MX2007005067A

MX2007005067A - Compression garment with integral donning aid.

Info

Publication number: MX2007005067A
Application number: MX2007005067A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Simon Myron Yakopson; John David Loveless; Stefan Bodenschatz; Juergen Friederich Heinz Greve
Original assignee: Bsn Medical Inc
Priority date: 2004-10-26
Filing date: 2005-10-18
Publication date: 2007-11-14
Also published as: CA2585158A1; EP1804752A1; AU2005299900A2; JP2008518123A; AU2005299900A1; US20060085894A1; ZA200703949B; WO2006047153A1

Abstract

It has been found that the foregoing objects may be accomplished in accordance with this invention by providing compression garments of this invention having a low friction zone made with the addition of low friction material on the inside surface of a garment in discrete locations to decrease friction between skin and fabric, thus providing easier donning of a compression garments.

Description

COMPRESSION GARMENT WITH INTEGRAL PLACEMENT AUXILIARY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a medical compression garment having an integral positioning aid. More particularly, this invention relates to compression stockings having a low friction zone made with the addition of or completely from low friction yarns or by coating / laminating the inner surface of a garment with low materials. friction.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND Therapeutic medical compression garments are used relatively widely in the prevention of venous diseases and / or embolism in a patient. The purpose of such garments is to overcome the high internal pressures within the limb of a human caused by gravity or pathological processes. Garments with pressure gradient as means and their uses are well documented in the literature. The average with general pressure gradient was developed by Conrad Jobst, a person who suffered from diseases in the veins. Mr. Jobs found relief for his problem while he was in a swimming pool. Mr. Jobst reasoned that the water pressure in the pool, which increases with depth, canceled the internal pressure in the veins of his leg. Jobst et al. Identified the need to apply a relatively large compression force in the vicinity of the ankle. See J. Horner, et al., Br Med J., pp. Zz: 820-821 (1980) where it is stated that "the greater the compression gradient between the ankle and calf produced by the average, the lower the ambulatory pressures". Cited in United States Patent No. 5,823,195. Medical therapeutic graded compression stockings are designed to provide sufficient external circumferential back pressure to maintain normal and lymphatic venous pressures at a given level in the extremity, thus aiding the movement of blood in the veins and lymph of the limb. Another important effect of compression is the reduction of venous volume. The reduction of the venous volume leads to an increase in the venous flow rate. H.J.L. van Germen Pressure gradient tolerant in compression hosiery. Katholike Universiteit Nijmegen, pp. 103-105 (1994). To make compression garments more effective, high pressures are required in the ankle area. The most difficult thing to put on compression garments (stockings) is to pull the narrowest part of the garment over the wider end of a limb (foot-instep-heel for the stockings or hand for the sleeves of the arm). There are special placement devices made from plain fabric that a patient should put on a leg before putting on the compression stocking. The use of these devices makes placing the media more complicated, sometimes it requires help from another person, and also requires the purchase of additional devices. A variety of therapeutic medical graduated compression stockings exist in the market today. Stockings of various descriptions have been proposed. Unfortunately, therapeutic averages to provide the necessary compression are often thick and unpleasant in appearance or have other disadvantages. An example of a therapeutic average is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,975,929 which describes a thigh-length stocking and antiembolism made with alternating courses of spandex threads covered in a circular hosiery sewing machine. Another example of a therapeutic average is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,069,515 to Swallow, et al., Which describes a non-slip therapeutic medium having covered elastomeric yarn (nylon spandex core) with margin at each course of the smooth knit stitches made of elastic nylon. In particular, the Swallow patent describes the foot portion as having alternating courses of plain stitches of non-elastomeric yarn. Since high compression forces are used in compression stockings, U.S. Patent No. 6,613,007 to Reid, Jr. discloses a multiple layer compression stocking. One of the problems with a multiple layer media is that it is difficult to coordinate the pressures of compression applied by each layer to achieve a desired pressure. Reid proposed solving this problem by including alignment marks in the layers to help the wearer place the layers on the leg. A media comprising a plurality of layers is disclosed which includes a sublayer and at least one overlayer, each of which has predetermined amounts of compression stress at discrete locations. The sublayer may include yarns with high strength and low coefficient of friction incorporated in the fabric. Areas of the middle including the toes, the upper part of the instep and heel can be reinforced in such a way as to reduce the possibility of tearing the skin and reinforce the fabric of the stocking with threads with properties of high strength and low coefficient of friction. Several individual media are necessary to produce the multiple layer system that increases production costs and the price to the consumer. It is also difficult to provide an exact match of the different zones especially for dark colored fabrics, to avoid shrinkage and displacement of the underlying media while pulling the upper media on it. U.S. Patent No. 6,415,449 to Duplock describes a survival garment made of high-elastic elastomer designed to protect the wearer from the effects of immersion in cold water. The garment has accessories "glued to the skin" in the cuffs and sleeves that can be made of an elastic material that includes a high elastic elastomer coated with a low friction material, such as neoprene, to allow easy placement and removal of the garment .

A patch of material with low coefficient of friction placed either on the skin or on the surface will be next to the skin in locations where live trauma is likely to occur is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,362,387 to Carlson et al. . A patch with low friction material such as a polytetrafluoroethylene film sized to provide a low friction bearing area for a portion of a human body in relation to an object such as a prosthetic shoe or sock is described herein. The layer of low friction material adheres to the surface of the object that it carries on the skin and is oriented towards the skin like a sock cloth. In a preferred embodiment PTFE is attached to a layer of Lycra fabric. U.S. Patent No. 5,829,057 to Gunnw discloses an article such as a garment, footwear and the like incorporating cloth or chemicals that have a low coefficient of friction. The patent highlights that some fibers of material inherently have a low coefficient of friction, such as TEFLON®, KYNAR® and GORTEX®. Additionally, the use of chemicals to treat fibers of finished materials or materials that do not inherently have a low coefficient of friction is shown. The articles that incorporate fabrics with chemicals with a low coefficient of friction aim to minimize the development of irritations, blisters and calluses including gloves, shoes and sports shoes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical compression garment having an integral positioning aid. Another object of the present invention is to provide compression garments having a low friction zone made with the addition of or completely from low friction yarns or by coating / laminating the inner surface of a garment with low friction materials . Even another object of the present invention is to provide a simple insertion aid inserted in an average in discrete locations that provides more comfort to the patient and increases the compliance and use of medical compression garments. It has been found that the above objects can be achieved in accordance with this invention by providing compression garments of this invention having a low friction zone made with the addition of low friction material on the inner surface of a garment at discrete locations to decrease the friction between the skin and the fabric, thus providing a more simple placement of the compression garments. The low friction yarns may be placed in a specific pattern or formed into plates together with other yarns, or used in combination with other yarns, preferably with highly elastic spandex yarns to compensate for the low elongation of the PTFE yarns.

Depending on the manufacturing methods, circular or rectilinear, the low friction area should be placed inside the garment. To provide better contact with the patient's skin it is convenient to use spandex covered with low friction threads, "called" yarn with margin in circular tissue products. In a first embodiment, the medical compression garments (middle, sleeve for the arm, gauntlet, glove or others) of this invention have an integral positioning aid that is sewn into the main portion of the garment containing elastic threads and exerts pressure on the corresponding body part. There is at least one integral placement area that differs a low friction zone strategically located on the internal surface of the garment (for example in the narrowest and critical for the parts of the procedure of placing the garment) to facilitate putting the garment and improve patient compliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, and wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing courses of low friction yarn that surround the foot between the heel and the calf in a discrete area of the instep; Figure 2 illustrates a side view of another embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing courses of low friction yarn surrounding the foot between the ankle and the calf; Figure 3 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing courses of yarn with margin covered with PTFE yard surrounding the area just above the lower calf tube; Figure 4 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing courses of sewn thread made of spandex covered with PTFE yards surrounding the calf area just above the ankle; Figure 5 illustrates a side view of another embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing strips of low friction material bonded to the inner surface of the sewn fabric in specific areas; Figure 6 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing spots of low friction material bonded to the inner surface of the sewn fabric; Figure 7 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing a patch of elastic fabric containing low friction yarn sewn into a garment; Figure 8 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing a low friction coating applied to the interior of a garment, such as a stocking; Figure 9 illustrates the inner side of a stocking sewn rectilinearly before sewing the sides together having a low friction zone at the ankle, heel and foot; Figure 10 illustrates the inner side of a straight sewn stocking before sewing the sides together showing a low friction area in a discrete portion of the ankle area; and Figure 11 illustrates the inner side of a straight sewn stocking before sewing the sides together showing a low friction area surrounding the ankle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present inventions will now be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Undoubtedly, these inventions can be modalized in many different ways and should not be interpreted as restrictive to the modalities established here; rather, these modalities are provided so that this description satisfies legal requirements that apply. Similar numbers refer to similar elements along it.

The compression garments of this invention have a low friction area made with the addition of or completely from low friction yarns or by coating / laminating the inner surface of a garment with low friction materials to decrease friction between the skin and the fabric, thus providing a more simple placement of the compression garments. Medical compression garments can be produced as seamless garments using circular sewing machines, or garments sewn with seams using straight sewing machines, or sewn from elastic fabric using a proportional design to provide a necessary level of compression in specific positions in the limb or body. The compression garment design of this invention needs to combine two opposite requirements to provide an easy fit and at the same time prevent slippage during use. It is therefore important to understand that the low friction material can be used only in specified locations because using the material throughout the garment will result in the slippage of the garment from the limb and lose its therapeutic effect. In a first embodiment, the medical compression garments (middle, sleeve for the arm, gauntlet, glove or other) of this invention have an integral positioning aid that is sewn into the main portion of the garment that contains elastic threads and exerts pressure in the corresponding part of the body. There is at least one integral placement area that defines a low friction zone strategically located in the internal surface of the garment (for example in the narrowest and critical for the parts of the procedure of placing the garment) to facilitate the placement of the garment and improve patient compliance. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a compression stocking 10 of the present invention including an area of fingers 12, a foot area 14, a heel area 16 and a calf area 18. The compression stocking 10 includes courses of low friction yarn forming an area 20 that surrounds the foot and another zone 22 that surrounds the lower half. The low friction zone extends just above the heel to approximately the point where the Achilles tendon joins the calf muscle. This point is known as position b1 in terms of compression hosiery. Such a configuration allows to reduce friction in the most critical areas of the greatest compression while at the same time providing a correct fixation of product in the fingers and heel and a sufficient grip on the calf to prevent the stocking from falling. It should be understood that the zone 22, although shown in Figure 1 as surrounding the calf, may also be limited to partially encircling the calf as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Figure 1 provides a discrete area of low friction yarn located between the ankle and the knee area, which covers the upper side of the instep in zone 24. A smooth transition under construction can be achieved, for example, by programming a sewing machine to include the low friction threads. Although the mean 10 is illustrated as being knee length, the mean and other lengths may also be used in accordance with the present invention.

Low friction yarns made of different materials can be used, including without restriction polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) homopolymer yarns: Profilen (Lenzing), Tenara and / or Rastex (Gore) Teflon (DuPont); short and long thread fluoropolymer fibers made of copolymers of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene (U.S. Patent No. 6,048,481 to DuPont), ultra high molecular weight silicone modified polyamide yarns known as Freelon ™ fibers, yarns made of physical blends of polyamide or polyester with PTFE or with fusifiable fluoropolymers, nylon and polyester yarns with surface modified with silicone and other yarns with the coefficient of friction of at least 30% less than that of the yarns used to make a garment, ie nylon , polyester, cotton or similar. Other materials applicable for the purpose of this invention include, without restriction, low friction tapes, films and liquids, including suspensions of PTFE, capable of creating necessary patterns on specific low friction zones of the garment and made of PTFE, polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE ), polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride copolymer, fluorinated ethylene-propylene and other copolymers and polymer blends containing fluoro, and silicone polymers and copolymers. The low friction material is applied in such a way that it will not affect the elasticity and compression characteristics of the garment. In one embodiment the low friction material is sewn entirely in the garment or is woven into the fabric. Low friction yarns can be placed in a pattern specific or formed in plate together with other threads, or used in combination with other threads, preferably with highly elastic spandex threads to compensate for the low elongation of the PTFE threads. Depending on the manufacturing methods, circular or straight stitching, the low friction area should be placed inside the garment. To provide better contact with the patient's skin, it is convenient to use low friction threads, such as sewing thread or "called" with margin in products with circular and rectilinear stitching. Another mode of an average 10 of the present invention is shown in Figure 3 where yarn courses with margin covered with low friction material surround the calf area in area 22 just above the ankle. To provide a better placement, to prevent the stocking from slipping, the area extends from just above the heel to the point where the Achilles tendon joins the calf muscle known as position b1. Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention showing an average 10 having courses of low resistance yarn made of spandex coated with PTFE surrounding the ankle area in zone 22 immediately above the heel. In another embodiment a permanent low friction finish on the interior surface of the fabric, or narrow strips or points of low friction material (tape, film, cloth) are attached to the garment by coating, lamination or any other applicable method. An example of such a garment is shown in Figure 5 where the strips 30 of low friction material are FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a garment of the present invention showing points 40 of low friction material bonded to the inner surface of a stocking 10. Another embodiment of the garments herein invention provides for stitching a patch 50 of low friction material within a garment 10 such as that shown in Figure 7. Even more, an embodiment of the present invention that exhibits a low friction coating applied to the interior of a garment it is shown in figure 8 where the stocking 10 has a low friction lining applied to the interior of the foot area 60 and the area surrounding the lower calf above the ankle 62. Although a preferred method of making the garments of the present invention is in a circular sewing machine, it should be understood that other methods to be manufactured can be used as a rectilinear sewing. Examples of the garments of this invention using straight stitching are shown in Figures 9 to 11. For example, in another embodiment, the one shown in Figure 9 illustrates the inner side of a straight sewn stocking 70 before sewing the sides together which has a low friction zone 72 in the ankle, heel and foot areas. In Figure 10 the inner side of a rectilinear sewn stocking 70 is illustrated before sewing the sides together showing a low friction area 74 in a discrete portion of the ankle area. Figure 11 illustrates the inside side of a rectilinear sewn stocking 70 before sewing the sides together showing a low friction area 76 surrounding the ankle.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions will come to mind which are shown here to one skilled in the art to which the inventions pertain, which has the benefit of the teachings presented in the above descriptions and in the associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the inventions should not be limited to the described embodiments and that the modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A medical compression garment having an integral positioning aid comprising a main portion stitched or woven of elastic threads and exerting pressure on the corresponding part of the body when it is used and having at least one area comprising at least one low friction material located on the internal surface of the garment in a position that facilitates the placement of the garment.

2. The medical compression garment according to claim 1, further characterized in that said garment is a compression stocking and said area is located between the ankle and the knee area.

3. The medical compression garment according to claim 1, further characterized in that said garment is a compression stocking and said area is located between the area of the knee and the area of the ankle, covers the upper side of the instep.

4. The medical compression garment according to claim 1, further characterized in that said low friction material is a low friction yarn and is woven or spun in the fabric.

5. The medical understanding garment according to claim 1, further characterized in that said zone includes yarn courses with margin covered with PTFE yarns.

6. - The medical compression garment according to claim 1, further characterized in that said low friction yarn is made of spandex covered with PTFE.

7. The medical compression garment according to claim 1, further characterized in that said area comprises strips of low friction material adhered to the interior of said garment.

8. The medical understanding garment according to claim 4, further characterized in that said comprises points of low friction material adhered to the interior of said garment.

9. The medical compression garment according to claim 1, further characterized in that said low friction material is coated within said garment.

10. The medical compression garment according to claim 1, further characterized in that said garment is an average length at the knee.