Arm suspension sleeve

• US 20040260224A1
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gelzone, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edward C. Leicht, Steve Carlson, William J. Binder
• Inventors: Carlson, Steve, Leicht, Edward C., Binder, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 9/00 Bandages, poultices, compresses specially adapted to veterinary purposes fetlock-joint protecting rings A01K13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0269 Tapes for dressing attachment for stoma bags A61F5/443; for nappies or sanitary towels A61F13/58; wound closure tapes A61B17/085; for surgical drapes A61B46/00; attaching catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/062 Openable readjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/10 specially adapted for fingers, hands, or arms; Finger-stalls; Nail-protectors restraining devices for arms A61F5/37; shoulder bandages A61F13/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/002 dispensers for web or tape like bandages
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/006 Bandage fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00119 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00251 with macroscopic openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00327 to create projections or depressions in surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00565 with hook and loop-type fastener connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00727 means for wound humidity control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00859 with macroscopic openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0104 without articulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/34 Pressure pads filled with air or liquid valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents

Abstract

A multi-layer wrap, for providing more comfortable gel treatment to skin while providing orthopedic support having a first layer of gel for contacting the skin and a second layer of an elastic and supportive loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, the wrap allowing for migration of moisture away from the skin. The wrap can be used as part of a suspension sleeve for use during arm surgery or post-operative recovery. The product is economically manufactured in the form of long rolls or as a sheet and is easily cut to any desired shape.

Claims

1. A suspension sleeve for an arm comprising:

a) a supportive wrap having an outer surface and an inner surface, which wrap comprises a gel layer having a skin contacting surface and an opposite adhesion surface and a supportive carrier layer having an outer surface and an opposite adhesion surface, with the adhesion surfaces bonded together to form the supportive wrap;

b) one or more closure strip(s) of a material suitable for releasably securing the longitudinally folded wrap around the arm; and

c) a suspending means at about the longitudinal mid-point of the wrap for attaching the wrapped arm to a holding structure.

2. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the gel is a silicone gel.

3. The sleeve of claim 2, wherein the silicone gel is a cured diorganosiloxane.

4. The sleeve of claim 2, wherein the gel layer contains surface imperfections.

5. The sleeve of claim 4, wherein the surface imperfections are grooves or perforations.

6. The sleeve of claim 2, wherein the wrap further comprises a moisture wicking material in contact with the gel layer and the supportive carrier layer, which material is incorporated into the carrier layer or is sandwiched between the gel layer and the carrier layer.

7. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the supportive carrier is the stretchable loop portion of a hook and loop fastener.

8. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the closure strips comprise (i) a non-stretchable hook portion of a hook and loop fastener and (ii) a stretchable loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, with the non-stretchable hook portion overlapping and being releasably attached to the stretchable loop portion.

9. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the closure strips comprise (i) the non-stretchable hook portion of a hook and loop fastener, (ii) the stretchable loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, and (iii) the non-stretchable hook portion of a hook and loop fastener, wherein the non-stretchable hook portions are releasably attached to the ends of the stretchable loop portion.

10. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the closure strips comprise (i) the stretchable loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, (ii) the non-stretchable hook portion of a loop fastener, and (iii) the stretchable loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, wherein the stretchable loop portions are releasably attached to the ends of the non-stretchable hook portion.

11. The sleeve of claim 8, 9, or 10, wherein the non-loop surface of the stretchable loop portion is coated with a gel.

12. The sleeve of claim 11, wherein the gel is a silicone gel.

13. The sleeve of claim 12, wherein the silicone gel is a cured diorganosiloxane.

14. The sleeve of claim 7, wherein the suspending means comprises a fastener and a distal pulling strip attachable to the outer surface of the wrap at about the longitudinal middle.

15. The sleeve of claim 14, wherein the suspending means further comprises a fastener and a proximal pulling strip attachable to the outer surface of the wrap near the proximal end of the wrap.

16. The sleeve of claim 14 or 15, wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting a ring, a hook, and a strap.

17. The sleeve of claim 15, wherein the distal and/or proximal pulling strips are the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener.

18. The sleeve of claim 7, wherein the suspending means is a perforation in the wrap or in a perforation in a distal and/or a proximal pulling strip.

19. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the closure strip(s) and/or suspending means are releasably attached to the outer surface of the wrap.

20. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the holding structure is a suspension device or a traction device.

24. The sleeve of claim 1 or 21, for use in suspending the arm during surgery.

25. The sleeve of claim 24, wherein the surgery is arthroscopic shoulder or elbow surgery.

21. A suspension sleeve for an arm comprising:

a) a supportive wrap having an outer carrier surface and an inner gel surface, which wrap comprises a gel layer having a skin contacting surface and an adhesion surface opposite the skin contacting surface and a supportive carrier layer which is the stretchable loop portion of a hook and loop fastener which carrier layer has a loop outer surface and an opposite adhesion surface, the adhesion surfaces being bonded together to form the supportive wrap;

b) one or more closure strips of a material suitable for securing the longitudinally folded wrap around the arm,

c) a non-stretchable or stretchable distal pulling strip releasably attachable at about the longitudinal mid-point of the outer surface of the wrap, which distal pulling strip is the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener; and

d) a D-ring attached to about the mid-point of the distal pulling strip for suspending the wrapped arm from a suspension structure or a traction structure.

22. The sleeve of claim 21, wherein the closure strip(s) are releasably attached to the outer surface of the wrap.

23. The sleeve of claim 22, wherein the closure strips comprise (i) the non-stretchable hook portion of a hook and loop fastener and (ii) the stretchable loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, with the non-stretchable hook portion overlapping and releasably attached to the stretchable loop portion.

26. A method for suspending an arm in a supportive wrap having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is a gel layer having a skin contacting surface and an opposite adhesion surface and wherein the outer surface is a supportive carrier layer having an outer surface and an opposite adhesion surface, with the adhesion surfaces bonded together to form the supportive wrap, which method comprises the steps of:

a) placing the arm longitudinally on the gel surface of the wrap with the hand resting in about the longitudinal middle of the wrap;

b) folding the wrap longitudinally to cover part of the arm;

c) wrapping one or more strips transversally around the folded wrap to secure the wrap around the arm; and

d) suspending the wrapped arm from a holding structure by a suspending means located at about the longitudinal middle of the wrap, which suspending means is attached to the outer surface of the supportive wrap or is part of the supportive wrap.

27. The method of claim 26, for use during arm surgery.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the arm surgery is arthroscopic shoulder or elbow surgery.