Compression Stocking with Adjustable Compression Pressure

Abstract

The invention relates to a compression stocking with adjustable compression pressure for therapeutic compression of a limb, comprising a stocking element with a pressure compartment and a valve mechanism, the valve mechanism comprising: —a valve seat attached to the stocking element; —a valve lid attached to the valve seat or formed thereon, wherein the passage extends through the valve seat and the valve lid; —a valve provided in the passage and embodied to be movable between a closing position, in which the valve closes the passage airtightly, and a position allowing passage, in which the valve leaves the passage at least partially open; and —at least a connecting part between the valve and the valve seat and/or the valve lid for flexible attachment of the valve to the valve seat and/or the valve lid, wherein the at least one connecting part is embodied to urge the valve toward the closing position under bias.

Claims

1. Compression stocking with adjustable compression pressure for therapeutic compression of a leg, the compression stocking comprising: a first stocking element to be arranged around the lower leg; a second stocking element to be arranged around the foot of the leg, wherein the second stocking element is attached to the first stocking element or formed integrally thereon at an angle; further comprising: a pressure compartment to be filled with air up to the adjustable compression pressure and extending in both the first and the second stocking element, and configured to extend all the way around the periphery of at least a part of the lower leg in use in order to exert a homogenous pressure on the at least one part of the lower leg all the way around; a valve mechanism connected to the pressure compartment, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a closable passage between the pressure compartment and the outside air.

2. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism comprises: a valve seat attached to the stocking element; a valve lid attached to the valve seat or formed thereon, wherein the passage extends through the valve seat and the valve lid; a valve provided in the passage and embodied to be movable between a closing position, in which the valve closes the passage airtightly, and a position allowing passage, in which the valve leaves the passage at least partially open; and at least a connecting part between the valve and the valve seat and/or the valve lid for flexible attachment of the valve to the valve seat and/or the valve lid, wherein the at least one connecting part is embodied to urge the valve toward the closing position under bias.

3. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the pressure compartment wholly surrounds the lower leg in peripheral direction in the situation in which the stocking is being worn so that the lower leg encounters the same pressure all the way around.

4. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the pressure compartment at the position of the first stocking element extends on the front side, the rear side and on the sides of the lower leg during use.

5. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the pressure compartment in the first and second stocking element is located over the whole surface of the stocking intended for contact with the leg, with the exception of the surface of the sole and instep.

6. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the pressure is the same in the whole pressure compartment.

7. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the pressure compartment in the second stocking element extends only on the sides of the foot.

8. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the pressure compartment forms one single, uninterrupted space.

9. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism is connected to the part of the pressure compartment which is situated in the first stocking element.

10. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the compression pressure is smaller than 80 mm Hg and preferably lies between 30 mm Hg and 60 mm Hg.

11. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the second stocking element comprises: a sole part; an instep part; side parts between the sole part and the instep part, wherein the pressure compartment extends in at least one of the side parts, wherein the instep part is preferably manufactured from elastic material and/or wherein the sole part is manufactured from substantially non-elastic material.

12. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the compression stocking has only one single pressure compartment or wherein the compression stocking has two or more pressure compartments which are in open connection with each other.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting part is embodied to be bent between a starting position, in which the valve is in the closing position, and a bent position, in which the valve is in the position allowing passage, under an external mechanical force, wherein in the bent position the connecting part is optionally configured to tend to return to the starting position.

16. (canceled)

17. Compression stocking according to claim 1, comprising two or more connecting parts, wherein the valve is disc-like, the connecting parts extend in radial direction relative to the disc-like valve and/or the connecting parts are attached to or formed on the valve at uniformly distributed positions.

18. Compression stocking according to claim 1, in combination with an air pump which is configured to inflate the pressure compartment, wherein the air pump comprises a pump tube or pump conduit which can be coupled to the valve lid and has an outer end which can be inserted into the passage and is embodied to exert on the valve the mechanical force whereby the valve can be pushed from the closing position to the position allowing passage.

19. Compression stocking according to claim 1, comprising at least one of: pressure sensor for determining a pressure value representative of the pressure in the pressure compartment, wherein the pressure sensor is embodied to measure at least one of the pressure in the pressure compartment, the pressure in the pump tube or the pressure in the pump conduit; a control unit which is coupled to the air pump and pressure sensor and is configured to control the air pump depending on the measured pressure; a memory coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to periodically store measured pressure values; a wireless communication unit for wirelessly transmitting a pressure signal representative of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor, wherein the communication unit, and preferably also the pressure sensor, are configured to be powered only by an external radio frequency signal.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the stocking element comprises: an outer wall with a high modulus of elasticity (E), preferably a modulus of elasticity of at least 50 MPa; and a flexible inner wall, directed toward the limb during use, with a low elasticity (E).

28. (canceled)

29. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the stocking element comprises an outer wall with an elasticity (ε) of a maximum of 5%, preferably a maximum of 2%, when the pressure compartment is inflated to an overpressure of 100 mg Hg.

30. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the stocking element comprises an outer and inner wall manufactured from airtight film, wherein the outer and inner wall are preferably sealed together along their peripheral edges for the purpose of forming the pressure compartment therebetween.

31. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the stocking element comprises an outer and inner wall manufactured from plastic, particularly thermoplastic polyurethane or polypropylene, and/or wherein the outer wall comprises a wall thickness of between 100 and 300 μm and the inner wall a wall thickness of between 50 and 150 μm.

32. Compression stocking according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall of the stocking element is provided with a number of stretch-limiting elements configured to limit stretch when the pressure compartment is inflated, wherein the stretch-limiting elements preferably extend in peripheral direction when the stocking element is arranged around the limb.

33. (canceled)

Description

[0055] Further advantages, features and details will be elucidated with reference to the following description of some embodiments thereof. Reference is made in the description to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a view of a leg provided with the embodiment of a support stocking according to the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a view of the embodiment of the support stocking of FIG. 1 before it is arranged round the leg;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a perspective detail view of a valve mechanism according to a determined embodiment;

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a perspective exploded view of the valve mechanism of FIG. 3;

[0060] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through the valve mechanism of FIG. 4;

[0061] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section through the embodiment of the support stocking of FIG. 1, in combination with a pump for inflating the support stocking, in a situation before the pressure compartment is inflated;

[0062] FIG. 7 shows the cross-section of FIG. 6 in a situation during inflation;

[0063] FIGS. 8 and 9 show cross-sections through another embodiment, respectively in the situation before and during inflation, wherein the support stocking is provided with an internal pressure sensor;

[0064] FIG. 10 shows a top view of the internal pressure sensor of FIGS. 8 and 9;

[0065] FIG. 11 shows a perspective front view of a further embodiment of a stocking according to the invention, with a first stocking element in opened state;

[0066] FIG. 12 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in closed situation; and

[0067] FIG. 13 shows a side view of a leg provided with a stocking according to the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 in a situation of use.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a support stocking 1 in a situation of use. This embodiment of the stocking covers only the calf of a patient. In other embodiments the foot and/or the upper leg of the patient can however also be covered. In other embodiments the support stocking is arranged round an arm or the like. Support stocking 1 comprises a stocking element 2 which is clamped fixedly around the limb using fastening means 3. FIG. 2 shows the fastening means 3 in more detail.

[0069] In the shown embodiment the stocking element 2 is constructed from a multi-layer film, wherein a pressure chamber or pressure compartment is formed between the layers of the multi-layer film. The multi-layer film can be wrapped around the limb and then be secured, particularly be clamped fixedly, in wrapped state, for instance by attaching a longitudinal edge of the support stocking to another part of the support stocking with fastening means.

[0070] In the shown embodiment fastening means 3 comprise a number of (i.e. in the shown example five, although this number can vary) fastening tongues 7 which are provided on one side with a strip of hook and loop elements 8. Tongues 7 are provided along a longitudinal edge 13 of stocking element 2. A number of hook and loop elements is arranged on the opposite longitudinal edge 12 of stocking element 2, at positions corresponding with those of tongues 7. Once stocking element 2 has been wrapped around the leg, it can be clamped fixedly to the leg using the hook and loop elements 5, 6 so that the support stocking remains at the desired position. The support stocking need however not be arranged with such force that the therapeutic compression pressure is realized.

[0071] The therapeutic compression pressure is however realized by inflating the pressure compartment of the support stocking. As already explained above, stocking element 2 comprises a number of layers of film, between which a pressure compartment is formed. Stocking element 2 of the support stocking can for instance be constructed from an outer layer or outer wall 14 and an inner layer or inner wall 15. The outer and inner wall 14, 15 are attached to each other at their peripheral edges (for instance by welding (sealing) them together, which results in the welded seam 16 shown in FIG. 2, which extends along the upper side 11, lower side 10 and longitudinal edges 12, 13). In this way a pressure compartment 9 is realized between the outer and inner wall 14, 15. This pressure compartment 9 can be provided with air from the outside using a valve mechanism 4 in order to generate a sufficiently high compression pressure in pressure compartment 9 and thus allow the compression stocking to push with sufficient compression pressure against the limb.

[0072] The compression caused by the pressure in the pressure compartment of the first stocking element and the second stocking element is the same everywhere. This provides for a uniform distribution of the pressure over the whole contact surface of the stocking with the leg, at least at the positions where the pressure compartment is situated. Since the pressure compartment is situated around at least a part of the lower leg, so both on the front side and on the rear side thereof, and at the position of the sides of the foot, the pressure and thereby the compression caused will be the same everywhere in those areas. The patient experiences the same pressure on all sides of the lower leg (i.e. front side, rear side and both sides), which makes the stocking extremely comfortable.

[0073] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, a first embodiment of valve mechanism 4 is first described. Valve mechanism 4 comprises a valve seat 20 attached to outer wall 14 by means of ultrasonic welding. This valve seat 20 comprises a radial flange 21 which provides for a sufficient attaching option of the valve mechanism to outer wall 14. Radial flange 21 is further provided with an upright, axially extending edge 22 around an opening 25. Positioned centrally in this opening 25 is a disc-like valve 23, which valve 23 is held in place by a number of (in the shown embodiment four) connecting parts 24. These connecting parts extend in radial direction from the centre of valve 23 and form as it were a star-shaped attachment of valve 23 to the rest of valve seat 20. Valve mechanism 4 further comprises a valve lid 26 attached to the valve seat or formed thereon. This valve lid 26 can be slid between upright edge 22 and be clamped fixedly onto valve seat 20. This situation is shown in FIG. 6. The valve seat and the valve lid lie tightly against each other such that essentially no air can flow via the valve lid and the valve seat into and out of compartment 9, besides via the passage 29 provided centrally in valve lid 26. The passage 29 and the valve lid connect to valve 23, this such that in the starting position (with the valve in the closing position, as shown in FIG. 6) valve 23 fully closes the passage 29 so that no air is able to flow into the pressure compartment or out of the pressure compartment.

[0074] FIG. 6 further shows how the pressure compartment 9 of the support stocking can be inflated. Use is made for this purpose of the schematically shown pump 40. This can be any pump, for instance—though not limited to—a diaphragm pump 40. Pump 40 comprises a pump conduit or pump tube 30 and a pressure sensor 41 connected thereto, with which the pressure inside the pump conduit or tube can be measured.

[0075] The conduit or tube 30 has a shape and dimensions such that it fits just inside the passage 29 in valve mechanism 4. When the air compartment has to be inflated, the outer end of the pump tube/pump conduit 30 is displaced in the direction of valve mechanism 4 (direction P.sub.1), and the outer end thereof is inserted fittingly into passage 29. At a given moment the outer end of the pump tube/pump conduit 30 will press onto the upper side of valve 23 and, when pushed further (direction P.sub.1), the valve will be pressed downward by the downward mechanical force caused thereby (which is greater than the upward force exerted on valve 23 by the connecting parts), as is shown in FIG. 7. In the bent position of connecting parts 24 shown in FIG. 7 the connecting parts will exert an upward force on valve 23 and will try to push valve 23 back to the starting position shown in FIG. 6. The external mechanical force is however greater, and valve 23 remains in the position allowing passage which is shown in FIG. 7. Valve 23 then no longer closes the underside of passage 29. Air can then flow via the pump tube/pump conduit 30 (direction P.sub.2) and the opening between connecting parts 24 into pressure compartment 9.

[0076] Inflation of the pressure compartment can be done manually, but can also be controlled by a control unit 42 coupled to pump 40 and pressure sensor 41 (FIG. 6). When the pressure gauge or pressure sensor 41 measures the desired final pressure, it transmits a signal to control unit 42. Control unit 42 stops inflation and the conduit/tube 30 can be pulled out of the passage again. As a result of the construction of the connecting parts they will return from the bent position shown in FIG. 7 to the starting position shown in FIG. 6, so that the valve is returned from the position allowing passage to the closing position.

[0077] Pressure sensor 41 can also be used for randomly or periodically monitoring the pressure afterwards, for instance after decreasing due to reduced swelling. If the pressure has become too low, control unit 42 generates a signal representative of the fact that the pressure has become too low, on the basis of which a visual and/or auditive warning signal can be emitted and the patient is informed that the stocking should be refilled with air.

[0078] The shown construction ensures that when pump conduit 30 is removed from passage 29, valve 23 always ends up back in the starting position (i.e. the closing position) automatically as a result of the forces exerted by the connecting parts 24. The construction of the valve mechanism is further very simple and can be manufactured in large numbers and at relatively low cost. A further advantage is that the overall thickness of the valve mechanism can remain limited. In the shown embodiment the thickness (d) (see FIG. 6) of the valve mechanism is for instance a maximum of 1 cm, preferably smaller than 0.5 cm.

[0079] FIG. 2 further shows that a number of stretch-limiting elements 17 is arranged in and/or on the material of the stocking element, for instance in the material of outer wall 14 thereof. When the stocking element is arranged around a limb, the stretch-limiting elements 17 extend in the peripheral direction. These stretch-limiting elements are less elastic (i.e. have a lower elasticity (ε), defined as the ratio between the change in length and the original length of a piece of material) than the material itself, and thus provide for a limitation of the stretch in the direction in which the stretch-limiting elements extend (therefore only in the width direction in the shown embodiment).

[0080] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the pressure sensor 41 is provided as part of pump 40. In the other embodiment, for instance the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, pressure sensor 50 is arranged inside pressure compartment 9. More particularly, pressure sensor 50 is integrated with valve mechanism 4, for instance by mounting the pressure sensor on the underside of valve 23. In order to ensure that the pressure measured by the sensor can be easily read, the sensor can be provided with a wireless communication unit 51 for wirelessly transmitting a pressure signal representative of the pressure in a supply compartment. This can be the current pressure measured by the pressure sensor at that moment. In the other embodiments, the pressure sensor is however provided with a memory (not shown in the drawings) in which pressure values are occasionally (periodically) stored. These pressure values are thus stored and can be collectively transmitted via a pressure signal to an external receiver (not shown) using the wireless communication unit.

[0081] Pressure sensor 50 (optionally provided with a memory and optionally provided with a communication unit) is preferably embodied as a passive element, i.e. this sensor does not have its own energy source as power supply but is powered by the electromagnetic radiation, for instance electromagnetic radiation from the receiver. More particularly, use can be made of an RFID tag as shown in FIG. 10, whereby information from the pressure sensor can be transmitted wirelessly to an external RFID receiver.

[0082] A further embodiment is shown in FIGS. 11-13. The figures show a stocking 60 comprising a first (upper) stocking element 61 and a second (lower) stocking element 62 formed thereon. The first stocking element 61 is embodied to be arranged around the calf (k) of a leg (b) (FIG. 13), while the second stocking element 62 is embodied to be arranged around the foot (v) of the leg (b). A single pressure compartment 63 is arranged in the stocking. Pressure compartment 63 extends in both the first and the second pressure element 61, 62. More particularly, pressure compartment 63 comprises a first pressure compartment part 75 in first stocking element 61 and two pressure compartment parts 73, 74 in second stocking element 62. All pressure compartment parts are in open connection with each other and can be filled with air via a valve mechanism, preferably a valve mechanism 4 as described above.

[0083] Second stocking element 62 is attached to or formed on first stocking element 61 at an angle (i.e. angle α, FIG. 12, preferably in the range of 60°<α<120°) such that the stocking can be arranged comfortably around the leg and can fulfil its compressing function.

[0084] In the shown embodiment second stocking element 62 comprises a sole part 69, an instep part 72 and at least two side parts 70, 71 between the sole part and the instep part. As shown in FIG. 13, sole part 69, instep part 72 and side parts 70, 71 are embodied to be situated respectively under, above and to the side of the foot (v) of the leg in a situation of use. In determined embodiments at least one of the sole part and the instep part is manufactured from elastic material so that the stocking can be slid over the foot and already remains clampingly on the foot to a certain degree. In order to bring about the correct (higher) degree of compression on the foot the pressure in pressure compartment parts 73, 74 can be increased as desired by supplying air via valve mechanism 4. This is because pressure compartment 63 of stocking 60 extends in at least one of the side parts (preferably in both side parts 70, 71) and each of the pressure compartment parts 73, 74 inside second stocking element 62 is in (open) connection with the pressure compartment part 75 inside first stocking element 61.

[0085] First stocking element 61 is constructed from at least an inner wall 70 and an outer wall 71. More generally, both walls 70, 71 are manufactured from flexible and pliable material so that stocking element 61 can be wrapped easily round a leg of a random user. The walls 70, 71 of first stocking element 61 and the walls of the side parts of second stocking element 62 preferably further take an airtight form and are attached (for instance sealed) to each other along the edges such that the pressure compartment 63 is formed between the two walls 70, 71.

[0086] The material of the walls 70, 71 of first stocking element 61 and that of side parts 70, 71 of the second stocking element are preferably manufactured from plastic, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or polypropylene. The outer walls preferably have a wall thickness of between 100 and 300 μm and the inner walls a wall thickness of between 50 and 100 μm.

[0087] When the user wishes to put on a stocking 60, he or she places a foot in the second stocking element 62 and ensures that second stocking element 62 is held tightly around the foot as a result of the elastic material properties of instep part 72 (and/or sole part 69). The user then closes the first, opened stocking element 61 from the opened position shown in FIG. 11 and fastens the longitudinal edges of first stocking element 61 to each other by means of suitable fastening means. In the shown embodiment the fastening means comprise a first strip of hook and loop element 66 (provided on a first longitudinal outer end of stocking element 61) and a second strip of hook and loop element 67 (provided on a second, opposite longitudinal outer end of stocking element 61). When the two strips are pressed together, first stocking element 61 can be attached to the leg, essentially independently of the shape and dimensions of the calf. A suitable medium (for instance a gas such as air) can then be supplied via valve mechanism 4 so that the pressure compartment in first and second stocking element 61, 62 expands and thereby allows the stocking to exert the desired, adjustable compression force on both the calf and the foot.

[0088] Although not shown in the figures, in the embodiment of FIGS. 11-13 the material can also be provided with one or more stretch-limiting elements, for instance stretch-limiting means of the above described type.

[0089] The invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof described herein. The rights are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.