Therapeutic medical compression garment and method

Abstract

A therapeutic medical garment including a knitted welt proximate one end thereof with a surface adapted for residing against the wearer's skin. The garment includes a ground yarn and a plurality of raised, skin-engaging stabilizer elements, such as elongate bars extending in spaced-apart relation around an inner surface of the welt and along a longitudinal axis of the garment to reduce a tendency of the welt to roll over on itself.

Claims

1. A therapeutic medical garment having a graduated pressure profile along its length, and comprising: (a) a knitted body; (b) a welt having a separate outer surface and an inner surface joined at and defining an upper end of the garment, including a ground yarn and a plurality of stabilizer elements extending in spaced-apart relation around the welt and along a longitudinal axis of the garment to reduce a tendency for the welt to roll onto itself; and (c) an anti-slip portion formed intermediate the body and the welt and having a textured inner surface adapted for residing in a non-slip condition against a wearer's skin to increase anti-slip properties of the garment, wherein the garment comprises a circular-knitted stocking for being worn on a leg, and the welt comprises a plurality of knitting revolutions, wherein the stabilizer elements comprise a knitted structure extending substantially longitudinally along a length of the welt on an inner surface thereof, and formed from: (a) a first feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles with a plurality of spaced-apart stabilizer bar yarns patterned into the welt around a circumference of the welt; (b) a second feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles with a plurality of spaced-apart float yarns patterned into the welt to provide additional bulk to the stabilizer elements; (c) a third feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles with a plurality of spaced-apart stabilizer bar yarns patterned into the welt around the circumference of the welt; and (d) a fourth feed comprising an inlaid 1×1 rib knitted at tuck height.

2. The therapeutic garment according to claim 1, wherein the knitted body, anti-slip portion and welt are integrally-formed.

3. The therapeutic garment according to claim 1, wherein the welt has at least four stabilizer elements.

4. The therapeutic garment according to claim 1, wherein the inner welt surface and the outer welt surface include ground yarns formed of covered elastomeric yarns.

5. The therapeutic garment according to claim 1, wherein the ground yarns of the welt comprise a jersey knit structure.

6. A therapeutic medical garment according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the welt includes in a plurality of knitting revolutions forming the circular-knitted welt formed from: (a) a first feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles around a circumference of the welt; (b) a second feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles around the circumference of the welt; (c) a third feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles around the circumference of the welt; and (d) a fourth feed comprising an inlaid 1×1 rib at tuck height around the circumference of the welt.

7. The therapeutic medical garment according to claim 6, wherein the garment is a stocking, and the welt comprises between 40 and 50 knitting revolutions.

8. A therapeutic medical garment having a graduated pressure profile along its length, and comprising a knitted welt proximate one end thereof with a surface adapted for residing against the wearer's skin constructed of a ground yarn and a plurality of raised, skin-engaging stabilizer elements extending in spaced-apart relation around an inner surface of the welt to reduce a tendency of the welt to roll on itself, wherein the garment comprises a circular-knitted stocking for being worn on a leg, the stabilizer elements comprise a knitted structure extending substantially longitudinally along a length of the welt on an inner surface thereof, and include in a plurality of knitting revolutions forming the circular-knitted welt formed from: (a) a first feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles with a plurality of spaced-apart stabilizer bar yarns patterned into the welt around a circumference of the welt; (b) a second feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles with a plurality of spaced-apart float yarns patterned into the welt to provide additional bulk to the stabilizer elements; (c) a third feed comprising a jersey knit on all needles with a plurality of spaced-apart stabilizer bar yarns patterned into the welt around the circumference of the welt; and (d) a fourth feed comprising an inlaid 1×1 rib knitted at tuck height.

9. A therapeutic medical garment having a graduated pressure profile along its length, and comprising a knitted garment having: (a) a knitted welt proximate one end of the garment with an inwardly facing layer having a surface adapted for residing against a wearer's skin and including a ground yarn and a plurality of raised, skin-engaging stabilizer elements positioned on and extending in spaced-apart relation around an inwardly facing surface of the welt; (b) an outwardly facing layer; and (c) either the outwardly facing layer or the inwardly facing layer being configured so that in a use condition on a limb of a wearer a modulus of elasticity parallel to a longitudinal axis of the inwardly facing layer is greater than a modulus of elasticity parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outwardly facing layer, whereby a resistance of the selected outwardly or inwardly facing layer against a lengthening stress parallel to the longitudinal axis is increased such that if the welt begins to roll back on itself, the outwardly or inwardly facing layer will lengthen, and the resistance against a lengthening increases, the welt becomes more stable and is prevented from deflecting outwardly and rolling over itself.

10. The therapeutic medical garment according to claim 9, wherein the inwardly facing layer and the outwardly facing layer of the welt define a first annular connection at a top end of the garment, a second annular connection on the garment at a longitudinally spaced-apart location from the first annular connection, and a length of the inwardly facing layer and the outwardly facing layer between the first and second annular connections are separate from each other and define the longitudinal extent of the welt.

11. The therapeutic medical garment according to claim 9, wherein in a use condition on a limb of a wearer the stabilizer elements are prestressed such that they apply a force that tends to contract the inwardly facing layer parallel to the longitudinal axis but does not exert a force on the outwardly facing layer, thereby creating a tendency of the welt to deflect inwardly in opposition to a tendency of the welt to roll outwardly over itself.

12. The therapeutic medical garment according to claim 9, wherein the stabilizer elements are integrally formed with the inwardly facing layer of the welt.

13. The therapeutic medical garment according to claim 9, wherein the garment comprises a stocking.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) The present invention is best understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical garment in the form of a compression hosiery product according to one embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a medical garment in the form of a compression hosiery product according to another embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the hosiery product shown in FIG. 2 showing the stabilizer elements according to one embodiment of the invention extending along a longitudinal dimension of the hosiery product;

(5) FIG. 4 is a photomicrograph of a section of the inner welt of a hosiery garment according to one embodiment of the invention, and showing one of the stabilizer elements;

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a hosiery product according to the present invention, showing stabilizer elements formed as separate elements and attached to the welt as, for example, by an adhesive or by sewing; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of yet another alternative embodiment of a hosiery product according to the present invention, showing stabilizer elements that have an angle of extension with a component extending longitudinally along the length of the garment and a component extending radially around at least a portion of a circumference of the garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(8) Referring now specifically to the drawings, a therapeutic medical compression garment in the form of a compression stocking is shown broadly at reference numeral 10. While, as noted above, the invention is described in this application for purposes of illustration as a compression stocking, the invention also includes any garments, such as stockings, sleeves, socks, hose, panty-type hose and the like that when worn assist in the management of venous or lymphatic disorders and/or thrombosis in the limb of a wearer.

(9) Stocking 10 according to the particular embodiment of FIG. 1 has a body portion 12, an anti-slip portion 14 formed as part of the stocking's body fabric located toward the upper end of the stocking 10, and a welt 16 at the top end of the stocking 10.

(10) The body 12 of the stocking 10 is preferably circular knit in a manner known to those skilled in the art, for example, utilizing jersey stitches. The stretchable textured yarn is knit in jersey courses. The stocking 10 may be knitted on any conventional knitting machine, such as a Santoni Pendolina medical knitting machine or a Lonati La-ME medical knitting machine.

(11) The anti-slip portion 14 of the stocking 10 is optionally knitted into the stocking 10 to provide a raised surface texture, and a preferred embodiment of the yarn construction and knit construction for two frequently used knitting machines is set out below:

Yarn Construction: “Santoni Pendolina Medical Knitting Machine”

(12) 1st Feed: 1/70/34 Stretch Nylon (S Twist)

(13) 2nd Feed: Roica C-701-420 denier Spandex

(14) 3rd Feed: 1/100/34 Stretch Nylon (Z Twist)

(15) 4th Feed: Roica C-701-117 denier Spandex

Yarn Construction: “Lonati LA-ME Medical Knitting Machine”

(16) 1st Feed: Roica C-701-420 denier Spandex

(17) 2nd Feed: 1/100/34 Stretch Nylon (Z Twist)

(18) 3rd Feed: Roica C-701-117 denier Spandex

(19) 4th Feed: 1/70/34 Stretch Nylon (S Twist)

Knit Construction: “Santoni Pendolina Medical Knitting Machine”

(20) 1st Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(21) 2nd Feed: 2×2 Alternating mesh pattern (for inlay purposes)

(22) 3rd Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(23) 4th Feed: 2×2 Alternating mesh pattern (for inlay purposes)

Knit Construction: “Lonati LA-ME Medical Knitting Machine”

(24) 1st Feed: 2×2 Alternating mesh pattern (for inlay purposes)

(25) 2nd Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(26) 3rd Feed: 2×2 Alternating mesh pattern (for inlay purposes)

(27) 4th Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(28) The welt 16 includes a separate outer surface 16A and an inner surface 16B joined at and defining an upper end 18 of the stocking 10, including a ground yarn and a plurality of integrally-knitted, raised, skin-engaging stabilizer elements 20 preferably formed of an elastomeric yarn preferably covered with a multi-filament synthetic yarn. The stabilizer elements 20, which may in some embodiments resemble elongate “bars”, extend in spaced-apart relation around the welt 16 and along a longitudinal axis of the stocking 10 to reduce a tendency for the welt 16 to roll outwardly away from the limb and onto itself. In this and in the embodiments described below, the term “stabilizer elements” is intended to convey that there are structures, either integrally-formed or separately applied, that extend away from the surrounding stocking fabric to engage the body part to which it is applied. The body part and the structure of the stabilizing elements together reduce the a tendency for the welt 16 to roll outwardly away from the limb and onto itself.

(29) Note that because the stocking 10 has a tubular shape, it defines an axis along which it extends. Therefore, the term “longitudinal axis” does not mean that the longitudinal axis is necessarily straight or linear but may also be curved in a manner that facilitates conformation to the limb on which it is worn.

(30) The stabilizer elements 20 shown in the application have an elongate orientation that extend along the longitudinal axis of the stocking 10. However, stabilizer elements according to other constructions may have different orientations, including forming shapes such as chevrons, X-shaped configurations having both longitudinal and radial angular components, as well as singularly-extending elements, either elongate or non-elongate, with both longitudinal and radial angular components that define a generally diagonal direction.

Inner Welt-Yarn Construction: “Santoni Pendolina Medical Knitting Machine”

(31) 1st Feed: 1/70/34 Stretch Nylon (S Twist)

(32) (Stabilizer Elements) 140 denier Spandex double covered with 1/15/5 nylon

(33) 2nd Feed: 20 denier spandex double covered with 1/40/34 nylon

(34) 3rd Feed: 20 denier spandex double covered with 1/40/34 nylon

(35) (Stabilizer Elements) 140 denier Spandex double covered with 1/15/5 nylon

(36) 4th Feed: Roica C-701-117 denier Spandex

(37) Inner Welt-Yarn Construction: “Lonati LA-ME Medical Knitting Machine”

(38) 1st Feed: 20 denier spandex double covered with 1/40/34 nylon

(39) (Stabilize Elements) 140 denier Spandex double covered with 1/15/5 nylon

(40) 2nd Feed: 20 denier spandex double covered with 1/40/34 nylon

(41) 3rd Feed: Roica C-701-117 denier Spandex

(42) 4th Feed: 1/70/34 Stretch Nylon (S Twist)

(43) (Stabilizer Elements) 140 denier Spandex double covered with 1/15/5 nylon

Outer Welt-Yarn Construction: “Santoni Pendolina Medical Knitting Machine”

(44) 1st Feed: 1/70/34 Stretch Nylon (S Twist)

(45) 2nd Feed: 20 denier spandex double covered with 1/40/34 nylon

(46) 3rd Feed: 20 denier spandex double covered with 1/40/34 nylon

(47) 4th Feed: Roica C-701-117 denier Spandex

Outer Welt-Yarn Construction: “Lonati LA-ME Medical Knitting Machine”

(48) 1st Feed: 20 denier spandex double covered with 1/40/34 nylon

(49) 2nd Feed: 20 denier spandex double covered with 1/40/34 nylon

(50) 3rd Feed: Roica C-701-117 denier Spandex

(51) 4th Feed: 1/70/34 Stretch Nylon (S Twist)

Inner Welt-Knit Construction: “Santoni Pendolina Medical Knitting Machine”

(52) 1st Feed: Jersey knit on all needles with five (5) “6 needle wide Stabilizer Elements patterns” being patterned into the garment.

(53) 2nd Feed: Jersey knit on all needles except for five (5) “6 needle wide FLOAT patterns” being patterned into the garment to add additional bulk to the “Stabilizer Elements”.

(54) 3rd Feed: Jersey knit on all needles with five (5) “6 needle wide Stabilizer Elements pattern” being patterned into the garment

(55) 4th Feed: 1×1 rib at tuck height (for inlay purposes)

Inner Welt-Knit Construction: “Lonati LA-ME Medical Knitting Machine”

(56) 1st Feed: Jersey knit on all needles except for five (5) “6 needle wide FLOAT patterns” being patterned into the garment to add additional bulk to the “Stabilizer Elements”.

(57) 2nd Feed: Jersey knit on all needles with five (5) “6 needle wide Stabilizer Elements patterns” being patterned into the garment.

(58) 3rd Feed: 1×1 rib at tuck height (for inlay purposes)

(59) 4th Feed: Jersey knit on all needles with five (5) “6 needle wide Stabilizer Elements patterns” being patterned into the garment.

Outer Welt-Knit Construction: “Santoni Pendolina Medical Knitting Machine”

(60) 1st Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(61) 2nd Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(62) 3rd Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(63) 4th Feed: 1×1 rib at tuck height (for inlay purposes)

Outer Welt-Knit Construction: “Lonati LA-ME Medical Knitting Machine”

(64) 1st Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(65) 2nd Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(66) 3rd Feed: 1×1 rib at tuck height (for inlay purposes)

(67) 4th Feed: Jersey knit on all needles

(68) By way of example, the elastomeric yarns knit at pattern height on feeds 1 and 3. These elastomeric yarns are introduced separately during knitting over 6 needles and then cut. When relaxed, these yarns recoil into a relaxed state causing the stitches formed by the ground yarns to bunch together and form the “stabilizing elements”, which have the general shape of an elongate “bar.”

(69) Referring now to FIG. 2, another garment according to the invention is shown as a stocking 30, and includes a body portion 32, and a welt 34 at the top end of the stocking 30. The knit and yarn constructions set out above may be utilized with the stocking 30, as well.

(70) The welt 34 includes a separate outer surface 34A and an inner surface 34B joined at and defining an upper end 36 of the stocking 30. The welt 34 includes a ground yarn and a plurality of integrally-knitted, raised, skin-engaging stabilizer elements 40 preferably formed of an elastomeric yarn covered with a multi-filament synthetic yarn extending in spaced-apart relation around the welt 34 and along a longitudinal axis of the garment 30 to reduce a tendency for the welt 34 to roll outwardly and onto itself. The yarn construction and the knitting construction for the welt 34 is preferably the same as for the welt 16, set out above.

(71) The stabilizer elements 20 and 40 of the stockings 10 and 30 have a distinct thickness that causes them to extend inwardly towards the limb above the level of the adjacent ground yarns to engage the skin of the wearer, but which are nevertheless soft enough not to bite into the skin. The welt 34 and stabilizer elements 40 are shown by way of example in FIG. 3.

(72) A microphotograph of the welt 16 showing a stabilizer bar 20 is shown in FIG. 4.

(73) As is shown in FIG. 5, another garment according to the invention is shown as a stocking 50, and includes a body portion 52, and a welt 54 at the top end of the stocking 50. The knit and yarn constructions set out above may be utilized with the stocking 50, as well.

(74) The welt 54 includes a separate outer surface 54A and an inner surface 54B joined at and defining an upper end 56 of the stocking 50. The welt 54 includes a ground yarn and a plurality of integrally-knitted, raised, skin-engaging stabilizer elements 60 preferably formed of an elastomeric yarn covered with a multi-filament synthetic yarn extending in spaced-apart relation around the welt 54 and along a longitudinal axis of the garment 50 to reduce a tendency for the welt 54 to roll outwardly and onto itself. The yarn construction and the knitting construction for the welt 54 is preferably the same as for the welt 16, set out above.

(75) As shown in FIG. 5, the raised stabilizer elements 60 may be formed by other methods, for example, by utilizing a melt yarn in a separately-formed stabilizer bar 60 by fusing or welding the stabilizer bar 60 in the desired position on the inner surface of the welt 54, by applying the stabilizer elements 60 to the welt 54 as appliqués, by gluing the stabilizer elements 60 onto the welt 54, or by sewing the stabilizer elements 60 with stitches, such as straight, zig-zag or overedge seaming stitches, onto the welt 54.

(76) Referring now to FIG. 6, a stocking 70 according to another embodiment of the invention and includes a body portion 72, and a welt 74 at the top end of the stocking 70. The knit and yarn constructions set out above may be utilized with the stocking 70, as well.

(77) The welt 74 includes a separate outer surface 74A and an inner surface 74B joined at and defining an upper end 76 of the stocking 70. The welt 74 includes a ground yarn and a plurality of integrally-knitted, raised, skin-engaging stabilizer elements 80 preferably formed of an elastomeric yarn covered with a multi-filament synthetic yarn extending in spaced-apart relation around the welt 74 and along a longitudinal axis of the garment 70 to reduce a tendency for the welt 74 to roll outwardly and onto itself. The yarn construction and the knitting construction for the welt 54 is preferably the same as for the welt 16, set out above.

(78) The stabilizer elements 70 have an angle of extension that has a component that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stocking 70 and a component that extends radially around at least a part of a circumference of the stocking 70 to form a diagonal array of stabilizer elements 70.

(79) In the embodiments illustrated and described above, the garments are preferably constructed with a graduated pressure profile in order to effect a predetermined compression of the leg sufficient to force blood upwardly out of the extremities and into circulation throughout the body. External circumferential counter pressure maintains the venous and lymphatic pressures at a more normal level in the extremity, thus assisting the movement of venous blood and lymph from the extremity. This feature is known in the art, as exemplified in the prior art references described above. However, garments of the general type described in this application can be constructed according to embodiments of the invention without the graduated compression feature.

(80) A therapeutic medical garment and a method of constructing a therapeutic medical garment according to the invention have been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.