp pulse action.

According to the invention, there is provided a garment for applying cyclic compressive pressures to a limb, the garment comprising two sheets of plastics material joined together at their peripheries and joined internally to define at least a bladder, wherein the join line at the peripheries is located internally of the edge of the material/garment. The join line set back internally of the edge of the garment avoids a hard edge to the garment, thereby preventing chafing of the skin at the points of contact, during use.

Preferably, the plastics material comprises a inner more elastic material and an outer less elastic material.

Preferably, the outer plastics material is cut close to the peripheral join line so that only the inner more elastic material is in contact with the skin, during use.

Preferably, the garment includes securing means, for example, hook and pile material joined at an edge of the garment.

Preferably, the garment includes through holes or apertures through the garment and bladder toprovide ventilation to the limb, during use.

2 Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a plan view of a garment according to 5 the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a garment according to the invention as worn on a foot.

Referring to Figure 1, a foot garment blank 10 is formed from two superposed sheets of plastics material 21 and 22, the inner material 21 preferably more elastic than the outer material 22. The sheets 21, 22 are high frequency welded together at their peripheries and internally in a pattern defining the bladder 14. The high frequency weld is located internally of the peripheries of the garment so that a hard edge consisting of the two material layers and weld join is avoided. This peripheral weld which is set back internally allows a soft edge to the garment 22 which has been shown to minimise the problems of chafing at the points of contact known to 20occur with the prior art garments. The outer less elastic material 21 is cut close to the peripheral weld line in order to provide only the softer more elastic material 22 edge in contact with the skin during use.

Conveniently, the high frequency weld can be replaced 25by other available means of joining the materials, -for example, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing or by adhesive bonding.

An aperture 31 is provided on the outer material for connection to a pressure source. For a f cot garment, a heel section 30 is further attached to opposing sides of the blank 10 for location of a heel of a patient. To 3 further add to the comfort of the user, the heel section includes a foam backing (not shown) to cushion the skin against chafing and skin breakdown at the heel sides during use of the garment. 5 The garment may include hook and pile fastening tabs 20, for securing the garment onto the foot. The garment further may include through holes or apertures through the garment and/or bladder to provide ventilation to the foot, during use.

Although the embodiments described relate to a foot garment, it is understood that the invention is applicable to all such garments for providing compressive pressures to a limb extremity, e.g. a hand, thigh, calf or foot.

4

Claims

Claims:

1. A garment for applying cyclic compressive pressures to a limb, the garment comprising two sheets of plastics material joined together at their peripheries and joined internally to define at least a bladder, wherein the join line at the peripheries is located internally of the edge of the material/garment.

2. A garment as claimed in claim 1; wherein the inner plastics material is more elastic than the outer plastics material.

3. A garment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer plastics material is cut close to the peripheral of the join line so that the inner more elastic plastics material is in contact with the skin, during use.

4. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the garment includes securing means, for example, hook and pile material joined at an edge of the garment.

5. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the garment includes through holes or apertures through the garment and bladder to provide ventilation to a limb, during use of the garment.

6. A garment substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.