JP6148651B2 - Lymphedema treatment supporter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a supporter that is attached to a leg or an arm where lymphedema develops to improve or suppress symptoms.

  Since lymphedema is difficult to cure, there is a need for appropriate treatment after onset. As the treatment, compression by the multi-layer dressing method is widely used. However, it is not easy to acquire the compression technique, and there is a problem that it takes time to improve symptoms.

  As conventional compression means, there are a method of attaching a bandage or a flat supporter, and a method of winding a wound sponge on a diseased part (Patent Documents 1 to 3). According to these, since the compression site is fixed, the improvement effect is not good, and it takes time and effort to mount a large number of members.

JP2011-115571 “Medical Stockings” Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-232664 “Leg Supporter for Lymphedema Treatment” Utility Model Registration No. 3118611 “Foot Supporter”

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a supporter for treating lymphedema with a remarkable symptom improving effect while being easy to wear.

  In order to solve the above problems, the lymphedema treatment supporter of the present invention comprises the following constitution. In other words, it is a supporter that is attached to the leg or arm where lymphedema develops, and that improves or suppresses symptoms, and is formed of a substantially cylindrical cloth body that inserts and closely contacts the leg or arm. The cloth body is a structure in which a group of substantially rod-like elastic members arranged substantially in parallel is sandwiched and fixed between at least two cloths having stretchability and air permeability. These axial directions can be arranged substantially parallel to the lymph fluid flow path.

  Here, the substantially rod-shaped elastic member may be a cylinder or a polygonal column, and its diameter may be 3 to 15 mm, particularly preferably 5 to 10 mm, and may contribute to the massage action.

  The gap between the adjacent substantially rod-shaped elastic members is a gap that becomes 0 to 15 mm, particularly preferably 2 to 7 mm, by expanding and contracting.

  The substantially rod-shaped elastic member may be made of sponge, and the cloth for sandwiching and fixing the substantially rod-shaped elastic member may be made of cotton, which may contribute to improvement of stretchability, breathability, and wearing feeling.

  A substantially cylindrical cloth body may be integrally formed and contributed to the ease of wearing in the form of a stocking or sleeve that can be worn on the entire leg or arm.

  As the substantially rod-shaped axial direction of the elastic member, the thigh is inclined 15 to 35 °, particularly preferably 20 to 30 ° toward the outside of the foot from the long axis of the foot. It is suitable for the flow of the lymph fluid to be substantially parallel to the long axis and inclined at 30 to 60 °, particularly preferably 40 to 50 ° from the center of the long axis of the foot toward the outside of the foot. .

  According to the present invention, the leg portion or the arm portion can be inserted for easy wearing, and the substantially rod-like elastic member can promote massage and reflux of lymph fluid, and has a lymphedema treatment effect.

The perspective view which shows the Example of the cloth body by this invention Explanatory drawing showing an example of cutting fabric Explanatory drawing showing the state of wearing a stocking-like supporter and the flow of lymph Photograph of example showing skin immediately after treatment of group W patients Ultrasound echo images before and after treatment of the thigh example of a W group patient Graph showing changes in thickness and hardness Graph showing changes in ROM Graph showing change in volume

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples shown in the drawings. The embodiments are not limited to the following examples, and can be appropriately changed in design without departing from the gist of the present invention by using conventionally known techniques such as the above-mentioned patent documents.
Here, a stocker-like supporter to be attached to the leg portion is described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a sleeve-like supporter attached to the arm portion.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a cloth body according to the present invention.
The cloth body (10) is configured by sandwiching and fixing a group of substantially rod-shaped elastic members (13) between two cloths (11) and (12).
The cloth (11) (12) can be made of stretchable or breathable cotton or acrylic. For the elastic member (13), a sponge made of synthetic resin or the like can be used. For joining the cloths (11) and (12) and the elastic member (13), sewing, an adhesive, or the like can be used.

  The group of substantially rod-shaped elastic members (13) is arranged substantially in parallel. Each elastic member (13) is linear, but is not necessarily a continuous line, and there may be a broken portion in the middle.

The cross section of the elastic member (13) is preferably a circle, an ellipse, or a quadrilateral or more, and the diameter can be 3 to 15 mm, and generally 5 to 10 mm, although it depends on individual differences. . The diameter is not limited to a constant value, and may be gradually increased or decreased, and the elasticity and hardness are not limited to a constant value, and may be gradually increased or gradually decreased.
The gap between the adjacent elastic members (13) can be a gap of 0 to 15 mm by expanding and contracting, and generally 2 to 7 mm is particularly preferable although it depends on individual differences. In addition, since cloth (11) (12) expand | extends at the time of wear, the clearance gap between adjacent elastic members (13) also spreads.
Since the elastic member (13) has the shape and arrangement described above, it can be prevented that the elastic member (13) is in close contact with the skin and a specific part is pressed more than necessary, so that the burden on the skin is small and the elastic member (13) can be always worn for 24 hours. Further, when the body is moved, the elastic member (13) rolls and elastically deforms, thereby exerting a massage action on the skin. Moreover, force is applied to the skin of the affected part effectively cured by the pressure difference between the concave part and the convex part.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of cutting a cloth body. FIG. 2A is for the thigh, and FIG. 2B is for the lower leg.
By cutting and sewing the cloth body (10) into a substantially cylindrical shape, a stocking-like supporter is obtained in which the leg portion is inserted and closely adhered to the whole. The stocking-like supporter is not limited to integral molding, and may be provided in a state of being divided at the lower knee or the ankle.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a stocking-like supporter is attached (right diagram) and the flow of lymph (left diagram).
In the right figure, the group of substantially parallel lines indicates the orientation of the elastic member (13), and in the left figure, the arrows indicate the flow of lymph. In many cases, lymphedema patients have excised lymph nodes in the pelvis and guided to the axilla through the outside without going through the inguinal lymph nodes. The present invention is particularly effective for stage 2 (ISL classification) lymphedema in which the layer structure of the subcutaneous fibrous tissue is broken, fibrotic and hardened, and presents thickened skin.
The elastic member (13) is preferably arranged so that its substantially rod-shaped axial orientation is substantially parallel to the lymph fluid flow path or in a direction in which it is desired to be guided as appropriate. Inclined to the outside by 15 to 35 °, depending on individual differences, generally 20 to 30 ° is particularly preferable. In the crus, the foot is substantially parallel to the long axis of the foot. In the back part, it is possible to incline 30 to 60 ° from the center of the long axis of the foot toward the outside of the foot, and in general, an inclination of 40 to 50 ° is particularly preferable although it depends on individual differences.

A comparative experiment was conducted on the effectiveness of the stocking supporter according to the present invention.
The fabric body (10) in this example (Group W) is made of cotton with an inner fabric (11), cotton with an outer fabric (12), and an elastic member (13) of 8.5 mm × 6.5 mm. The gap between the rectangular column sponge and the elastic member (13) was 2 mm when contracted and 7 mm when extended, and was compressed and fixed with an elastic bandage from above. As a comparative example, a conventional plate-shaped roll sponge (thickness 5 mm) was used, and a method (B group) in which the same elastic bandage as the W group was pressed and fixed and an elastic stocking (S group) were used.
Subjects were 26 patients with secondary or primary lower limb lymphoedema in stage 2 (ISL classification), 2 males, 24 females, age 16-79 years, average 60 years, onset period 10 months to 27 years 11 months The average was 10 years and 3 months, and 30 limbs were targeted.
For 7 days by lymphedema therapist (of which 2 days were not treated and 5 days were treated), MLD 40 minutes and skin care and compression therapy were treated at the visit, and no supporters were worn in the S group at night.

Before and after treatment, changes in thickness (width across 6 cm above the knee) and hardness, ROM (angle index at which the knee can be folded), volume (whole leg), examination, ultrasound echo, and subject questionnaire were performed.
FIG. 4 is a photograph of an example showing skin immediately after treatment of a W group patient.
Since it was observed that the uneven shape matching the shape of the elastic member (13) remained in any part of the skin, it was confirmed that the present supporter was effectively in close contact.

FIG. 5 is an ultrasound echo image of an example before and after the treatment of the thigh of a W group patient.
This test subject is a 40-year-old woman with an onset period of 11 years. As shown, a favorable change in the layer structure of the fibrous tissue was observed after treatment. The changes in thickness, hardness, ROM, and volume in this subject were -17 mm, 13.7 °, and -537 ml (7.4%), respectively.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing changes in thickening and hardness.
The changes in thickness and hardness in the group B patient, the group W patient, and the group S patient are the average, −12.7 mm (9.6%), −17.2 mm (13.1%), and −6.2 mm (5, respectively). 1%), a significant difference was observed between the B group patient and the W group patient before and after treatment, and the change in the W group patient was the largest.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing changes in the ROM.
The changes in ROM in the group B patient, the group W patient, and the group S patient were average, 6.3 ° (4.9%), 8.2 ° (6.5%), and 3.9 ° (3.0 °, respectively). %), A significant difference was observed between the B group patient and the W group patient before and after treatment, and the change in the W group patient was the largest.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing changes in volume.
The volume changes in the group B patient, the group W patient, and the group S patient are average, −625 ml (8.6%), −516 ml (7.6%), −110 (1.7%), respectively. A significant difference was observed in all group patients before and after treatment, and a significant difference between the groups in the S group patients was significant in the B group patients and the W group patients.

  According to the questionnaire of the W group patients, the number of cares increased 50%, unchanged (50% for daily care), care time decreased 90%, unchanged 10% The degree of treatment distress decreased by an average of 40%, and the introduction rate of this treatment after the test was 100%.

  From the above, it was confirmed that the present example exerted the effects of closely contacting the uneven limb, loosening the skin, improving thickening, and increasing the range of motion of the joint. In addition, the effects of relieving pain of treatment, improving QOL, and increasing the frequency of self-care were also observed.

  According to the present invention, the symptom of lymphedema can be effectively improved or suppressed from worsening.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cloth body 11, 12 Cloth 13 A substantially rod-shaped elastic member

Claims (6)

A supporter that is worn on the leg or arm where lymphedema develops and improves or suppresses symptoms,
It is formed with a substantially cylindrical cloth body that inserts and closely contacts the leg or arm,
The cloth body is a configuration in which a group of substantially rod-like elastic members arranged substantially in parallel is sandwiched and fixed between at least two cloths having stretchability and air permeability,
The elastic member can roll between the two cloths, and the interval between the adjacent elastic members is variable,
Along with the movement of the wearer's body, the two cloths expand and contract, the distance between adjacent elastic members changes, and the elastic members roll and elastically deform to give a massage action and a pressure difference And
A supporter for treating lymphedema, characterized in that the substantially rod-shaped axial direction of the elastic member can be arranged substantially parallel to the flow path of lymph fluid. The lymphedema treatment supporter according to claim 1, wherein the substantially rod-shaped elastic member is a cylinder or a polygonal column, and has a diameter of 3 to 15 mm, particularly preferably 5 to 10 mm. The lymphedema treatment supporter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a gap between adjacent elastic members in a substantially rod shape is 0 to 15 mm, particularly preferably 2 to 7 mm, by expanding and contracting. The substantially rod-shaped elastic member is a sponge,
The lymphedema treatment supporter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cloth for sandwiching and fixing the substantially rod-shaped elastic member is made of cotton. The lymphedema treatment supporter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the substantially cylindrical cloth body is integrally formed and has a stocking shape or a sleeve shape that can be attached to the entire leg portion or arm portion. The substantially rod-shaped axial orientation of the elastic member is inclined 15 to 35 °, particularly preferably 20 to 30 ° from the long axis of the foot toward the outside of the foot in the thigh, and the length of the foot in the crus 6. It is substantially parallel to the axis, and is inclined 30 to 60 °, particularly preferably 40 to 50 ° from the center of the long axis of the foot toward the outside of the foot at the back of the foot. The described lymphedema treatment supporter.

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