WO2007118580A1

WO2007118580A1 - Thorax bandage

Info

Publication number: WO2007118580A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/002691
Authority: WO
Inventors: Georg Weber-Unger; Katrin Prillwitz
Original assignee: F + E Gesellschaft Für Bekleidungsinnovation Mbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2006-04-13
Filing date: 2007-03-27
Publication date: 2007-10-25
Also published as: DE202006008380U1

Abstract

Disclosed is a thorax bandage comprising a bandage piece (1). Said bandage piece (1) encompasses a rear section (3) that is to rest against a woman's back and is provided with two opposite lateral ends (4), two front sections (5) which are to rest against the woman's breasts and each of which is connected to one respective lateral end (4) of the rear section (3), two strap-shaped shoulder support sections (6), each of which is fitted with a rear end (7) and a front end (8), the respective rear end (7) being connected to the rear section (3) and the respective front end (8) being connected to a respective front section (5), and an underbreast strap that is equipped with two removably connectable end sections (11a, 11b) and a top edge (12), along which the underbreast strap is connected to the rear section (3) and to each front section (5). In order to be able to inspect wounds with the closed bandage without reducing the laterally supporting effect of the bandage on the breasts, two breast support straps (16), each of which is provided with one upper (17) and one lower end (18), are supplied on one side of the front sections, and the upper end (17) of each breast support strap (16) is connected to one respective shoulder support section (6) while the lower end (18) thereof is joined to the underbreast strap (10). Furthermore, the breast support strap (16) is located at a lateral distance from the inner edge (15a, 15b) of the respective front section (5) in an area extending between the ends (17, 18) of the underbreast strap such that the breast support straps (16) urge the breasts at least in the direction of the sternum when the woman wears the bandage.

Description

thorax bandage

The invention relates to a thorax bandage for enclosing the thorax of women after surgical operations in the thorax region, with a bandage part, which serves for engaging the back of the woman's back portion with two opposite lateral ends, two for engaging the breasts of the woman serving front sections, of which each connected to a respective lateral end of the back portion, two band-shaped shoulder support portions each having a rear and a front end and connected at its respective rear end to the back portion and at its respective front end to a respective front portion, and having a lower breast band comprising two releasably connectable, oppositely disposed end portions and an upper edge extending between the two end portions, along which the underbreast band having a lower end of the back portion and a lower end of each front portion It is connected, wherein each front portion one in the area between the respective shoulder support portion and the underbust band extending inner edge and two opposite sides.

Such a thorax bandage is known from the utility model DE 20 2004 001 381 U1. The known chest bandage has been developed in the light of surgery after thoracic surgery, e.g. Bypass surgery, heart transplants, lung surgery, increased wound healing disorders, because lying on the back of the woman's breasts shift laterally outward, so they have the effect due to their weight, the sternum tensile tensions arise, which tend to pull apart the surgical suture running along the sternum.

The well-known thorax bandage is intended to solve the problem that even after opening the bandage to perform a wound inspection, the breasts of the woman continue to be supported laterally and held in a position in which the tissue along the surgical seam not on train across the seam claim. For this purpose, the known thorax bandage in the region of their front sections on both sides very solid material or incorporated rods and incorporated cups with incorporated rods on. The front sections are connectable along their inner edges almost over their entire length via a closure device which lies above the sternum and consists of a Velcro or zipper with underlying Häckchenverschlüssen.

When the bandage is closed, the surgical scar is thus covered by the superimposed inner edges of both front sections. An inspection of the surgical scar is only possible with the bandage open. When the bandage is opened by separating the superimposed inner edges of the front sections and moving them laterally apart, the front sections lose their shape-retaining and stabilizing effect because they are no longer prevented from moving apart in the lateral direction. even though they may in turn retain their respective shape dictated by the incorporated rods. When the bandage is open, therefore, there is still the problem that tensile stresses occur at the surgical seam, which result in wound healing disorders.

The object of the invention is to design the generic thoracic bandage in such a way that the stabilizing and shape-retaining effect of the bandage exerted on the breasts of the woman when the bandage is closed is maintained even if an inspection of the surgical seam or scar is carried out in order to avoid that when lying on the back of the surgical suture or scar transverse to the suture or scar tensile tensions arise as long as the thorax bandage is created.

The object of the invention is achieved in that two, each having an upper and a lower end having Bruststützbänder provided on one side of the front portions, each breast support band is connected at its upper end with a shoulder support portion and at its lower end to the underbust band and in a region between its ends has a lateral distance from the inner edge of the respective front portion, such that in the wearing state of the bandage, the breast support bands urging the breasts at least in the direction of the sternum.

The chest bandage according to the invention thus has the advantage that a wound inspection is possible even when the bandage is closed, while the lying on the back of the breasts on the side wegfallen preventing forces are absorbed by the Bruststützbändern that they transmitted to the shoulder support sections and the underbust band, which in the Contrary to the known thorax bandage, the front sections are substantially free of these forces when the bandage is closed. In the wearing state of the bandage, the breast support bands are substantially laterally outside of the center of the breast to exercise the desired lateral pressure on the breasts can. The thorax bandage according to the invention provides a permanent support of the thorax and therefore prevents a complication caused by mechanical stress in the area of the surgical suture or scar on the sternum, so that rapid wound healing is ensured. In addition, the thorax bandage according to the invention allows good access to the operation seam or scar even when the bandage is closed. Contributing to relief of the sternum and tissue surrounding the surgical suture or scar is also the fact that the breasts of the woman are fixed not only in the horizontal but also in the vertical direction, because the breast support bands run from top to bottom across the breasts prevent weight-related movements of the breasts relative to the woman's ribcage with the front sections resting on the side of the breasts.

Preferably, the breast support bands are elastically deformable in the region between their ends without a fixed connection to the front portions and in the longitudinal direction, and they have a length which is smaller than the length of the front portions between two imaginary reference points in the undeformed state located respectively at the upper and at the lower end between these two points of reference. As the anterior sections follow the breasts of their arch following a substantially wrinkle-free fit, the thoracolumbar support ribbons shortened relative to the anterior sections are biased, thereby exerting increased pressure on the breasts, further increasing the fixing and stabilizing effect of the bandage according to the invention.

In order to open the possibility to cover the surgical suture or scar if necessary, for example to prevent hypothermia in this area, or to make visible only the suture or scar area for wound inspection or other medical treatments from the outside, are according to a training the invention provides two drape parts, each having an inner edge and an outer edge, along its outer edge are connected to the front portions and at least over a portion of the length of its inner edge are releasably connectable to a closed position, wherein the drape cover parts in the closed position with closed underbreast band cover the front portions and protrude over at least part of the inner edges of the front portions, such that one laterally delimited by the inner edges of the front portions, a Cleavage-forming neckline, for example, in V-shape is largely covered by the drape parts. The drape parts can relatively tension-free in their closed position, the surgery seam or scar bridged without or with light contact, since they must have no supporting or stabilizing effect on the breasts of the woman, but if necessary can be used to stabilize or fix the breasts. Preferably, each drape part along its outer edge is connected to the respective front part at its outer edge, so that it is possible to give the entire chest region of the bandage a uniform appearance, which is not disturbed by the front sections and / or the Bruststützbändern. In order to distribute the attachment of the drape parts on the rest of the bandage part to the largest possible area, each drape part is connected along its outer edge to the respective shoulder support portion at the lower end and the back portion at one of its lateral ends.

Preferably, the chest bandage according to the invention according to a further development of the invention, a separate from the bandage portion chest strap on, the two releasably connected to each other ends and being herumlegbar around the thorax of the patient, such that it at least partially proceeds in the bandages part closed underband ^■ and releasably interconnected ends of the chest strap lie substantially between the upper ends of the Bruststützbänder. Preferably, the chest belt is releasably connectable to the back portion of the bandage member at a location that is variable in the direction perpendicular to the underbreast band. With the help of the applied chest strap the breasts of the woman can continue stabilized and fixed by an additional pressure from the upper Brustansätz ago from top to bottom on the breasts can be exercised. Since the closure of the drape parts, if any, is below the closed chest belt, it is possible to open the closure of the drape parts and at least partially repulse the drape parts, so that inspected even with the chest belt and closed underbreast band at least that part of the surgical seam or scar which is not covered by the chest strap, whereby inspection of the complete suture or scar is of course possible if the suture or scar does not extend below the chest strap.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the drawings. It shows

1 shows a plan view of a part of the inside of a thorax bandage according to the invention in the fully opened state on the upper body of a woman lying on her back, which has a suture extending in the longitudinal direction of the surgical suture, FIG.

2 shows a plan view of a front part of the thorax bandage according to the invention applied to the upper body of the woman, the underbust band and a closure device of one shoulder support section being closed and the drape parts and the closure device of the other shoulder support section being shown in dotted outline,

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the front part of the thorax bandage according to the invention, the under-breast band, the drape parts and the closure devices of the shoulder support sections being closed, FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the rear part of the thorax bandage completely closed in accordance with FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the front part of the thorax bandage completely closed in accordance with FIG. 3, wherein additionally the front part of a chest strap placed around the thorax is visible in the closed state,

Figure 6 is a plan view of the rear part of the fully closed thorax bandage, wherein additionally the rear part of the closed according to Figure 5 chest strap can be seen, and

Figure 7 is a plan view of a front part of a modified thorax bandage according to the invention.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 6, the thorax bandage consists of a one-piece bandage part 1 and a chest strap 2, which however is an additional part which can only be used in conjunction with the bandage part 1 if necessary. The aforementioned advantages of the invention are largely achieved without the chest belt 2. The bandage part 1 has a back portion 3 abutting the back of the woman with two opposite lateral ends 4 and two front portions 5 resting on the breasts of the woman, each of which is connected to a lateral end 4 of the back portion 3. Further, the bandage part 1 has two band-shaped shoulder support portions 6, each having a rear end 7 and a front end 8 and are connected at its rear end 7 with the back portion 3 and at the front end 8 with the front portions 5. The two shoulder support sections 6 are each subdivided into two subsections 9a and 9b, each of which has a free end, as can be seen in particular from FIG. The two free ends 9a and 9b of each shoulder support section 6 are adjustable in length releasably connectable to each other by a Velcro fastener not shown.

The bandage part 1 further comprises an underbreast tape 10 which has two oppositely arranged end portions IIa and IIb detachably connectable to each other by an unillustrated hook and loop fastener and an upper edge 12 extending between the two end portions IIa and IIb, along which the underbreast tape 10 is provided lower end 13 of the back portion 3 and a lower end 14 of each front portion 5 is connected.

Each front portion 5 has an inner edge 15a and 15b extending between the shoulder support portions 6 and the underbreast tape 10, respectively. The inner edges 15a and 15b of the front portions have such a course that the front portions 5 have a top-to-bottom decreasing distance from each other over much of the length of the inner edges 15a and 15b. In a lower small area of the inner edges 15a and 15b, the inner edges 15a and 15b intersect such that the front portion 5 having the inner edge 15a covers this lower portion of the front portion 5 having the inner edge 15b. In the substantially larger, non-overlapping region of the inner edges 15a and 15b, a free space is formed, which allows unimpeded access to the almost completely exposed surgical seam or scar with the underbust band 10 closed.

The bandage part 1 further comprises two breast support bands 16 extending on the outside of the front portions 5, each having an upper end 17 and a lower end 18. At its upper end 17, the breast support bands 16 are connected to a respective shoulder support portion 6 at its front end 8. At its lower end 18, the BrustStützbänder 16 are connected to the lower chest band 10 at its upper edge 12. The breast support bands 16 are elastically deformable at least in the band longitudinal direction and lie in the region between their ends 17 and 18 loose on the front sections 5. In the region between its upper and lower ends 17 and 18, each breast support band 16 has a lateral distance increasing from top to bottom from the adjacent inner edge 15a or 15b of the front portion 5, on which the respective breast support band 16 rests. Thus, the largest part of each breast support band 16 extends laterally outside the respective breast tip. In the undeformed state, which is given, for example, when, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the underbreast tape 10 is opened, the breast support bands 18 are shorter than the front portions between two imaginary reference points situated at their respective upper end 17 and at their respective lower end 18 reference points. When the bandage is put on and the underbreast tape 10 and the shoulder support sections 6 are closed, the front sections 5 rest against the breasts wrinkle-free, assuming the arching of the breasts. The breast support bands 16 running on the front sections 5 are correspondingly arched, as a result of which they are prestressed in the longitudinal direction. With closed underbreast band 10, closed shoulder support sections 6 and prestressed breast support bands 16, a pressure directed towards the middle of the chest is exerted laterally on the breasts, in particular by the chest support straps 16, so that the tensile load on the operation scar indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrows 17 is compensated. In addition, the chest support straps 16 also push frontally on the breasts. This pressure load stabilizes and fixes the breasts in both lateral and vertical directions. The pressure forces exerted by the breast support bands 16 on the breasts are distributed longitudinally in the breast support bands 16 and are transmitted from there to the shoulder support portions 6 and the underbreast band 10, while the front portions 5 abut the breasts largely free of tension.

The bandage part 1 further comprises two drape parts 19, which are shown in dashed lines in Figure 2, wherein they are in Figure 2 in the folded-back state and the view of their Inside falls. In Figure 3, the drape parts 19 are shown in the plan view in the closed state, with its outside is visible. Each drape part 19 has an inner edge 20a (see FIG. 2) and an outer edge 20b (see FIG. 4). Each drape member 19 is connected along its outer edge 20b to the respective front portion 5 at its outer edge, the respective shoulder support portion 6 at its front end 8 and the back portion 3 at a respective lateral end 4. About a part 20c (see Figure 3) the length of its inner edge 20a, the drape parts 19 are detachably connected to each other by a not shown in detail Velcro closure device. When the drape panels 19 are in the closed position shown in Figure 3, they cover the front sections 5 and the support straps 16 and protrude inwardly beyond a portion of the inner edges 15a, 15b of the front sections 5 such that the front sections of the inner edges 15a, 15b 5 laterally delimited U-shaped or triangular, a neckline forming section of the drape parts 19 is largely covered. If, as shown in FIG. 3, the surgical seam or scar extends up to or even above the upper thoracic approach, the area of the surgical suture lying between the breasts is largely largely covered by the drape parts 19 in the closed position of the drape parts 19. In the closed position of the drape panels 19, they provide visual and thermal protection for the area between the breasts. Depending on the degree of overlap of the inner edges 20a of the drape parts 19 in the area 20c, in the closed position of the drape parts 19, a small lateral pressure can additionally be exerted on the breasts, as indicated by the arrows 21 in FIG. However, this additional pressure is not necessary to bring about a complete relief of the tissue in the area of the surgical suture and the sternum itself. The tensile forces occurring in this area when the bandage is open are completely compensated by the bandage with the under-breast band 10 closed and the shoulder shoulder portions closed, without the drape portions 19 being joined together to have to connect. For wound inspection, therefore, the drape parts 19 can be opened at their closure and repulsed without the lateral support of the breasts is lost, as this is ensured by the pressure of the chest support straps with closed underbreast and closed shoulder support sections. On the inside of the underbreast tape 10 is a cushion part 22, in which a plurality of parallel grooves 23 are formed for receiving drainage hoses. The grooves 23 extend over the entire width of the underbreast tape 10. The pad member 22 may be made of foam plastic.

As explained above, in addition to the bandage part 1, a chest strap 2 may be provided. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the chest strap 2 can be seen from the front or from behind. He has two free ends, which are releasably connected to each other by a not shown hook and loop fastener at 24. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the mutually connected ends of the chest belt lie above the interconnected inner edges of the drape parts 19. On the spine of the drape part shown in FIG. 6, the sternum 2 runs above the bottom strapping 10 on the back part 3 of the bandage part 1. Through Fluff part 25 fastened to the back section 3, which extends centrally over the entire height of the back section 3 and a hook plate 26 arranged on the inside of the chest belt 2 opposite the fluff part 25, can detach the chest belt 2 at the back section 3 at different elevations relative to the back section 3 be fixed. As indicated by the arrows 27 in Figure 5, a further pressure on the breasts of the woman can be exercised by the chest belt 2, which acts from top to bottom, so that the breasts between the underbust band 10 and the chest belt 2 additionally fixed in the vertical direction are.

Both the bandage part 1 and the chest belt 2 are made of soft, breathable, sweat-absorbing, skinfriendly borrowed, more or less elastic textile materials. The entire thorax bandage is washable and reusable.

Figure 7 shows a modification of the thorax bandage shown in Figures 1 to 6, wherein the same reference numerals have been used for the same parts as in Figures 1 to 6, and the following description is limited only to the deviating parts. In the modified thoracic bandage, the inner edges 15c, 15d of the front portions 5a extend approximately above the sternum of the bandage wearer and are there closed by a closure means, not shown, e.g. Velcro fastener, hook or zipper, can be connected with each other. The décolleté area and the operation scar can therefore be largely covered by the front sections 5a. Additional drape parts, as provided in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, can be omitted. In the modified embodiment too, the breast support bands 16 provide the desired lateral support of the breasts, although the anterior portions 5a are opened along their inner edges 15c and 15d and laterally folded back.

Claims

claims

1. thoracic bandage for enclosing the thorax of women after surgery in the thorax region, with a bandage part (1), which serves to attach to the back of the woman back portion (3) with two opposite lateral ends (4), two for engagement with the breasts female portion (5) each connected to a respective lateral end (4) of the back portion (3), two band-shaped shoulder support portions (6) each having a rear (7) and a front end (8) and at its respective rear end (7) with the back portion (3) and at its respective front end (8) with a respective front portion

(5) are connected, and a Unterbrustband (10), the two releasably interconnectable oppositely disposed end portions (IIa, IIb) and between the two end portions (IIa, IIb) extending upper edge

(12) along which the underbreast tape (10) is connected to a lower end (13) of the back portion (3) and a lower end (14) of each front portion (5), each front portion (5) being one in the region between the respective shoulder support section

(6) and the underbust band (10) extending inner edge (15a, 15b) and two opposite sides, characterized in that two, each having an upper (17) and a lower end (18) having breast support bands (16) on one side the front portions (5) are provided, each breast support band (16) is connected at its upper end (17) to a respective shoulder support portion (6) and at its lower end (18) to the underbreast band (10) and in an area between its ends (17, 18) has a lateral distance from the inner edge (15a, 15b) of the respective front portion (5), such that in the wearing state of the bandage the breast support bands (16) urge the breasts at least in the direction of the sternum.

2. thorax bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that the front portions (5a) along at least part of the length of their inner edges (15c, 15d) are releasably connected to each other by a closure means.

3. thorax bandage according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between each breast support band (16) and the inner edge (15a, 15b) of the respective front portion (5) increases from bottom to top and the front portions (5) along its inner edges (15a, 15b) over a majority of their length have a decreasing from top to bottom distance from each other.

4. thoracic bandage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the breast support bands (16) in the region between their ends (17, 18) without firm connection to the front sections (5) and are elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction, and between two in each case at the top (17) and lying at the lower end (18) imaginary reference points in the undeformed state have a length which is smaller than the length of the front portions (5) between these two reference points.

5. thorax bandage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two drape parts (19) are provided, each having an inner edge (20 a) and an outer edge (20 b), along its outer edge (20 b) with the front portions (5) are connected and at least over a part (20c) of the length of its inner edge (20a) are detachably connectable to a closed position, wherein the drape parts (19) cover the front portions (5) in their closed position and with closed underbreast tape (10).

6. thorax bandage according to claim 5, characterized in that the drape parts (13) in its closed position and closed underbreast band (10) over at least a part of the inner edges (15a, 15b) of the front portions (5) protrude such that one of the inner edges (15a, 15b) of the front portions (5) laterally delimited, a neckline forming section of the drape parts (19) is at least largely covered.

7. thorax bandage according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each drape part (19) along its outer edge (20 b) with the respective front portion (5) is connected at its outer edge.

8. thorax bandage according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each drape part (19) along its outer edge (20 b) with the respective front portion (5) at its outer edge, the respective shoulder support portion (6) at the front end (8) and the Back portion (3) at one of its lateral ends (4) is connected.

9. thorax bandage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a chest strap (2) has two releasably connectable ends and around the thorax of the woman is laid around, so that he at least partially on the bandage part (1) with the underbust band (10) extends and the releasably interconnected ends of the chest strap (2) lie substantially between the upper ends (17) of the Bruststützbänder (16).

10. thorax bandage according to claim 9, characterized in that the chest belt (2) with the back portion (3) of the bandaging part (1) is releasably connectable at a point which is variable in the direction perpendicular to the underbreast band (10).

11. thorax bandage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a padded part (22) over at least a portion of the length of the underbust band (10) is attached to the inside, and the cushion part (22) has a plurality of parallel, for receiving drainage hoses grooves (23) whose upper open ends in the region of the upper edge (12) of the underbust band (10) and the lower open ends in Area of the lower edge of the underbust band (10) lie.

12. thorax bandage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end portions of the underbust band (10) are adjustable in length connected by a Velcro fastener.

13. thorax bandage according to one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the drape parts (19) are connected to each other by a Velcro closure.

14. thorax bandage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each shoulder support portion (6) in two, each having a free end (9 a, 9 b) having

Subsections is divided, and the free ends (9a, 9b) of the two subsections of each shoulder support portion (6) adjustable in length releasably connectable to each other.

15. thorax bandage according to claim 14, characterized in that the free ends (9 a, 9 b) of the two subsections of each shoulder support portion (6) by a hook and loop fastener are releasably connected to each other.

16. thorax bandage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bandage part (1) is a single part.

17. thorax bandage according to one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that the chest belt (2) is a single part.

18. thorax bandage according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the chest strap (2) by a hook and loop fastener with the back portion (3) of the bandaging member (1) is detachably connectable.