BODY COMPRESSION DEVICE WITH HOOK-AND-LOOP CLOSURE

Abstract

Body compression device intended to be at least partially wound around a part of the body in order to exert a compression force on said part of the body, the device including a hook-and-loop fastening system with a plurality of loops arranged on a loop zone and a plurality of hooks arranged on a hooking surface, the hooking surface being elastic and capable of adopting at least two states: a first, unstretched state, in which the hooks are in immediate proximity to one another, and a second state, in which the hooking surface is substantially stretched, allowing it to be hooked onto the loops of the loop zone.

Claims

1. A body compression device intended to be at least partially wound over a part of the body and/or a limb in order to exert a compression force on said part of the body and/or said limb, said device comprising a fixing system with loops and hooks comprising a plurality of loops arranged on a loop zone and a plurality of hooks arranged on a hooking surface, wherein said hooking surface is elastic and can adopt at least two distinct states: a first state, in which said hooking surface is unstretched and the very fine weave of the elastic fabric used forms a field of hooks with very high density and in particular that are very close to one another, such that the hooks cross one another and are nested in one another, preventing hooking with the loops of the loop zone, and a second state, in which said hooking surface is stretched and in which the hooks are spaced apart and thus no longer nested in one another, rendering the hooks functional and allowing hooking with the loops of the loop zone.

2. The body compression device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one portion made of fabric comprising a first face and a second face, wherein at least one loop zone is arranged on said first face of the fabric, and at least one hooking surface is arranged on said second face of the fabric.

3. The body compression device of claim 1, wherein said hooking surface is mono-elastic, the direction of elasticity corresponding substantially to the axis of winding of the device on said part of the body.

4. The body compression device of claim 1, wherein the hooking surface and the loop zone are produced in a same type of fabric.

5. The body compression device of claim 1, comprising an active compression part provided to exert a compression force distributed over the limb or the part of the body to be treated.

6. The body compression device of claim 5, wherein said active compression part and the fixing system are produced with the same fabric.

7. The body compression device of claim 5, wherein the fixing system is made of a piece with the active part.

8. The body compression device of claim 5, wherein the active part is composed of a material or fabric different from the fabric of which the fixing system is composed.

9. The body compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is a splinting/compression band.

10. The body compression device of claim 1, wherein the device is a splinting/compression orthosis.

11. The body compression device of claim 1, wherein the potential stretch rate of the hooking surface lies between 25% and 100%.

12. The body compression device of claim 1, wherein the hooking surface is composed of a loop zone transformed into a hooking surface.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0049] All the production details are given in the following description, complemented by FIGS. 1a to 8b, presented purely as nonlimiting examples, and in which:

[0050] FIGS. 1a to 1d are schematic representations illustrating an example of fabric comprising loop zones (FIG. 1a), of which one loop zone makes it possible to generate a hooking surface (FIG. 1b) shown in unstretched mode (FIG. 1c) and in stretched mode (FIG. 1d);

[0051] FIGS. 2a and 2b schematically illustrate the two faces of an example of compression device;

[0052] FIGS. 3, 4a to 4e and 5 are schematic representations showing the variant productions of a compression device of splinting band type; and

[0053] FIGS. 6a to 8b are schematic representations showing various examples of production of the compression device of splinting orthosis type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] Example of Implementation of a Fixing System with Loops and Hooks

[0055] FIGS. 1a to 1d schematically illustrate, from an example of an elastic fabric 1 initially comprising loop zones 10 on each of its faces, an example of implementation of a fixing system 3 with loops and hooks used in compression devices described in relation to FIGS. 2a to 8b.

[0056] In its initial state, the fabric 1 comprises, on each side, a plurality of loops 11 formed in loop zones 10 as presented in FIG. 1a.

[0057] FIG. 1b schematically illustrates the transformation performed in the loop zone 10 of the top face to obtain a hooking zone 20. The threads forming the loops 11 are treated, for example using a laser attack, to transform them at least partially into hooks 21. The treatment implemented on the fabric makes it possible for at least a portion of the loops of the elastic fabric to be modified. For example, the loops are cut into at least two parts, the remaining parts of the loop remaining fixed to the weft of the fabric, and form hooks 21. The treatment makes it possible to obtain inclined or bent back hook ends.

[0058] The very fine weave of the elastic fabric used makes it possible to obtain a field of hooks with very high density and in particular that are very close to one another, such that the hooks cross one another. In such a configuration, corresponding to the unstretched mode, the hooks are partially or totally ineffective for catching any loops. FIG. 1c illustrates an example of arrangement of the hooks 21 distributed on a hooking surface 20 in the unstretched state.

[0059] The fabric 1 is stretchable at least in the longitudinal direction. This feature makes it possible to space the hooks 21 apart and therefore for them to be no longer nested in one another when the hooking surface 20 is in its stretched state, as presented in FIG. 1d. In this state, the hooks are functional or effective, and can grip or catch any loops. The level of stretching of the hooking surface to favor a good operation of the hooks is advantageously greater than 30% and more preferentially lies between 30% and 50%.

[0060] The fixing system 3 is thus noteworthy in that it comprises two distinct states, intrinsically linked to the elasticity of the fabric of which the system is composed.

[0061] This system moreover provides a particularly high level of fixing because, once the loops are hooked into the hooks (in stretched mode), the fabric is then relaxed to revert to a substantially unstretched state. In this state, the hooks are once again close to one another and thus create a kind of locking of the hooks, making the separation of the loops and hooks more difficult, and achievable through a relatively high separation effort (?). To detach the loops and hooks, the hooking surface is preferably stretched. This precaution makes it possible to facilitate the separation of the loops and hooks and protects the loops and the hooks against premature damage.

[0062] Moreover, the high density of the hooks and their random arrangement makes it possible to optimize to the maximum the hooking of the fixing system 3.

First Example of Product Using a Fixing System with Loops and Hooks: Splinting/Compression Band

[0063] FIGS. 2a to 5 schematically illustrate examples of splinting bands 2 comprising at least portions produced with a fabric 1 similar to that used in FIGS. 1a to 1d to produce the fixing system 3 previously described.

[0064] The body device 2 comprises at least one portion made of fabric 1 comprising two faces 4 and 5. A loop zone 10 is arranged on the first face 4, schematically represented in FIG. 2a. A hooking surface 20 is arranged on the second face 5, schematically represented in FIG. 2b.

[0065] In this way, the winding of the splinting band is particularly easy because no matter where the free end of the hooking surface 20 arrives on the loop zone 10, hooking is possible. Indeed, with this embodiment, any part of the second face 5 can be fixed to any part of the first face 4, provided that the hooking surface 20 is stretched, to allow the disposition of the hooks 21 which can be fixed to the loops 11 of the loop zone 10.

[0066] Moreover, this feature makes it possible to have a continuous fixing system 3 over all the length of the splinting band, for example, when the user partly overlaps the band in the winding.

[0067] In order to effectively treat symptoms such as bad venous and/or lymphatic circulation for example, the splinting band must be applied with a level of tightening that is sufficient, and if possible applied uniformly over all the length of the band. The fixing system 3, by virtue of its two states, makes it possible to avoid inadequate tightening because the hooking surface 20 must be stretched for the hooks 21 to be able to grip the loops 11 and therefore hold the device in place.

[0068] FIG. 3 schematically shows another example of splinting band 2. In this example, the fixing system 3 is configured with a hooking surface 20 arranged at the free end of the band. The rest of the band is composed of loops 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3. This configuration allows the user to fix the band on any loop zone 10. The device is therefore suited to all morphologies and practically all the parts of the body to be treated.

[0069] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4a, loop zones 10 and hooking surfaces 20 are arranged alternately along the band. This configuration makes it possible to multiply the hooking sectors in order to have a better hold without having a surface made only of hooks 21.

[0070] FIGS. 4b and 4c present variant embodiments in which loop zones 10 are arranged in chevron or circular arc form.

[0071] FIGS. 4d and 4e present variant embodiments in which loop zones 10 are arranged over a fraction of the width of the band. In the examples illustrated, the fraction corresponds to half the width. As a variant, different fractions are provided, for example covering between and of the width of the band. These embodiments are advantageous in the case where the band is wound around a limb of the patient, being implemented with a partial overlap from one turn to another.

[0072] In order to reduce the costs and simplify the implementation, the loop zone 10 and the hooking surface 20 can be produced in the same material and/or the same type of fabric.

[0073] As a variant, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the splinting band 2 comprises an active part 6 provided to exert a compression effort once the band is suitably installed. The active part can, as a variant, be produced in the same material as the fixing system 3. This feature makes it possible to have a single-piece production, in order to simplify the manufacture and reduce the cost while having an effective device. The fixing system 3 of the splinting band can also be made of a piece with the active compression part 6, which makes it possible to obtain a product that is simple to design, comfortable and effective.

[0074] Furthermore, this feature makes it possible to have a single part, without connection between the different loop zones 10 and the hooking surfaces 20, which, in an extreme use for example, could embrittle the fixing system 3.

[0075] The splinting force of the bands is measured using a dynamometer. For example, after three 0% to 30% fatigue cycles, the force necessary to elongate the elastic band to 30% is recorded on the last cycle (according to the ITFH method). Based on their splinting force, the bands can be split up into different levels, such as, for example, 20 to 45 cN/cm, 46 to 100 cN/cm, 101 to 160 cN/cm, and greater than 160 cN/cm.

Second Example of Product Using a Fixing System with Loops and Hooks: Splinting/Compression Orthosis

[0076] FIGS. 6a to 8b schematically illustrate exemplary embodiments in which the body compression device 2 is a splinting orthosis. The orthosis comprises a cylindrical central body and lateral tabs, provided to facilitate the fixing to a limb of the body by winding around the latter.

[0077] In all the examples, the figure on the right illustrates a first face 4 and the figure on the left presents the second face 5. In all these examples, the first face 4 is covered with a loop zone 10.

[0078] In the first example (FIG. 6a), the second face 5 comprises a loop zone 10 formed in the central body and hooking surfaces 20, on each side and on the lateral tabs.

[0079] In the second example (FIG. 7a), the second face 5 comprises a free zone formed in the central body and hooking surfaces 20, on each side and on the lateral tabs.

[0080] Finally, the last example (FIG. 8a) provides a plurality of hooking zones 20 distributed over the central body and free surfaces, on each side and on the lateral tabs. Multiple variant embodiments of the orthosis are possible, for example with lateral tabs on only one side or without lateral tab.

[0081] The operation and the implementation of the examples of orthosis illustrated are similar to the splinting bands previously described, except for the fact that the orthoses form a winding over a single turn. As previously described for the splinting bands, the two-state fixing system 3 makes it possible to ensure that the orthoses are applied with a sufficient level of tightening. In case of insufficient tightening or in the absence of tightening, the fixing system remains inoperative and the orthosis cannot be fixed.