Abstract
A device (10) for externally applying a local compressive force below the costal arch (R) of a patient for reducing the stomach volume, comprising—an elastic belt (10) that is placeable, under tensile stress, around the upper body of a patient in the area of the costal arch (R), and—a pressure body (24) that is attachable to the elastic belt (12) and designed in such a way that the pressure body exerts a compressive force on the stomach inside the patient according to the tensile stress of the elastic belt (12), wherein the geometry of the pressure body (24) is adapted to the anatomy of the human costal arch and fits snugly therein.
Claims
1. A device for externally applying a local compressive force below a costal arch of a patient for reducing a volume of a stomach, comprising: an elastic belt that is placeable, under tensile stress, around an upper body of a patient in an area of the costal arch, and a pressure body that is attachable to the elastic belt and designed in such a way that the pressure body exerts a compressive force on the stomach inside the patient according to the tensile stress of the elastic belt, wherein a geometry of the pressure body designed in a shape of a rounded triangle such that it is adapted to an anatomy of the costal arch and fits snugly therein; wherein the pressure body is designed with an elevation area having an inverted V shape, and having its greatest material thickness proximate a vertex of the V.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic belt is closed or designed in a form of an at least partially elastic band, which in an area of its ends may be joined together via a connector to adjust its effective length around an upper body of the patient.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the connector is designed in a form of a hook and loop fastener.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure body is designed in a form of a flat, flexible pressure body.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein a surface of the pressure body contacting the patient is provided with protruding knobs.
6. The device according to claim 4, wherein a fastener is provided on a rear side of the pressure body.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a pressure pad is provided between the pressure body and an inner side of the elastic belt intended to contact the patient.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the pressure pad is made of a dimensionally stable, preferably elastic, material, preferably rubber, plastic, or silicone.
9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the pressure pad has a convex shape at least on one side, wherein the pressure pad has a rectangular, rounded rectangular, elliptical, or oval cross section.
10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the pressure pad has a fastener on its side facing the elastic belt and on its side facing the pressure body.
11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the pressure body is covered with a looped material, the looped material being formed directly on the pressure body or designed as a replaceable fabric pocket that accommodates the pressure body.
12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the elastic belt is attachable in an area in which the pressure body is reinforced by a reinforcement element, wherein the reinforcement element is dimensionally stable.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein an area in which the pressure body is attachable, is situated in a middle section or in an end area of the elastic belt.
14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the elastic belt has a retaining pocket for accommodating the reinforcement element.
15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the reinforcement element is formed by a curved, arch-shaped reinforcement strip comprising two end areas and a middle area, wherein the two end areas protrude with respect to the middle area, the reinforcement element being accommodated in the elastic belt or mounted thereon in such a way that the two end areas protrude in a direction of contact with the patient.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcement element has a rounded vertex area that is situated off-center, the reinforcement element in its vertex area having an opening angle of 170° to 120°.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the reinforcement element is selectively providable in a convex or concave arrangement relative to the pressure body, or selectively providable with its vertex area near or far from a maximum material thickness of the pressure body.
18. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor for detecting patient parameters, is provided in the elastic belt in an area that is in contact with skin of the patient, in particular in the pressure body, wherein the sensor is coupleable to a data transmission terminal via a cabled or cable-free connection, for example via IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or a mobile radio connection.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Various embodiments of the invention are explained below by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, which show the following:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a device according to the invention, according to a first embodiment;
(3) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged front view of the triangular pressure body according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the triangular pressure body with an elliptical pressure pad according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(5) FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the triangular pressure body according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(6) FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the pressure pad according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(7) FIG. 6 shows a front view of the pressure pad according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(8) FIGS. 7a-7c show various top views of the pressure pad for explaining different geometries of pressure pads according to various embodiments of the invention;
(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a curved reinforcement element according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(10) FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
(11) FIG. 10 shows a schematic illustration of a patient to which a device according to the present invention is attached for treatment;
(12) FIG. 11 shows an alternative configuration of a reinforcement element according to a further embodiment of the invention;
(13) FIG. 12 shows an alternative configuration of a pressure body according to a further embodiment of the invention; and
(14) FIGS. 13a-13e show various possible combinations of the pressure body according to FIG. 12 with the reinforcement element according to FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(15) FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a device according to the present invention, denoted overall by reference numeral 10. The device 10 includes a belt 12 made of an elastic material that is elastically stretchable along its longitudinal direction according to the arrow E. On one end 14 the belt 12 has a flat hook and loop fastener panel 16 that is provided with hooks. On its other end 18 the belt 12 has a flat hook and loop fastener panel 20 that is designed as loops, and for closing the belt 12 around the upper body of a patient, the hooks of the panel 16 may be engaged with the loops of the panel 20 with variable tightness in order to provide a secure hold even under elastic tensile stress.
(16) In its middle area, the belt 12 has a pressure body 24, designed in the shape of a triangle with rounded corners, on its inner side 22. The pressure body 24 is illustrated in a front view in FIG. 2, in a top view in FIG. 3, and in a rear view in FIG. 4. The pressure body 24 is manufactured from a dimensionally stable but deformable rubber material, and at least on its front side 26 is covered with a hygienic cover material that is easy to clean. In addition, the pressure body 24 on its front side 26 has a series of rounded, knoblike projections 28 that are in particular arranged in uniform patterns on each side of an imaginary center axis A. No such projections 28 are provided in the area around the center axis A, since the major portion of the compressive force is exerted at that location.
(17) As shown in FIG. 4, a strip 32 made of a material with hooks is firmly attached to the rear side 30 of the pressure body 24 in the area of its center axis A.
(18) In addition, it is apparent in FIG. 3 that a pressure pad 34 is provided on the rear side 30 of the pressure body 24. Reference is made to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7a through 7c for explanation of the pressure pad. FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the pressure pad 34, while FIG. 6 shows a front view of the pressure pad 34. FIGS. 7a through 7c show various geometries of the pressure pad in the top view. The pressure pad 34 is designed as a dimensionally stable, relatively hard elongated silicone body with rounded corners and flattened edge areas. On its front side (FIG. 6) the pressure pad has an area 36 that is provided with loops and that has the approximate dimensions of the area 32 of the pressure body. For attaching the pressure body 24 to the pressure pad 34, the areas 32 and 36 are engaged with one another as a hook and loop fastener. On its rear side, the pressure pad 34 according to FIG. 5 once again has a hook and loop fastener panel 38 that is provided with hooks.
(19) FIGS. 7a through 7c show various possible geometries of the pressure pad. In FIG. 7b, the pressure pad 34a in the top view has an elliptical shape, with the two hook and loop fastener panels 36 and 38 situated on the front side and on the rear side. In the embodiment according to FIG. 7b, the pressure pad 34b has a rounded rectangular shape or an oval shape, with the two hook and loop fastener panels 36 and 38 once again situated on the front side and on the rear side. In the embodiment according to FIG. 7c, the pressure pad 34c has a highly convexly curved shape with the hook and loop fastener panel 38, whereas on its rear side with the hook and loop fastener panel 36 the pressure pad has a flat shape. The hook and loop fastener panel 38 is provided in order for the pressure pad to be fixed to a corresponding hook and loop fastener panel with loops on the inner side 22 of the belt 12, or fixed directly to the inner side 22 of the belt 12 without involvement of a further hook and loop fastener panel.
(20) It is understood that in the subject matter of the present invention, the pressure pad may also have other geometries, regardless of the particular exemplary embodiment. For example, the pressure pad may be shorter, more bulging, or curved more convexly or less convexly, flattened or more curved toward the patient, flattened or more curved toward the rear side, i.e., toward the belt, or more bulging, circular, elliptical, or triangular in the front and rear views.
(21) FIG. 8 shows a reinforcement element 40. This reinforcement element 40 is provided for mounting in a retaining pocket 42 on the belt 12 (see FIG. 1). The reinforcement element 40 is manufactured from a dimensionally stable material, for example a metal or a hard plastic material such as a thermoplastic material. The retaining pocket 42 is mounted either on the inner side 22 of the belt 12 or on the outer side 44 of the belt 12. In FIG. 1 the retaining pocket is merely indicated by dashed lines, since in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 it is mounted on the outer side 44. The reinforcement element 40 is curved at an angle of approximately 15°. The angle may be selected to be larger or smaller as needed. Due to the curvature, a vertex 46 is formed in the center area of the reinforcement element 40, approximately in the middle area of the belt 12. The orientation of the reinforcement element 40 is provided in such a way that in its end areas 48, 50 it is curved toward the patient, with the vertex 46 pointing away from the patient. Due to this arrangement, the belt may be stabilized via the reinforcement element 40 in the area of the pressure pad 34 in order to better exert pressure on the stomach area of the patient via the pressure pad 34 and ultimately, the pressure body 24.
(22) FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the invention which is essentially the same as the first embodiment, but which differs from the subject matter of the first embodiment in the following aspects: The pressure body 24, the pressure pad 34, the retaining pocket 42, and the reinforcement element 40 are situated near the end 18 of the belt 12. The other end 14 has two tabs 52 and 54 that are separated from one another by a slot 56. These tabs 52, 54 have a hook and loop fastener panel 58, 60, respectively, with hooks.
(23) For illustrating the use of the device according to the present invention, FIG. 10 shows a patient P in a schematic illustration, with the organs of the digestive tract being schematically shown in detail. In particular, the illustration of the stomach M is apparent, which is shown in the patient in a slightly enlarged depiction. For reducing the stomach volume, the belt 12 according to the present invention is placed on the patient, and a compressive force is exerted below the costal arch R via the pressure body 24 and the pressure pad 36 in order to reduce the volume that is available for the stomach M. In this way, the patient's feeling of hunger may be effectively reduced on a sustained basis, and excess weight may be effectively controlled.
(24) FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of a reinforcement element 140, with the vertex 146 situated in an area at the boundary between the first third and the second third of the total length of the reinforcement element. The opening angle is within a range of 150°.
(25) FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of a further pressure body 124. This pressure body is manufactured, for example, from a dimensionally stable rubber material and has a triangular geometry that corresponds to the contour of the human costal arch. The pressure body 124 is coated with a looped material. The contour line 162 may be understood as an elevation line, and in a manner of speaking forms a ridge of a V-shaped elevation that achieves the maximum elevation at its vertex point 164. In addition, a second contour line 166 shows the area of a greatly reduced material thickness of the pressure body 124 below the contour line 162.
(26) A sensor 168 that is used for collecting patient data, for example the pulse and/or heart rate and/or blood pressure and/or blood sugar and/or respiratory rate and/or body temperature and/or fat percentage and/or water percentage and/or muscle percentage and/or body mass index or the like, is provided at the vertex point 164. This sensor 168 is coupleable via a cable-free interface to a user terminal, for example a smart phone, for data transmission.
(27) It is also apparent that the reinforcement element 140 is indicated in FIG. 12.
(28) FIG. 13a shows a cross section of the pressure body 124 along the section line A-A. The solid design made from a deformable foam or rubber material is apparent, which has sufficient dimensional stability to exert pressure on the stomach area of a patient. The area 164 of maximum elevation and the sensor 168 are also apparent. The pressure body 124 is shown without a reinforcement element in the illustration according to FIG. 13a.
(29) FIGS. 13b through 13e show various options for arranging the reinforcement element 140 on the pressure body 124.
(30) In the arrangement according to FIG. 13b, the reinforcement element 140 is situated with its vertex area 146 in such a way that the vertex 146 presses convexly into the reinforcement element 140 in the area of the maximum elevation 164, and thus provides maximum support to the pressure body 124 for application of compressive force to the stomach area of the patient.
(31) In the arrangement according to FIG. 13c, the reinforcement element 140 is situated with its vertex area 146 in such a way that the vertex 146 lies at approximately the level of the maximum elevation 164 of the pressure body 124 but has a concave arrangement on the pressure body. As a result, the material of the pressure body 124 can yield, in a manner of speaking, in the concave vertex area 146. The application of compressive force to the stomach area of a patient is therefore much less than in the arrangement according to FIG. 13b.
(32) In the arrangement according to FIG. 13c, the reinforcement element 140 is once again provided in a convex arrangement on the pressure body 124, but the vertex area 146 is situated considerably below the area of the maximum elevation 164. As a result, the application of compressive force to the stomach area of the patient is less than for the state according to FIG. 13d.
(33) In the arrangement according to FIG. 13e, the reinforcement element 140 is rotated by 180° with respect to the state in FIG. 13d, once again resulting in a concave arrangement of the vertex area 146. The application of compressive force to the stomach area of the patient is thus further reduced due to the fact that material of the pressure body 124 can yield in the vertex area 146.
(34) As a whole, the different options for arranging the pressure body 124 and the reinforcement element 140 result in various variation options for setting the compressive force that is exerted on the stomach area of the patient. Thus, for example, within the scope of one treatment, by changing the arrangement of the reinforcement element 140, initially less, and subsequently more, pressure may be exerted on the stomach area in order to control the course of treatment, for example with a gentle start of treatment, using a small compressive force on the stomach area, followed by a stepwise increase in the application of compressive force.
