WO2003005945A1

WO2003005945A1 - Elastic supporting bandage adaptable to the size of the limb

Info

Publication number: WO2003005945A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/002279
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Claude Pichon
Original assignee: Societe Anonyme Gibaud
Priority date: 2001-07-12
Filing date: 2001-07-12
Publication date: 2003-01-23
Also published as: CA2452381A1; EP1404270A1

Abstract

The invention concerns an elastic bandage consisting of a bandage (22) of constant width and finite length, having at least elastic longitudinal elasticity. The invention is characterised in that it comprises, at least on the outside, an index arranged at a distance from its free end, distance which corresponds to the length of bandage required to produce the fixing or starting round turn(s) on the foot or the ankle, and at least a mark (T1) provided at a distance from the index (I) having a corresponding value, for a bandage size and for a type of support defining an elongation rate, to the length of an elongated bandage turn wound around an ankle corresponding to the size of the bandage, so that, when the bandage (22) is wound around the ankle, the coincidence of said mark with the already positioned index (I) provides the defined elongation rate and sensitively indicates the value of the tension to be communicated to the bandage (22) while proceeding with the winding.

Description

ELASTIC BAND WITH CONTENT ADAPTABLE TO THE SIZE OF THE MEMBER.

The invention relates to compression bands and more particularly relates to an elastic compression band adaptable to the size of the member.

For the treatment of certain pathologies or for post-surgical treatment of the lower venous network, it is known to wrap around the patient's leg an elastic band starting from the ankle and going up at least to the calf and sometimes up to the 'elder. When it is put in place, the band is subjected to an elongation which determines the radial compression force on the corresponding section of the member. This restraint effort, which defines a counter pressure opposing the venous pressure, is expressed in millimeters of mercury and more recently in hectoPascal.

To satisfy different types of treatment, the values of restraint are divided into three or four categories or classes.

It was defined that the compression should be degressive going from the ankle towards the calf and, that by providing the constant elongation of the band, the increase in the section of the member, therefore of its perimeter, made it possible to obtain this degressivity, if the winding conditions are constant, namely superposition on half or on the third of the turn already laid.

Currently, the conditions for placing the band on the patient do not take into account the variation in size of the limb, so that with the same elongation, a band can exert insufficient compression on a large member or a contention too high on a small member, and in any case an inappropriate contention.

To this, it should be added that the personnel ensuring the fitting of the strip on the patient exerts an elongation effort which depends on his physical strength and his experience and which is therefore variable from one person to another. If there are already known bands indicating a rate of elongation, for example, by shaping a geometric figure, such bands do not provide a solution to the problem of the invention, since they do not hold account for the variation in sizes and the variation in perimeter dimensions of the member. The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by providing an elastic band with compression adaptable to the size of the limb and, in particular to the size of the ankle.

To this end, the strip according to the invention comprises, at least on its external face:

- on the one hand, an index I placed at a distance S from its free end, a distance corresponding to the length of strip necessary to make the dead turn (s) for fixing or starting on the foot and the ankle,

- And, on the other hand, at least one marker T1 placed at a distance L1 from the index I having a corresponding value, for a leg size and for a compression class defining a rate of elongation, at the length d '' an elongated band winding wound on a dowel corresponding to the size of the band, so that, when the band is wound on the leg, the alignment of this mark with the index already positioned provides the defined rate of elongation and teaches sensitively the value of the tension which it is necessary to communicate to the strip during the continuation of its winding.

Thus, after having chosen a band adapted to the perimeter of the patient's ankle, to determine the positioning tension, the staff need only perform the first dead turns, then as soon as the index finger is placed on the ankle , to exert a greater tension until bringing the reference mark T1 in coincidence with this index. This operation allows him to sensitively determine the tension effort, an effort that he will continue to exert during all the rest of the winding on the leg. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the strip comprises, at least a series of three marks T1, T2, T3 each corresponding to an ankle size, respectively small, medium and large, each mark being arranged at a distance L1, L2, L3 of the index I and corresponding, for the size considered and for the same compression class defining a rate of elongation, to the length of a turn of elongated strip wound on an ankle at the correct size, the selection of the benchmark used being carried out, during installation, as a function of the dimensions of the anchor subjected to restraint.

This arrangement makes it possible to meet the needs of current sizes, by means of a single strip whose elongation tension is adapted in relation to the perimeter of the ankle by the sole alignment of the corresponding reference mark with the reference index.

Thanks to this, the contention provided by such bands corresponds to that expected and is no longer illusory, as was the case with bands without markers, the tensioning of which was carried out at the discretion of the personnel.

Advantageously, the strip comprises, between its free end and the index I, a positioning symbol on the kick located at a distance E1 from the index I, such that, when the symbol is on the kick, the index is positioned on the side of the ankle. This arrangement facilitates the positioning of the strip and above all makes it possible to have the indexes and markers for adjusting its tension on the side, thus hiding them from view.

When the free end of the strip is equipped with a stirrup for keeping on the foot, the part of this stirrup coming on the kick is equipped with a second symbol for positioning and orientation of the winding direction. of the strip, said second symbol being intended to be covered by the first positioning symbol placed downstream of it to limit the tension communicated to the starting dead turn.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing two embodiments of the strip according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are plan views over two embodiments of the strip according to the invention, when it is laid flat,

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the winding of the strips of Figures 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 12 designates a strip, of constant width and finite length, extendable at least longitudinally and having an elongation capacity of at least 50%.

According to the invention, this strip comprises, at a distance S from its free end, an index I and, downstream of this index relative to the winding direction, at least one mark T1, and preferably a series of three marks T1, T2 and T3 each corresponding to an ankle size, respectively, small, medium and large. The marks T1, T2, T3 are located at distances L1, L2, L3 from the index I. The distance S corresponds to the length of strip necessary to carry out the dead turn (s) for fixing or starting on the foot and / or the ankle.

The distances L1, L2 and L3 correspond, for a defined compression class and for each of the sizes considered, to the length of an elongated turn of band and wound on an ankle, to the correct size.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3, the strip also includes, upstream of the index I, and at a distance E1 from this index, a positioning symbol 13. As shown in Figure 3, when the strip 12 is placed on the foot, by winding in the direction of the arrows 1 to 6, the staff, and in this case the nurse performs, first a turn around the foot passing under the sole of the foot, performs another turn to wedge the free end of the strip, and as shown by arrow 4, passes the strip over the external malleolus. If the winding is correct, the symbol 13 must appear on the instep and the index I must appear on the side, in this case on the external malleolus. From there, the band is laid in the stretched state with a tension which is adjusted, for a desired compression class defined by the band and for the desired size, corresponding to the previously examined size of the patient's leg, by simple alignment of the corresponding reference, for example that T2 with the index I.

This coincidence sensitively gives the staff the value of the effort that must be communicated to the band to continue winding and therefore guarantees that the desired compression is obtained on the leg.

It should be noted that even if the actual size of the patient's ankle is not absolutely identical to the theoretical size corresponding to the reference T1, T2, or T3 carried on the strip, which results in differences in the rate of elongation communicated to the strip, these differences are much less than those commonly found on a strip laid without any means of controlling its elongation.

It is obvious that, as shown in Figure 3, the strip is wound with a regular superposition of each turn on the previous one, this superposition being represented as being half but can also be a third or a quarter, depending on the indications medical. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 relates to a strip 22 comprising, at its free end, a stirrup 24. In addition to the index I, the references T1, T2 and T3 and the symbol 13, this strip comprises a second symbol 23 for positioning and orienting the direction of winding of the strip. This second symbol is placed on the part of the stirrup 24 coming from the kick and at a distance E2 from the symbol 13. This distance E2 is determined so that, after engagement of the foot in the stirrup and completion of the first turn positioning in the direction of the arrows 1 to 5 of FIG. 4, the first symbol 13 is superimposed on the second symbol 23. The two symbols 13 and 23 are associated with arrows 23a and 13a which indicate the normal direction of winding of the band.

Except for this difference, the positioning of the strip is carried out in the same way as previously, namely that the personnel exerts on it an elongation such that one of the marks T1 to T3 comes in coincidence with the index I, so as to determine the tension to be communicated to the strip and which will be maintained for the rest of the winding.

It is obvious that, if need be, the same strip can comprise more than three marks T1, T3 and for example four marks if very large sizes are envisaged. In addition, the series of three or four marks can be transferred at least once more to the strip to coincide with another index I.

In the two embodiments shown, which correspond to strips intended to form turns wound on half of the already laid turn, the markers and indexes are formed on the lower half of each strip by printing on its outer face , but it is obvious that, in variants, they can be produced over the entire width and directly by weaving. In addition and in a known manner, to facilitate winding with superimposition at half width, the strip may comprise at mid-width a colored mark 25 extending over its entire length. To cover all sizes of legs and therefore of ankles that may be encountered, the strip is supplied in at least three models differentiated by the values of the dimensions L1, L2, L3 but also by their total length, since the end of the winding should be near the groin.

Claims

1. Elastic band with compression adaptable to the size of the member, composed of a band (12, 22), of constant width and of finished length, elastic at least longitudinally, characterized in that it comprises, at least on its face external :

- on the one hand, an index (I) arranged at a distance (S) from its free end, distance corresponding to the length of strip necessary to achieve the dead or turns of fixing or starting on the foot and the ankle,

- And, on the other hand, at least one marker (T1) placed at a distance (L1) from the index (I) having a corresponding value, for a band size and for a compression class defining a rate of elongation, to the length of a coil of elongated strip and wound on a dowel corresponding to the size of the strip, so that, when the strip (12, 22) is wound on the dowel, the coincidence of this mark with the index (I) already positioned provides the defined elongation rate and sensitively teaches the value of the tension which must be communicated to the strip (12, 22) during the continuation of its winding.

2. Strip according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, at least a series of three marks (T1, T2, T3) each corresponding to an ankle size, respectively small, medium and large, each mark being arranged at a distance (L1, L2, L3) from the index (I) corresponding, for the size considered and for the same compression class, to the length of an elongated turn of a band wound on an ankle at the correct size, the selection of the benchmark used being carried out, during installation, according to the dimensions of the anchor subjected to restraint.

3. Elastic band according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, between its free end and the index finger (I), a symbol (13) for positioning on the kick located at a distance (E1) from l 'index (I), such that, when the symbol (13) is on the kick, the index (I) is positioned on the side of the ankle.

4. Elastic band according to all of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that its free end is equipped with a stirrup (24) holding on the foot and the part of this stirrup coming on the kick is equipped with a second symbol (23) for positioning and orienting the direction of winding of the strip, said second symbol being intended to be covered by the first positioning symbol (13), arranged downstream of it, to limit the voltage communicated to the starting dead turn.