US3486501A

US3486501A - Abdominal scultetus

Info

Publication number: US3486501A
Application number: US668156A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wallace R Erickson; John G Whitcomb
Original assignee: Coopers Inc
Current assignee: Coopers Inc
Priority date: 1967-09-15
Filing date: 1967-09-15
Publication date: 1969-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-30

Description

De@ so, 1969 'w R. gmcK'soN mL 3,436,501

ABDOMNAL SCULTETUS Filed spt.` 15, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jkt/M6026 M507@ 5.

w. R. ERICKSON ETAL Dec. 3o, 1969 ABDOMINAL SCULTETUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l5, 1967 MMQL] United States Patent 3,486,501 ABDOMINAL SCULTETUS Wallace R. Erickson, Kenosha, Wis., and John G. Whitcomb, Albuquerque, N. `"Mex., assignors to Coopers Incorporated, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Y.

Filed Sept. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 668,156 Int. Cl. A61f 5/24, 5/40 U.S. Cl. 12S-96 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A postoperative abdominal scultetus for patients who have experienced abdominal surgery. The device includes a back panel of elastic fabric; a seat panel of fabric affixed at its upper edge to the lower edge of the back panel; a first front panel of substantially inextensible fabric affixed at its outer side edge `to a second side edge of said back panel; a crotch panel of fabric affixed at its lower edge to the lower edge of the seat panel, the crotch panel and the seat panel being cooperatively shaped to provide a pair of leg openings; hook and pile type fastening means for detachably and adjustably securing the first and second front panels in overlapping relationship so as to define a tubular upper portionA for the scultetus to adjustably encircle and embrace the torso of the patient; and hook and pile type fastening means for detachably and adjustably securing the top portion of the crotch panel to the front of the tubular upper portion.

This invention relates to a postoperative abdominal scultetus for patients who have experienced abdominal surgery.

Following an abdominal operation, it is conventional practice to apply a dressing to the abdominal incision and to wrap a binder about the torso of the patient to secure the dressing in place. A number of disadvantages, however, attend this approach. For example, the wrapping of the binder itself is a rather cumbersome procedure and does not enable sufficiently selective adjustment of pressure upon the dressing and abdominal region of the patient compatibly with the shape and sensitivities of the patient. Moreover, access to the operative area normally requires that the binder be substantially unwound which, of course, is difiicult if there is more than one wrap and the patient is in bed. There is also frequently a tendency for the binder to ride up on the patient out of its intended position. 'It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome these and other difficulties encountered in conventional practice.

Briefiy described, the postoperative abdominal scultetus of the present invention includes a tubular upper portion comprising a back panel of elastic webbing, a first front panel of substantially inextensible woven material afxed at its outer edge to one side edge of the back panel, a second front panel of substantially inextensible woven material, and a plurality of hook and pile type fastening strips for detachably and adjustably securing the first and second front panels in overlapping relationship so as to encircle and embrace the torso of the patient. The abdominal scultetus further includes a lower portion which comprises a seat panel of absorbent bi-knit fabric affixed at its upper edge to the lower edge of the back panel, a crotch panel also of absorbent bi-knit fabric affixed at its lower edge to the lower edge of said seat panel and cooperative with the seat panel to provide a pair of leg openings, and hook and pile type fastening strips for detachably and adjustably securing the top portion of the crotch panel to the front of the upper tubular portion so as to cover the crotch at buttock ICC regions of the patient and prevent the upper tubular portion from riding up on the patient out of its intended position.

It is an object of the configuration and structure of the present invention to provide several salient features and advantages. The woven inextensible front panels coact with the adjustable strips and the elastic back panel to supplement tape to hold the surgical dressing in place and to provide firm support for the abdominal region of the wearer. The plurality of adjustable strips enables stepless selection of the pressure to be applied at particular areas of the abdomen to secure the dressing in place and to allow for the shape and sensitivities of the patient. Adjustment can readily be made if appropriate to accommodate swelling and shrinking of the abdomen caused by gaseous conditions common to patients who have experienced abdominal surgery. The elastic back panel exerts continuous tension on the front panels yet provides flexibility needed for normal body movements. The configuration of the abdominal scultetus thus provides the necessary versatile support and control of the abdomen required during the critical postoperative period to prevent the discomfort of outward pressure on the sensitive area and further prevent the possibility of this outward pressure from bursting the sutures and concomitantly relieve the common psychological anxieties of the patient concerning these problems. Yet, the configuration of the scultetus and the detachable adjustable strips provide the necessary access to the operative area without discomfort to the patient.

It is also important to note that the lower bi-knt cotton crotch and seat panels forming the lower portion of the scultetus provide comfort features of softness and absorption and coact with the associated fastening strips affixed to the top of the crotch portion to adjustably position and prevent the tubular upper portion from riding up out of position on the patient. Moreover, the bi-knit lower portion and the construction of the garment provide suspensory support for male patients and further provide coverage for both male and female patients with the unique fastening system conveniently permitting the performance of body functions during the postoperative period.

These and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the abdominal scultetus of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the abdominal scultetus of the present invention in fully opened condition.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2 but with one of the front panels folded over.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2 but with both of the front panels folded over and secured together.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the abdominal scultetus of the present invention with all fastening strips secured.

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view of the abdominal scultetus of the present invention.

Referring generally to all of the FIGURES 1 through 6, it should be noted that like reference numbers denote like parts in each of the views. v

In the description and claims, the terms upper, lower, transverse, and longitudinal will be found. Since various panels of the garment occupy different orientations depending upon whether the scultetus is opened or closed, these terms find their point of reference in the 3 orientation of the various panels when the scultetus is completely closed and lying ilat as in FIGURE 5. Thus, transverse refers to the directions transversely of the scultetus as from left to right in FIGURE 5, and longitudinal refers to the directions along the vertical length of the scultetus, as from top to bottom in FIGURE 5. The terms upper and lower are similarly related t the orientation of the scultetus as shown in FIGURE 5.

Considering now the details of structure, the scultetus may be characterized as having an upper portion 11 and a lower portion 12, the respective portions being indicated genenally by the brackets in FIGURE 5.

The upper portion 11 comprises a generally rectangular back panel 13 intermediate a pair of front panels 14 and as best illustrated in FIGURE 2. The back panel 13 is a wide yband of one-way stretch elastic webbing, that is, the back panel 13 has an elastic stretch characteristic transversely of the scultetus and a non-stretch characteristic longitudinally of the scultetus. It is preferably approximately eight inches in extent from its upper edge to its lower edge.

The front panel 14 is affixed at its side edge to the adjacent side edge of the back panel 13 along a seam 16. The front panel 15 is affixed at its side edge to the .adjacent side edge of the back panel 13 along a seam 17. Both

front panels

14 and 15 comprise substantially inextensible woven fabric `and are coniigurated along their lower edges to cooperate with the lower portion 12 of the scultetus to dene a pair of leg openings.

On the exterior surface of the front panel 14, there are afxed four transversely-oriented pile fastening strips 18a through 18d adapted to receive, respectively, four complementary transversely-oriented hook fastening strips 19a through 19d which are compatibly positioned and affixed to the front panel 1S so as to, in part, freely depend from the front edge of the front panel for engagement with the pile strips 18a through 18d. The hook and pile fastening strips 18a through 18d and 19a through 19d are of the type in which the hook strip and the pile strip forming a complementary pair will adhere to one Ianother when pressed together. This type of fastening means is commeercially available as Velcro.

The lower portion 12 of the scultetus includes a seat panel 21 and la crotch panel 22, both of which preferably comprise bi-knit cotton fabric arranged with its stretch characteristic transversely of the scultetus. Bi-knit fabric consists of two layers of jersey knit fabric knit -simultaneously in tubular form with one tube inside the other and joined together at predetermined intervals by tuck stitches obtained by employing both dial and cylinder needles in conjunction. The tuck stitches are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically and identied by reference numeral 23.

The seat panel 21 is affixed at its upper edge to the lower edge of the back panel 13 and portions of the lower edges of the

front panels

14 and 15 .along a seam 24.

The crotch panel 22 is affixed to the lower edge of the seat panel 21 along a seam 25. The crotch panel contains a top portion 26 generally defined by an .apex 27 and

base angle points

28 and 29 and adapted to overlap the front of the upper portion 11 when the scultetus is fully closed as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5.

An apex hook type fastening strip 31 is aflixed to and freely depends from the apex 27 of the triangular top p0rtion 27 of the `crotch panel for engagement with a pair of complementary pile type fastening strips 32 and 33 which back upon and are affixed to the front panel fastening strips 19a and 19b. In addition, a pair of base angle hook type fastening strips 34 `and 35 are aixed to the interior of the crotch panel 22 adjacent the

base angle points

28 and 29 for engaging complementary pile

type fastening strips

36 and 37 which are compatibly positioned and .affixed on the

front panels

14 and 15, respectively.

To apply the abdominal scultetus to a patient, the back panel 13 is positioned against the back of the patient,

and the front panel is brought laround and placed on the abdomen of patient to position similar to that in FIG- URE 3. The front panel 15 is then brought around to overlap the front panel 14, and the hook type fastening strips 19a through 19d are pressed against their respective complementary pile type fastening strips 18a through 18d so as to form the upper portion 11 of the scultetus into the requisite tubular conguration (best shown in FIG' URE l) encircling and embracing the torso of the wearer. The several hook and pile type fastening strips enable versatile stepless adjustment of the pressure applied in accordance with the shape and sensitivities of the patient and are readily detachable to provide access to the operative area. The elastic back panel exerts continuing tension upon the front panels to provide rm abdominal support and hold the dressing in place yet permits normal body movements.

To complete closure of the abdominal scultetus, the top portion 26 of the crotch panel is brought into overlapping relationship with the front of the tubular upper portion 11 and adjustably and detachably secured thereto by engagement of the hook type fastening strips 31, 34, and 35 compatibly with the pille type fastening strips 32, 33, 36, and 37. The side edges of the seat panel 21 and the crotch panel 22 form respectedly continuous curvilinear side edges 38 and 39 in the lower body portion which provide a pair of leg openings when the scultetus is fully closed as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5. The side edges of the seat panel 21 are preferably elasticized to assist in maintaining the peripheries of the leg openings against the legs of the patient. The lower portion 12 of the scultetus provides adjustable means for adjustably positioning and preventing the upper tubular portion of the scultetus from riding up out of position on the patient. The lower portion further provides suspensory support for male patients and coverage for bothmale and female patients with a convenient detachability arrangement for performance of body functions during the postoperative period.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that this is by way of example only and not by way of limitation. It is contemplated that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A postoperative abdominal scultetus comprising:

a back panel having a transverse elastic stretch characteristic;

a first front panel of substantially inextensible woven material aflixed at its side edge to one side edge of said back panel;

a second front panel of substantially inextensible woven material afxed at its side edge to the other side edge of said back panel;

means for detachably and adjustably securing said rst and second front panels in overlapping relationship so as to define a tubular upper portion for said scultetus to adjustably encircle and embrace the torso of` the patient with said elastic back panel applying tension on said front panels so as to provide rm support for the abdominal region of the patient and to secure in place an abdominal dressing;

a seat panel of knit material axed at its upper edge to the lower edge of said back panel;

a crotch panel axed at its lower edge to the lower edge of said seat panel, said crotch panel and said seat panel being shaped to provide a pair of leg openings; and

means for detachably and adjustably securing the top portion of said crotch panel to the front of said tubular upper portion of said scultetus whereby said crotch panel and said seat panel cover the crotch and buttock regions of the patient and adjustably position and prevent said tubular upper portion of said scultetus from riding up out of its intended position on the patient.

2. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 1 wherein said crotch panel and said seat panel each comprises a double layer of jersey knit fabric tuck-stitched together at predetermined intervals and with a stretch characteristic in the transverse direction.

3. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for detachably and adjustably securing said first and second panels to one another cornprises a plurality of transversely-oriented, individually adjustable pairs of complementary hook and pile strips which adhere to one another when pressed together, one strip of each pair being affixed to the first front panel and the other complementary strip of each pair being affixed to the second front panel.

4. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for detachably and adjustably securing the top portion of said crotch panel to the front of said tubular upper portion of said scultetus comprises a plurality of complementary hook and pile strips which adhere to one another when pressed together, strips affixed to the front of said tubular upper garment being with complementary strips affixed to the upper portion of said crotch panel.

5. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 4 wherein said top portion of said crotch panel has a substantially triangular configuration and wherein said strips aiixed thereto include an apex strip affixed to and longitudinally depending from the apex of said triangular configuration and a base angle strip affixed to said triangular configuration in proximity of each of the base angles of said triangular configuration, said complementary strips afiixed to said tubular upper portion being compatibly positioned to adjustably receive said apex strip and said base angle strips.

6. A postoperative abdominal scultetus comprising:

a back panel of elastic fabric;

a seat panel of fabric afiixed at its upper edge to the lower edge of said back panel;

a first front panel of substantially inextensible fabric afiixed at its side edge to one side edge of said back panel;

a second front panel of substantially inextensible fabric affixed at its side edge to a second side edge of said back panel;

a crotch panelvk of fabric affixed at its lower edge to the lower edge of said seat panel, said crotch panel and said seat panel being cooperatively -Shaped to provide a pair of leg openings;

means for detachably and adjustably securing said first and second front panels in overlapping relationship so as to define a tubular upper portion for said scultetus to adjustably encircle and embrace the torso of the patient; and

means for detachably securing the top portion of said crotch panel to the front of said tubular upper portion of said scultetus.

teristic transversely of said scultetus and substantial inextensibility longitudinally of said scultetus;

first front panel of substantially inextensible 4woven material affixed at its side edge to one side edge of said upper back panel;

second front panel of substantially inextensible woven material affixed at its side edge to the other side edge of said upper back panel;

first plurality of transversely-oriented, individually adjustable pairs of complementary hooks and pile strips which adhere to one another When pressed together, one strip of each pair being afiixed to said first front panel so as to depend in part from the front edge thereof, the other complementary strip of each pair 4being affixed to said -second front panel and compatibly positioned to adjustably receive the depending portions of said strips afiixed to said first front panel such that said first and second front panels are detachably and adjustably securable in overlapping relationship so as to define a tubular upper portion for said scultetus to adjustably encircle and embrace the torso of the patient with said elastic back panel applying tension on said front panels so as to provide firm support for the abdominal region of the patient and to secure in place an abdominal dressing;

lower back panel of bi-knit cotton material affixed at its upper edge to the lower edge of said upper back panel;

crotch panel of bi-knit cotton material affixed at its lower edge to the lower edge of said lower -back panel, said crotch panel and said lower back panel having curvilinear edge portions shaped to provide a pair of leg openings, and said crotch portion having a top portion of substantially triangular configuration adapted to overlap said tubular upper portion; and

second plurality of complementary hook and pile strips, an apex strip aixed to and longitudinally depending from the apex of said triangular configuration and a base strip affixed to said triangular portion in proximity of each of the base angles of said triangular configuration, at least one strip complementary with `said apex strip back upon and affixed to one of said first plurality of strips which depends in part from said first front panel for detachably and adjustably receiving said apex strip, strips complementary with said base angle strips affixed to and compatibly positioned and said first and second front panels to detachably and adjustably receive said base angle strips, whereby said crotch panel Iand said lower back panel cover the crotch and buttock regions of the patient and adjustably position and prevent said tubular upper portion of said scultetus from -working away from its intended position on the patient.

7. A postoperative abdominal scultetus comprising:

a generally rectangular upper portionincluding an intermediate panel having a one-Way elastic stretch characteristic oriented transversely of said scultetus and means for detachably and adjustably securing one end of said generally rectangular upper portion to the opposite end such that said generally rectangular upper portion adjustably encircles and embraces the torso of the patient; and

a lower portion for covering the crotch and buttock regions of the patient affixed at one end to said generally rectangular upper portion and including means for detachably and adjustably securing the opposite end of lower portion to said generally rectangular upper portion, said lower body portion being shaped to provide a pair of leg openings.

8. A postoperative adbominal scultetus comprising:

an upper back panel having an elastic stretch charac- 9. The postoperative abdominal scultetus defined in claim 8 wherein said curvilinear edge portions of said lower back panel have an elastic stretch characteristic.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,206,525 ll/l9l6 Force 128-158 2,431,571 11/1947 Lehr 2-238 3,029,814 4/1962 Kravitz 128--159 3,194,234 7/ 1965 Duckman et al 128-95 3,207,155 9/1965 Casey 128-159 3,142,300 7/ 1964 Erteszek 12S-524 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

'2272330 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,l86,50l Dated December 30, 1969 Inventor(s) WALLACE R, ERICKSON and JOHN G. WHITCOMIB It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

l Column 3, lines Ml and 1&2, "commeercially" should read "commercially". Column il, line 25, "respectedly" should read respectively". 'Column 1I, after line im, add --In the claims:. Column 5, claim 7, should read:

--A postoperative abdominal scultetus comprising:

a tubular upper portion including a back panel, a pair of front panels each affixed to an adjacent side edge of said back panel, a plurality of transversely-oriented, individually adJustable pairs of complementary hook and pile type strips which adhere to one another when pressed together, one strip of eachpair being affixed to one front panel and the other l `complementary strip of each pair being affixed to the other front panel;

a lower body portion for covering the crotch and buttock regions of the patient and for preventing said tubular upper portion from riding up on the' patient, said lower body portion being shaped to provide a pair ofl leg openings and affixed at its backV end to the lower back edge of said tubular upper portion and including at least one strip of the hook and pile type affixed to the front end of said lower body portion; and

4at least one strip affixed to the front of said tubular upper portion of the hook and pile type and complementary with said strip affixed to the front end of said lower body portion for receiving said strip such that said front end is detachably and adustably securable to the front of said tubular upper portion."

Column 6, line #14, fgraim 8, "back" should read "backed".

SIGNED 'ND SEALED l Alb 1 im l.

Smm .Anus

` mm lo me me Edwnrdllm commissioner of kunt! mening Offleex'4