WO2008017707A1

WO2008017707A1 - Device for support of breasts for medical application

Info

Publication number: WO2008017707A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/058270
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Hugentobler
Original assignee: Jean-Pierre Hugentobler
Priority date: 2006-08-11
Filing date: 2007-08-09
Publication date: 2008-02-14
Also published as: FR2904756B1; FR2904756A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for the support of the breasts consisting of a support brassiere (30) based on a support materia] (12) formed from an elastic fabric. Said support material is covered externally on at least part of its surface by a covering (40) made from an elastic and self-adherent material which enables the setting up of constraint bands (44, 46) made from the same elastic self-adherent material as the covering (40) to ensure the constraint and shaping of the breasts without coming into contact with the latter. Application especially for support of the breasts after an operation,

Description

Device for support of breasts for medical application

The invention concerns a device for support of breasts for medical application.

More specifically, it concerns a device for the support, constraint and shaping of the breasts postoperatively or post-procedurally.

It aims to provide a device for the support of the breasts that is likely to supply a new technical solution for improving and perfecting brassieres for post-operative support that are usable after breast surgery (cosmetic surgery or in conjunction with excision of tumors and breast oncology) or after an invasive exploratory procedure or percutaneous treatment (such as micro- or macro-biopsies).

For this purpose, the invention proposes a device for the support of the breasts which consists of a support brassiere based on a support material formed from an elastic fabric, and this support material is covered externally on at least part of its surface by a covering made from elastic material and that is adherent to itself, which enables the installation of constraint bands made from the same elastic material and adherent to the covering to ensure the constraint and shaping of the breasts without coming into contact with the latter.

Thus, the device according to the invention is essentially formed from two distinct parts; a support brassiere covered with elastic and self-adherent material to which are applied bands of the same elastic and self-adherent material which adhere to the surface of the brassiere but do not exhibit any adhesiveness to the skin.

The result is that the invention makes it possible to use a single brassiere ensuring a double function: immediately post-operatively or post-procedurally, starting from the operating room or procedural radiology (biopsy under stereotaxis, or under ultrasound), by replacing the usual adhesive bandage, and in the weeks that follow, by replacing the usual support brassiere.

Thus, the device according to the invention contributes to ensuring hemostasis (constraint), decrease of edema (constraint), and immobility (support, constraint) which are all safety factors and ensure not only good post-operative results but also the patient's comfort and absence of pain.

In addition, the device according to the invention has a "shaping" action that is used " custom -fitted" by the operator who sets it up by using a directed constraint, created exactly according to the desired result that is to be obtained by application of a tensile strength with parameterable intensity and infinitely variable direction. Therefore, this constraint may be completely personalized by the operator according to the morphology of the patient. This characteristic is innovative because no previous removable device as simple, easy to manufacture and use has enabled this precision and effectiveness of constraint and shaping.

Only bandages adhered directly to the skin have this simplicity and this effectiveness, but they have the drawback of not being removable (they do not allow monitoring of the operating site on demand, in particular to verify the condition of the healing), of being uncomfortable and sometimes responsible for skin complications with possible healing side effects, and of only being usable for a short period, subject to being rapidly replaced (during the first post- operative week) with a standard post-operative support brassiere (medical brassiere or a simple sports brassiere).

Another important advantage is that, through its removable nature, the device according to the invention makes it possible to easily remove the possible drainage systems and whatever may be their discharge sites.

The support material of the brassiere is advantageously formed from an elastic fabric based on polyamide fibers and elastomer fibers, in particular of the elasthane type, so as to ensure better possible constraint.

The elastic and self-adherent material used to cover the support material of the brassiere and which is also used to form the constraint bands must fulfill very precise specifications.

Quite specifically, it is preferred to use a constraint material that is capable of adhering to itself by pressure, without adhering to the skin, while being repositionable.

A particularly suitable material is a commercial product known by the name Coheban . It is a non-woven material incorporating elastic threads, and which may be drawn out elastic-ally in the longitudinal direction. However, other materials with similar properties could be used.

The constraint bands are bands of a chosen width, for example, 3, 6. 8 and 10 cm.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the support brassiere consists of an anterior part with two cups connected by two lateral parts to a dorsal part, as well as a front closing on the anterior part between the two cups and a back closing on the dorsal part.

Preferably, the two cups are constructed enveiopingly.

The front closure advantageously consists of a closure with a zipper, and possibly one or more hook-and-eye fasteners.

The back closure advantageously consists of a double group of adjustable hook-and-eye fasteners and possibly, in the back, one or more fasteners of self-gripping material.

In addition, it is advantageous for the lateral parts to be adjustable.

The breast support device of the invention is preferably available in different sizes defined by the depth of the cups and the girth of the chest, but also possibly the height of the patients in order to be as appropriate as possible.

In the description that follows, given only by way of example, reference is made to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a front view of a support device according to the invention, before setting up the constraint bands on the support brassiere;

- Figure 2 is a back view of the device in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a side view of the device in Figures 1 and 2; - Figure 4 is a diagrammatic section view of the device showing the combination of the support material of the brassiere and of the covering material;

- Figure 5 is a front view similar to Figure 1 after setting up two bands;

- Figure 6 is a front view similar to Figure 5 after setting up two bands;

- Figure 7 is a front view similar to Figure 5 after setting up three bands;

- Figure 8 is a front view similar to Figure 5 after setting up four bands;

- Figure 9 is a back view similar to Figure 2 after setting up the bands; and

- Figure 10 is a side view similar to Figure 3 after setting up the bands.

The device for support of the breasts according to the invention, such as represented in Figures 1 -3, consists of a support brassiere 10 with support material base 12 made from an elastic fabric ensuring the best constraint possible. In the example represented, it concerns a fabric based on polyamide and elasthane fibers, but, of course, other types of fabric presenting similar properties are conceivable.

The brassiere 10 consists of an anterior part 14 with cups 36 (Figures 1 and 3) that ideally have the following characteristics. These cups provide a large amount of coverage, particularly at the neckline, to largely cover the upper quadrants of the breast, in particular, the upper inner quadrant. The type of cut of the cups is particularly represented in Figure 1. The size of the cups is defined depthwise according to the standard terminology A, B, C, D, E, F etc.

The cups 16 are joined in the front by a front closure 18 principally consisting of a zipper closure 20 that may be duplicated in the back, with one or more hook-and-eye fasteners (not shown in Figure 1 ) distributed over its height to facilitate closure. The length of the zipper closure 20 is approximately 14 cm in the represented example, but can vary between 14 and 16 cm, according to the height of the patient; for example a length of 14 cm for a height of 1.6 m to 1 .75 m, and a length of 16 cm for a size of 1.75 m to 1.90 m. The values given here are merely indicative.

In addition, brassiere 10 consists of a lower band 22 that joins the cups on the bottom and is continued on the sides and that must have sufficient height of approximately 3-5 cm (Figures 1-3).

In addition, brassiere 10 consists of lateral parts 24 (also called sides) and a dorsal part 26 (also called back) that is seen in Figure 2. The sides and the back are wide. The height of the sides on the middle axillary line should be at least 9 cm (or from 9-10.5 cm according to the height of the patient). The lateral parts (sides) 24 are adjustable by means of an adjustable fastener 25 (Figure 3).

The dorsal (back) part, which has a total height of approximately 15 cm in the example considered, is formed from two tabs, an upper tab 28 receiving the shoulder straps 30 and a lower tab 32 extending the lateral (side) pails 24 of the brassiere in the back (Figure 2). The dorsal (back) part 26 is opened by a back closure 34 composed of two hook-and-eye fastener systems 36 and 38 consisting of several superimposed hook-and-eye fasteners, and arranged in three rows, which make it possible to adjust to the size of the girth of the chest. These hook-and-eye fasteners may be reinforced by one or more fasteners from self-gripping material (not represented) that block the back closure 34 when the single front closure 18 is used.

Moreover, the sizes are defined according to the usual criteria for chest girth measured at 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105 cm etc.

The shoulder straps 30 must be wide, namely at least approximately 3 cm at their narrowest part for crossing the upper edge of the shoulder. The shoulder straps must be adjustable in their posterior part.

Therefore, the ideal brassiere serving as a support device should provide as much coverage as possible, be as adjustable as possible, be most adaptable in size to the morphology of the patient (chest girth, depth of the cups, and, ideally, the height of the thorax, and thus as a function of the height of the patient, divided into two categories of less than 1 .75 m, and more than 1.75 m for example), and should open front and back.

But any post-operative constraint or sports brassiere approaching these characteristics can perhaps be used with less effectiveness or comfort.

The essential characteristic is the covering material 40 with which the exterior of the brassiere is covered on the greatest part of its surface. The base material 12 of the support brassiere being used for support is usually made from variable proportions of polyamide and elasthane.

The material 12 is externally covered by a coating 40 which is an clastic self-adherent material not exhibiting any skin adhesiveness (see Figures 1 , 2 and 3 and also the diagram in Figure 4). This material does not possess any adhesiveness to the skin. The surface of the brassiere may be covered continuously and totally or discontinuously by forming sufficiently wide anchoring sites to obtain brassiere/covering material cohesion. In the example shown as a reference, the self-adherent material is attached by seams 42 represented by broken lines (Figures 1-4) but other means of attachment are conceivable, such as lamination, for example. In the example represented, the covering material is the product known under the name Coheban™. In addition, this material has the interesting property of being repositionable. However, other comparable materials may also be used.

This material will make it possible to fit the bands made from the same elastic and self-adherent material which will ensure constraint and shaping.

Therefore, these bands are from the same material as the covering which covers the exterior of the brassiere, namely a material that is elastic and self-adherent without adhering to the skin. They are provided rolled up in a roll and are cut to the desired length by the person who puts them in place.

For example, they may have width of 3, 6, 8 or 10 cm, even more.

They are arranged according to the methods described in Figures 5-10; - a first band 44 is attached far to the rear on the back, without exceeding the median line, is then stretched on the side of the brassiere and makes an "S" above one cup and below the other, with the tension and orientation chosen to join the side and the opposite back of the brassiere (Figure 5).

- a second band 46 is arranged symmetrically but in an inverted S relative to the first band 44 (Figure 6).

- a third band 48 may be arranged horizontally, in the middle, transversely at the level of the nipples (Figure 7).

- a fourth band 50 may be arranged transversely by passing above to lower the breasts, after putting in prostheses, for example (Figure 8).

Figure 9 shows how the bands overlap at the back. Figure ] 0 shows how the bands overlap on a side.

These bands do not adhere to the skin and the brassiere may be removed from the back to check the operation site or for washing. Thus, several great advantages result from it in terms of effectiveness, safety and comfort.

Thus, the device of the invention ensures a double post-operative or fpost-]procedural function, immediately (one week) and secondarily during healing (one to two months).

Claims

1. Device for support of breasts for medical application characterized in that it consists of a support brassiere (10) based on support material (32) formed from an elastic fabric and this support material is covered externally on at least part of its surface by a covering (40) made from elastic and self-adherent material which enables the setting up of constraint bands (44. 46, 48, 50) made from the same self-adherent material to the covering (40) to ensure constraint and shaping of the breasts without coming into contact with the latter.

2. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support material ( 12) is formed from an elastic fabric based on polyamide fibers and elastomer fibers, in particular of the elasthane type.

3. Device according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the elastic and self-adherent material is capable of adhering to itself by pressure, without adhering to the skin, while being repositionable.

4. Device according to one of Claims 1 -3, characterized in that the elastic and self-adherent material is the product known by the name Coheban™.

5. Device according to one of Claims 1 -4. characterized in that the constraint bands (44, 46, 48, 50) are bands of chosen width, for example, from 3 . 6. 8 and 10 cm.

6. Device according to one of Claims 1 -5. in which the support brassiere consists of an anterior part (14) with two cups (J 6) connected by two lateral parts (24) to a dorsal part (26), characterized in that it consists of a front closure (18) on the anterior part ( 14) between the two cups and a back closure (34) on the dorsal part (26).

7. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the fwo cups (36) are constructed envelopingly.

8. Device according to one of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the front closure (18) consists of a zipper closure (20), and possibly one or more hook-and-eye fasteners.

9. Device according to one of Claims 6-8, characterized in that the back closure (34) consists of a double set of adjustable hook-and-eye fasteners (36, 38) and, possibly, in the back, one or more fasteners from self-gripping material.

10. Device according to one of Claims 6-9, characterized in that the lateral parts (24) are adjustable.

1 3 , Device according to one of Claims 1 -10, characterized in that it is available in different sizes to be as appropriate as possible, defined by the depth of the cups, the chest girth, but also possibly the height of the patient.