Short Stretch Therapeutic Compression Device for the Extremity

• US 20110087145A1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farrow Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Farrow Medical Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Farrow, Wade P., Creighton, Barry L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0118 for the arms, hands or fingers

Abstract

A compression device to be wrapped around the distal extremity of a patient for use in moderate to severe swelling/lymphedema. The device includes a flexible planar compression material of preferably short-stretch compression material. Fasteners are attached to the first and second band portions. The compression material in preferred embodiment contains short-stretch compression material with 20%-60% stretch. The device is designed such that it may be used to augment compression to the hand when used in conjunction with compression to the fingers and arm. Device is designed to be applied easier with one hand. Hybrid compression device incorporates planar compression material and glove concepts into a novel new invention, designed to maximize manual dexterity, comfort, and range of motion while providing a very high level of compression to the dorsal and palmar hand. Device is intended for clinic, home, or hospital use for significant swelling of the hand or foot for medical conditions such as lymphedema and severe edemas. Device may also have benefit burn or postoperative patients or patients with swelling and wounds to the foot or hand, where clam-shell type hybrid compression gauntlet/glove design makes donning and doffing of garment easier for fragile tissues to the dorsal and plantar hand areas, or dorsal/plantar foot areas.

Claims

1. A compression device for application to the wrist and hand of a patient, the device comprising:

a) a formable laminate of compression material adapted to wrap around the hand and wrist portions of a patient, the laminate comprising;

a formable sheet of short-stretch or nonelastic compression material,

a contoured section to fit the thenar eminence and wrist,

a first band-like appendage disposed to wrap around the distal portion of the device,

a second band-like appendage disposed to wrap around the proximal portion of the device; and

b) first and second fasteners respectively attached to the first and second band-like sections.

2. The compression device of claim 1, further comprising a polygonal band arranged to apply consistent compression throughout the normal range of motion of the wrist and resist buckling of the compression material.

3. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the formable laminate of compression material includes a cut-out shaped to receive a patient'"'"'s thumb and the material is configured to wrap about a patient'"'"'s hand and permit the thumb to protrude from the compression material.

4. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the first and the second band-like appendages and the contoured section are all formed of a single, integral laminate.

5. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the first and the second band-like structures extend laterally to the distal and proximal portions of the device.

6. The compression device of claim 1, wherein one of the distal band-like appendages extends substantially laterally and the other of the distal band-like appendages extends substantially obliquely to the lateral direction.

7. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the fits and second bands define a gap therebetween sized to receive a thumb of a patient being treated.

8. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the width of the band-like appendages as measured in a direction transverse to a direction of the appendages is greater for the second band-like appendage than the first band-like appendage.

9. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the second band-like appendage has a first portion extending in a first lateral direction and a second portion extending in a direction oblique from the first lateral direction.

10. The compression device of claim 1, further comprising a partial glove having glove finger portions and interwebbing between each finger portion.

11. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the formable laminate of compression material includes loop material on both sides, the loop material being arranged to cooperate with a hook material to secure the compression device about a patient'"'"'s hand.

12. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the formable laminate comprises portions formed into finger portions for receiving finger portions of a patient'"'"'s hand.

13. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the formable laminate further comprises a plurality of bands arranged to conform the laminate about a foot.

14. The compression device of claim 1, wherein the second band-like appendage is directed at an angle to provide a desired vector summation of forces for desired therapeutic compression throughout a range of motion of a patient'"'"'s wrist.

15. The compression device of claim 1, further comprising a padding layer on the underside of the dorsal hand compression material.

16. The compression device of claim 15, wherein the padding layer comprises spacer fabric.

17. The compression device of claim 15, wherein the padding layer is selectively removable from the compression device.

18. The compression device of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of padding layers having differing compression characteristics, the padding layers being interchangeable within the garment to provide a desired level of compression support.

19. A hybrid compression device to apply compression to the fingers, hand, and wrist area, the device comprising:

a formable laminate comprising a sheet of nonelastic or short-stretch elastic compression material; and

a four way stretch compression fabric glove.

20. The hybrid compression device of claim 19, wherein the formable laminate of compression material includes a cut-out shaped to receive a patient'"'"'s thumb and the material is configured to wrap about a patient'"'"'s hand and permit the thumb to protrude from the compression material.