U.S. patent application number 10/780510 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for universal chap-style compression stocking.
This patent application is currently assigned to BSN-Jobst. Invention is credited to Hettich, Mary Ann.
Application Number | 20050177927 10/780510 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34838612 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050177927 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hettich, Mary Ann |
August 18, 2005 |
Universal chap-style compression stocking
Abstract
There is provided a chap-styled therapeutic gradient compression
stocking that includes a foot portion, a leg portion having a lower
leg portion extending from the foot portion upward above the knee
to an upper leg portion, a waist support and a hip portion
extending between the waist support and the upper leg portion may
be made with stretchable yarn to provide a compressive force
against the lower leg and thigh of a patient and constructed so as
to be worn on either leg. The hip portion is formed between the
thigh portion and the waist support and covers the area below the
waist of the patient to the upper leg portion. The hip portion is
formed around the lower waist of the patient and has cutouts on
each side of the hip portion, sized to accommodate the crotch area
of the patient so that the stocking may be worn on either leg. The
therapeutic stocking is held in place on the patient's leg by a
waist support or waistband that includes a strap-engaging loop
formed at the top of the hip portion. The strap-engaging loop
extends around that portion of the circumference the hip portion at
the front and rear of the portion but not above the cutouts.
Through the strap-engaging loop is waist strap. The strap has
Velcro.RTM.-type fasteners on either side so that the strap may be
easily opened and closed from either side depending upon which leg
the stocking is being worn.
Inventors: |
Hettich, Mary Ann;
(Matthews, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Assignee: |
BSN-Jobst
|
Family ID: |
34838612 |
Appl. No.: |
10/780510 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/409 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/409 |
International
Class: |
A41B 011/00 |
Claims
That which is claimed:
1. A therapeutic gradient compression stocking comprising a foot
portion, a leg portion having a lower leg portion and an upper leg
portion and a waist support spaced above said leg portion and a hip
portion extending between said leg portion and said waist support
portion, said hip portion having a cutout portion on each side of
said hip portion sized to accommodate the lower waist of the wearer
so that the stocking may be worn on either leg; and said waist
portion constructed so as to accommodate a fastener surrounding the
patient's waist, said stocking being capable of being worn on
either leg of the patient.
2. The therapeutic stocking according to claim 1 wherein said waist
portion includes a strap engaging loop having a waist strap passing
there through.
3. The therapeutic stocking according to claim 2 wherein said waist
strap fastens on either the left side or the right side of said
strap..
4. The therapeutic stocking according to claim 1 wherein said foot
portion includes a toe opening.
5. The therapeutic stocking according to claim 1 wherein said foot
portion has a closed toe.
6. The therapeutic stocking according to claim 1 wherein the
pressure in the distal end of said stocking gradually decreases to
the proximal end.
7. The therapeutic stocking according to claim 1 wherein the hip
portion extends from about 30% to 50% of the circumference of the
upper opening of the stocking exclusive of said cutouts.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a therapeutic compression
stocking. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
chap-style therapeutic gradient compression stocking that can be
worn on either leg of a patient.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Therapeutic gradient compression stockings have been used on
a relatively wide scale to assist in the medical management of
venous diseases and/or help prevent occurrence of deep vein
thrombosis in patients. The purpose of such stockings is to
overcome the elevated internal pressures within a human extremity
caused by gravity or disease. Many forms of pressure gradient
stockings have been constructed in a variety of lengths and styles.
Also the degree of compression delivered by stockings covers a
relatively large range and is dependent on the indication for use.
To be classified as a gradient stocking the pressure profile of a
properly fitted stocking should gradually decrease from the
patient's ankles (distal end) up the leg (proximal end). The
principal styles of such therapeutic gradient stockings are knee
length stockings, thigh or full-length stockings, and panty style
stockings.
[0005] Therapeutic gradient compression stockings are designed to
provide sufficient external circumferential counter pressure to
help maintain more normal venous and lymphatic pressures at a given
level of the extremity, thus assisting the movement of venous blood
and lymph from the extremity. Another important effect of
compression is the reduction of the venous volume that results in
an increase of the venous flow velocity. This factor alone helps
prevent stasis and helps reduce risk of deep vein thrombosis in the
inactive patient (anti-embolism stockings). Edema reduction and
edema prevention is the goal in patients with chronic venous
insufficiency, lymphedema, and other edema causing conditions.
Subcutaneous pressures increase with elastic compression that
alters Starling forces thereby helping correct filtration and
absorption abnormalities between the interstitial fluid and the
microcirculation.
[0006] Full-length stockings of various descriptions have been
proposed and a variety of therapeutic medical gradient compression
stockings are on the market. Unfortunately, therapeutic stockings,
in order to provide the necessary compression, are often thick and
rather unsightly, difficult to maintain in proper position on the
patient's leg or have a number of other drawbacks.
[0007] An example of a typical full-length therapeutic stocking is
shown in U.S. Pat. No 3,975,929 to Fragile that describes an
anti-embolism stocking made on a circular knitting machine with
alternating courses of covered spandex yarn. The body of the
stocking provides a gradually decreasing compressive force on the
leg of the patient from the ankle toward the top. The stocking ends
at the upper portion of the thigh below the crotch area. The
stocking is held in place with an elastic band extending around the
opening at the upper end of the leg portion. Another example of a
typical therapeutic stocking is described in U.S. Pat. No.
4,069,515 to Swallow, et al., which discloses a therapeutic
stocking having foot and boot portions of alternating courses of
jersey knit stitches of non-elastomeric yarn. This thigh length
stocking also has an elastic band that extends partially around the
patient's thigh.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,818 to Cueman describes a full length
circular knit therapeutic stocking having a foot and leg portion,
an upper welt portion and a turned welt portion. This stocking
includes a flexible and relatively inelastic welt panel insert
having a substantially triangular shape. The stocking is knit as a
cylindrical tube without any reciprocation to form a heel pocket or
toe pocket. The top of the stocking stops below the crotch area.
Another therapeutic stocking describing a panel insert is U.S. Pat.
No. 4,198,834 to Reid, Sr. that shows a full-length anti-embolism
stocking that includes an improved means for adjusting the
circumferential dimension of the upper thigh-engaging portion. The
anti-embolism elastic stocking includes a leg portion and an upper
thigh engaging portion knit with stretchable yarn to provide
stretch thereto and to provide a compressive force against the leg
and thigh of the wearer. A generally wedge-shaped insert is sewn
into a slit extending downwardly in the upper thigh-engaging
portion with the wider portion of the insert being positioned
adjacent to the upper end of the stocking. The top of the stocking
ends below the crotch area and an elastic tape supports the
stocking on the patient's leg.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,974 provides a post-injury support hose
that has graduated compression along a patient's extremity and has
an opening for accessing the injured area. The compression hose
includes an extremity covering portion and an injury area-covering
portion. The injured area-covering portion has an opening and
fasteners to permit closure of the opening. A patient's extremity
is inserted into the hose such that the opening is aligned with the
injured area. Preferably, the medical compression hose has a
graduated compression force that is greater in the distal area of
the extremity and gradually decreases along the length of the hose
toward the proximal end.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,869 to Pendergrass, et al., discloses a
full length stocking having a boot portion, a waist support means
and a hip panel extending between the waist support and the boot
portion. The waist support means has an elastic band secured by
suitable means to the upper end of the hip panel and arranged to
extend around the hip to the back of the patient. The stocking
described can be worn on only one or the other of the patient's
legs.
[0011] As noted, a drawback of each of the prior art stockings
described above require a differently constructed stocking for each
leg if the stocking is to be supported by a waistband. It can
therefore be readily seen that a single stocking that can be worn
on either leg would be beneficial.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A principle feature of the present invention is the
provision of a full-length therapeutic gradient compression
stocking that may be worn on either leg. It has been found that a
chap-styled therapeutic medical stocking that includes a foot
portion, a leg portion having a lower leg portion extending from
the foot portion upward above the knee to an upper leg portion, a
waist support and a hip portion extending between the waist support
and the upper leg portion may be made with stretchable yarn to
provide a compressive force against the lower leg and thigh of a
patient and constructed so as to be worn on either leg. In a
preferred embodiment, the stocking is knit so that the pressure in
the ankle area is greatest and gradually decreases from the
patient's ankle (distal end) through the thigh portion (proximal
end).
[0013] The hip portion is formed between the thigh portion and the
waist support and covers the area below the waist of the patient to
the upper leg portion. The hip portion is formed around the lower
waist of the patient and has cutouts on each side of the hip
portion, sized to accommodate the crotch area of the patient so
that the stocking may be worn on either leg. The foot portion of
the stocking may be closed or may have a toe opening that overlies
the toes when the stocking is worn. The outer end of the toe
portion of the stocking may be pulled over the toes to inspect the
toes through the opening without removal of the stocking from the
patient.
[0014] The therapeutic gradient compression stocking is held in
place on the patient's leg by a waist support or waistband that
includes a strap-engaging loop formed at the top of the hip
portion. The strap-engaging loop may be knit when the stocking is
formed or sewn onto the top of the hip portion. The strap-engaging
loop extends around the circumference of the hip portion at the
front and rear of the portion but not above the cutouts. Through
the strap-engaging loop is a waist strap that may be composed of
any well-known material. In a preferred embodiment, the strap has
Velcro.RTM.-type fasteners on either side so that the strap may be
easily opened and closed from either side depending upon which leg
the stocking is being worn. In another embodiment, the waist strap
may be sewn to the waistband. It should be understood, however,
that other types of fasteners such as buttonhole in the elastic
waistband might be used.
[0015] It is an objective of this invention to provide a knit
therapeutic gradient compression stocking having a defined heel
such as a reciprocated heel that is constructed so that it may be
worn on either leg of a patient and maintained in place on the
patient's leg by a support around the patient's waist.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
therapeutic gradient compression stocking having a single waistband
to be worn on either leg of a patient having a venous inflammatory
disease.
[0017] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a therapeutic gradient compression stocking in which elastomeric
and non-elastomeric yarns are knit on a circular knitting machine
in conjunction with non-elastomeric yarn to provide a compressive
force on the leg of a patient and to provide an opening in the
upper portion of the stocking so that the stocking may be worn on
either leg of a patient.
[0018] Other objects features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent in the following detailed
description of the embodiments of the invention when taken in
conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a front view of the therapeutic gradient
compression stocking of the present invention being worn on the
right leg of a patient;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a front view of the therapeutic gradient
compression stocking of the present invention being worn on the
left leg of a patient;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the therapeutic gradient
compression stocking of the present invention showing the waist
support as the stocking would be worn on the right leg;
[0023] FIG. 4 is an perspective view of the therapeutic gradient
compression stocking of the present invention showing the waist
support as the stocking would be worn on the left leg;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a view looking downwardly into the waist opening
of the stocking, as it would appear on the right leg of the
wearer;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a view looking downwardly into the waist opening
of the stocking, as it would appear on the left leg of the patient;
and
[0026] FIG. 7 is a side view of the therapeutic gradient
compression stocking of the present invention being worn on the
left leg of a patient.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The present invention now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed,
these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the versatility for the
full-length therapeutic gradient compression stocking of the
present invention is shown as being capable of being worn on either
leg of a person. There is shown the chap-styled therapeutic
stocking generally designated 10 that includes a foot portion 12, a
leg portion 14 having a lower leg portion 16 extending from the
foot portion upward above the knee to an upper leg or thigh portion
18, a waist support 20, and a hip portion 22 extending between the
waist support 20 and the upper leg portion 18. The foot portion 12
and the leg portion 14 exert a compressive pressure against the
patient's leg to increase the flow of blood in the leg and reduce
the incidence of thromboembolism in the patient. In the preferred
embodiment, the stocking is knit so that the pressure in the ankle
area (distal end) is greatest and gradually decreases from the
patient's ankle to the upper thigh (proximal end).
[0029] As illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the
stocking being worn on the right leg of a patient and the left leg
of a patient, respectively, the hip portion 22 is formed between
the thigh portion 18 and the waist support 20 and covers the area
below the waist of the patient to the upper leg portion. The hip
portion 22 is formed around the lower waist of the patient and has
cutouts 24, 24' on each side of the hip portion 22. The hip portion
22 may be knitted to the upper leg portion 18 or may be sewn on to
the upper leg portion as a separate piece. The cutouts are sized to
accommodate the crotch area of the patient so that the stocking may
be worn on either leg. The cutouts may be made by simply slitting
along the centerline of both the left and right sides of the hip
portion. The edges of both slits are bound or finished. As shown in
FIG. 7 when the stocking 10 is worn on the left leg, the cutout 24
appears to be more or less in a closed position. Once the cutouts
24, 24' are made the hip panels cover from about 30% to 50% of the
waist area above the thigh. The hip panel may be knit from
alternating courses of jersey knit stitches of a covered
elastomeric yarn but it should be understood that other yarns and
stitches may be used.
[0030] The foot portion 12 of stocking 10 may have a toe opening 11
that overlies the toes when the stocking is worn, as shown in FIGS.
3 and 4. Accordingly, the outer end of the toe portion of the
stocking may be pulled over the toes to inspect the toes through
the opening 11 without removal of the stocking from the patient.
However, the stocking may be either open-toed or closed-toed. The
heel portion 13 of the stocking is constructed in such a way that
it forms a defined heel such as a reciprocated heel on either
foot.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a view looking downwardly into the waist opening
of a stocking, as it would appear on the right leg of the wearer.
FIG. 6 is a view looking downwardly into the waist opening of the
stocking, as it would appear on the left leg of the wearer. As
shown, the therapeutic compression stocking 10 is held in place by
a waist support or waistband 20. The waist support 20 has a
strap-engaging loop 26 formed at the top of the hip portion 22. The
strap-engaging loop 26 may be knit when the stocking is formed or
sewn onto the top of the hip portion 22. In either event the
engaging loop 26 is hemmed, if need be, in a manner to accommodate
a belt type construction that can be slid from the left to the
right or the right to the left. The strap-engaging loop 26 extends
around that portion of the circumference the hip panel 20 at the
front and rear of the panels but not above the cutouts 24, 24'.
Through the strap-engaging loop 26 is belt or waist strap 28 which
may be composed of any well-known material and which may be opened
or closed on either side depending upon which leg the stocking is
being worn. In a preferred embodiment, the strap 28 has
Velcro.RTM.-type fasteners 30, 30' on both the left and right side
so that the strap 28 may be easily opened when the stocking is worn
on either leg. In a related embodiment two stockings may be
combined on a single waistband to form a two leg garment. The
ability to add a second leg is beneficial when one leg is ready for
compression before the other or when different compression
constructions are required for the left leg and the right leg. It
should be understood, however, that other types of fasteners might
be used. It should also be understood that in another embodiment,
the waist strap 28 may be attached or sewn to either side of the
stocking hip portion 22 rather than pass through engaging loop 26
and adjusted to a minimal length on the affected side. To prevent
loss in laundering, the waistband may be attached or otherwise
configured to keep it from sliding out of the strap-engaging loop
and still move freely within the strap-engaging loop.
[0032] The universal chap-style therapeutic gradient compression
stocking 10 of the invention is show in FIGS. 3 and 4, as the
stocking would be worn on either leg, respectively. Most of the
patients suffering from minor to moderate varicosities, moderate
edema, superficial thrombophlebitis, and post sclerotherapy need to
use stockings with the compression at ankle in the range of 15-20
to 20-30 mm Hg. More complicated and severe cases require pressure
of 40 mm Hg and higher.
[0033] The preferred spandex or elastomeric yarns employed to
achieve the desired power or modulus of elasticity for the
retractive or compressive force is 420d Creora spandex, knit with
the non-elastomeric yarns. It has been further found desirable to
achieve the desired retractive or compressive force to feed the
spandex yarns under controlled tension before reaching the yarn
finger and knitting elements where the tension will be increased
but cannot be measured accurately. These stocking may be knit on a
conventional knitting machine such as a Pendolina Medical circular
knitting machine.
[0034] Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions
set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to
which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings
presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated
drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are
not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that
modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms
are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive
sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *