Multilayer compression stocking system and method

• US 6,613,007 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carolon Company
• Original Assignee: Carolon Company
• Inventors: Reid, Lawrence G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pothier, Denise M.
• Application Number:
  US09/602,366
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 602/5, 602/60-63, 602/74-77, 128/882, 223/9-2-2, 661/78.R, 661/83, 661/84
• US Class Current: 602/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/08 Elastic stockings; for contracting aneurisms

Abstract

A multilayer compression stocking or bandage system comprises a plurality of layers, including an underlayer and at least one overlayer, each of which may have predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations. In one aspect, the underlayer has one or more alignment markings, each positioned at a different location on the underlayer to assist in aligning discrete locations of compressive pressure on the lower extremities. In another aspect, each of the layers has one or more alignment markings, each alignment marking positioned at a different location on the respective layer, and each alignment marking on a layer corresponds to a different one of the alignment markings on each other layer. When alignment markings on each layer are aligned with corresponding markings on each other layer, discrete locations of specific amounts of compressive pressure on each layer can be properly aligned, resulting in accurate higher pressures at particular anatomical locations and proper pressure gradations along the length of the leg.

Claims

1. A multilayer compression stocking system for use on a person'"'"'s lower extremities, comprising:

a plurality of layers including an underlayer and at least one overlayer;

the underlayer having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations on the underlayer and having at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer corresponding to a different anatomical location on the lower extremities;

each of the underlayer and the at least one overlayer further comprising a length with pressure graduations along the length, the pressure graduations being the same along the length of each of the underlayer and the at least one overlayer; and

each underlayer and overlayer further comprising a toe portion, wherein the toe portion of at least one of the underlayer and overlayers has a high stretch modulus, and

wherein when the underlayer is applied to the lower extremities, each underlayer alignment marking is aligned with the corresponding anatomical location, and the at least one overlayer is applied over the underlayer, the discrete locations of compressive pressure on the underlayer are aligned with the same pressure on the at least one overlayer to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each anatomical location on the person'"'"'s lower extremities.

2. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 1, each underlayer and overlayer having an instep portion, wherein at least one of the underlayer and overlayers further comprises a smooth construction from the toe portion to the instep portion therein.

3. A multilayer compression stocking system for use on a person'"'"'s lower extremities, comprising:

a plurality of layers including an underlayer and at least one overlayer;

the underlayer having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations on the underlayer;

at least one of the overlayers having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations thereon;

the underlayer having at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer;

each overlayer having at least one alignment marking, each overlayer alignment marking corresponding to a different one of the underlayer alignment markings;

each of the underlayer and the at least one overlayer further comprising a length with proximal and distal portions and with pressure graduations along the length, the pressure graduations being the same along the length of each of the underlayer and the at least one overlayer; and

each underlayer and overlayer further comprising a toe portion, wherein the toe portion of at least one of the underlayer and overlayers has a high stretch modulus, and

wherein when the at least one overlayer is applied over the underlayer and the overlayer alignment markings are aligned with corresponding underlayer alignment markings, the discrete locations of the same compressive pressure on the underlayer and each overlayer are aligned to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each discrete location.

4. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 3, each underlayer and overlayer having an instep portion, wherein at least one of the underlayer and overlayers further comprises a smooth construction from the toe portion to the instep portion therein.

5. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 3, wherein the underlayer and each overlayer are joined in the toe portion.

6. A method of applying a multilayer compression stocking system on a person'"'"'s lower extremity, comprising:

providing an underlayer having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations and at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer and corresponding to a different anatomical location on the lower extremity;

positioning the underlayer on the lower extremity;

aligning each underlayer alignment marking with the corresponding anatomical location on the lower extremity;

providing at least one overlayer having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations and having at least one alignment marking, each overlayer alignment marking corresponding to a different one of the underlayer alignment markings, each underlayer and overlayer having a length with proximal and distal portions, the underlayer having pressure graduations along its length, each overlayer having pressure graduations along its length, the pressure graduations along the length of each overlayer being the same as the pressure graduations along the length of the underlayer, the amount of compressive pressure being greatest at the distal portion of the underlayer and each overlayer so that the amount of compressive pressure decreases from the distal portion to the proximal portion along the length of the underlayer and each overlayer;

positioning one of the at least one overlayer over the underlayer; and

aligning each overlayer alignment marking with each corresponding underlayer alignment,

wherein the pressure graduations on the underlayer and the same pressure graduations on the at least one overlayer are aligned to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each anatomical location on the person'"'"'s lower extremity.

7. A multilayer compression stocking system for use on a person'"'"'s lower extremities, comprising:

a plurality of layers including an underlayer and an overlayer;

the underlayer and the overlayer each having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations thereon;

each underlayer and overlayer having a length with proximal and distal portions, the underlayer having pressure graduations along its length and the overlayer having the same pressure graduations along its length as the underlayer;

the underlayer having at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer;

the overlayer having at least one alignment marking, each overlayer alignment marking corresponding to a different one of the underlayer alignment markings; and

the underlayer having a top, the overlayer having a top and a bottom, and the overlayer bottom foldably attached to the underlayer top,

wherein the overlayer is downwardly folded over the underlayer to align the overlayer alignment markings with the corresponding underlayer alignment markings to align the discrete locations of compressive pressure on the underlayer and the discrete locations of the same compressive pressure on the overlayer to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each discrete location.

8. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein the amount of compressive pressure is greatest at the distal portion of each underlayer and overlayer so that the amount of compressive pressure decreases from the distal portion to the proximal portion along the length of each underlayer and overlayer.

9. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 8, wherein one of the underlayer alignment markings and the corresponding overlayer alignment marking are located at the distal portion of the underlayer and each overlayer where the amount of compressive pressure is greatest.

10. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined amounts of compressive pressure of each underlayer and overlayer range from 14 mm Hg to about 50 mm Hg.

11. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein each underlayer and overlayer further comprises a toe portion, at least one toe portion having a high stretch modulus.

12. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 11, the underlayer having an instep portion, wherein the underlayer further comprises a smooth construction from the toe portion to the instep portion.

13. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein the underlayer further comprises a heel portion and one of the at least one alignment marking of the underlayer is located on the heel portion.

14. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, each of the underlayer and overlayer having a shape, wherein the underlayer further comprises knit construction having the shape of the anatomy of the lower extremities.

15. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the underlayer and overlayer further comprises construction having at least two-way stretch.

16. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the underlayer and overlayer further comprises seamless construction.

17. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein the underlayer alignment markings and the overlayer alignment markings comprise different colored yarns, a knit change, printing, and/or colored markings.

18. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein the overlayer is colored to provide a cosmetic appearance.

19. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 18, wherein the colored overlayer further comprises construction to provide a cosmetic appearance.

20. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein the overlayer is constructed to provide a cosmetic appearance.

21. The multilayer compression stocking system of claim 7, wherein the length of at least one of the underlayer and overlayer is knee-length.

22. A multilayer compression stocking system for use on a person'"'"'s lower extremities, comprising:

an underlayer having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations on the underlayer;

an overlayer having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations on the overlayer;

each of the underlayer and overlayer having a length with proximal and distal portions, the underlayer having pressure graduations along its length, the overlayer having pressure graduations along its length;

the pressure graduations along the length of the overlayer are the same as the pressure graduations along the length of the underlayer;

the amount of compressive pressure is greatest at the distal portion of each of the underlayer and overlayer;

the amount of compressive pressure decreases from the distal portion to the proximal portion along the length of each of the underlayer and overlayer;

the underlayer having at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer;

the overlayer having at least one alignment marking, each overlayer alignment marking corresponding to a different one of the underlayer alignment markings; and

the underlayer having a top, the overlayer having a top and a bottom, and the overlayer bottom foldably attached to the underlayer top,

folding the overlayer is downwardly folded over the underlayer to align the overlayer alignment markings with the corresponding underlayer alignment markings to align the discrete locations of compressive pressure on the underlayer and the discrete locations of the same compressive pressure on the overlayer so that the distal portion of each of the underlayer and the overlayer where the amount of compressive pressure is greatest are aligned and so that the same pressure graduations along the length of each of the underlayer and the overlayer are aligned to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each discrete location.

23. A method of applying a multilayer compression stocking system on a person'"'"'s lower extremity, comprising:

providing a compressive pressure underlayer having a length with proximal and distal portions with pressure graduations along the length, a top, and at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer and corresponding to a different anatomical location on the lower extremity;

positioning the compressive pressure underlayer on the lower extremity;

aligning each underlayer alignment marking with the corresponding anatomical location on the lower extremity;

providing a compressive pressure overlayer having a length with proximal and distal portions with pressure graduations along the length, the pressure graduations being the same along the length of the underlayer and the overlayer, a top, a bottom, the overlayer bottom foldably attached to the underlayer top, and at least one alignment marking, each overlayer alignment marking corresponding to a different one of the underlayer alignment markings;

downwardly folding the overlayer over the underlayer; and

aligning each overlayer alignment marking with each corresponding underlayer alignment marking,

wherein the pressure graduations on the underlayer and the same pressure graduations on the overlayer are aligned to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each anatomical location on the person'"'"'s lower extremity.

24. The method of applying a multilayer compression stocking system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the underlayer and overlayer has predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations.

25. The method of applying a multi layer compression stocking system of claim 24, wherein the predetermined amounts of compressive pressure range from 20-30 mm Hg, 30-40 mm Hg, or 40-50 mm Hg.

26. The method of applying a multilayer compression stocking system of claim 23, wherein the amount of compressive pressure is greatest at the distal portion of each of the underlayer and overlayer so that the amount of compressive pressure decreases from the distal portion to the proximal portion along the length of each of the underlayer and overlayer.

27. The method of applying a multilayer compression stocking system of claim 26, wherein one of the underlayer alignment markings and the corresponding overlayer alignment marking are located at the distal portion of the underlayer and each overlayer where the amount of compressive pressure is greatest.

28. A method of applying a multilayer compression stocking system on a person'"'"'s lower extremity, comprising:

providing a compressive pressure underlayer having a top, predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations, and at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer and corresponding to a different anatomical location on the lower extremity;

positioning the underlayer on the lower extremity;

aligning each underlayer alignment marking with the corresponding anatomical location on the lower extremity;

providing a compressive pressure overlayer having a top, a bottom, the overlayer bottom foldably attached to the underlayer top, at least one alignment marking, each overlayer alignment marking corresponding to a different one of the underlayer alignment markings, and predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations, each of the underlayer and the overlayer having a length with proximal and distal portions, the underlayer having pressure graduations along its length, the overlayer having pressure graduations along its length, the pressure graduations along the length of the overlayer are the same as the pressure graduations along the length of the underlayer, the amount of compressive pressure being greatest at the distal portion of each of the underlayer and overlayer so that the amount of compressive pressure decreases from the distal portion to the proximal portion along the length of each of the underlayer and overlayer;

downwardly folding the overlayer over the underlayer; and

aligning each overlayer alignment marking with each corresponding underlayer alignment marking,

wherein the discrete locations of compressive pressure on the underlayer and the discrete locations of the same compressive pressure on the overlayer are aligned so that the distal portion of each of the underlayer and the overlayer where the amount of compressive pressure is greatest are aligned and so that the same pressure graduations along the length of each of the underlayer and the overlayer are aligned to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each discrete location on the underlayer and the overlayer and thereby at each anatomical location on the person'"'"'s lower extremity.

29. A multilayer compression bandage system comprising:

an underlayer having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations on the underlayer;

at least one overlayer having predetermined amounts of compressive pressure at discrete locations thereon;

the underlayer having at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer;

each overlayer having at least one alignment marking, each overlayer alignment marking corresponding to a different one of the underlayer alignment markings; and

each of the underlayer and the at least one overlayer further comprising a length with proximal and distal portions and with pressure graduations along the length, the pressure graduations being the same along the length of each of the underlayer and the at least one overlayer,

wherein when the at least one overlayer is applied over the underlayer and the overlayer alignment markings are aligned with corresponding underlayer alignment markings, the discrete locations of the same compressive pressure on the underlayer and each overlayer are aligned to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each discrete location.

30. The multilayer compression bandage system of claim 29, wherein the amount of compressive pressure is greatest at the distal portion of each of the underlayer and overlayer so that the amount of compressive pressure decreases from the distal portion to the proximal portion along the length of each of the underlayer and overlayer.

31. The multilayer compression bandage system of claim 29, wherein the predetermined amounts of compressive pressure range from 20-30 mm Hg, 30-40 mm Hg, or 40-50 mm Hg.

32. A method for preventing and treating a medical condition using compressive pressure, comprising:

positioning on a person'"'"'s body a compressive pressure underlayer having a length with predetermined amounts of compressive pressure graduated at discrete locations along the length and at least one alignment marking, each underlayer alignment marking positioned at a different location on the underlayer and corresponding to a different anatomical location on the body;

aligning each underlayer alignment marking with the corresponding anatomical location;

positioning over the underlayer at least one compressive pressure overlayer having a length with predetermined amounts of compressive pressure graduated at discrete locations along the length, the pressure graduations being the same along the length of the underlayer and the at least one overlayer and at least one alignment marking, each overlayer alignment marking corresponding to a different one of the underlayer alignment markings; and

aligning each overlayer alignment marking with each corresponding underlayer alignment marking,

wherein the pressure graduations on the underlayer and the same pressure graduations on the at least one overlayer are aligned to provide an expected cumulative compressive pressure at each anatomical location to facilitate healing.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the medical condition comprises edema.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the medical condition comprises emboli.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the medical condition comprises thrombophlebitis.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the medical condition comprises an ulcer.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

applying a dressing to the anatomical location affected by the medical condition; and

positioning the compressive pressure underlayer over the dressing,

wherein the dressing is held in place.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the dressing comprises therapeutic agents.

39. The method of claim 32, one of the at least one overlayer being an outermost overlayer, wherein the outermost overlayer is colored to provide a cosmetic appearance.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the method is performed by the person on whose body the compressive pressure underlayer and the at least one compressive pressure overlayer are positioned.