Graduated compression device for the treatment of circulatory disorders

#The present invention relates to devices that treat circulatory disorders such as lymphedema, edema and venous diseases.

#A common treatment for circulatory disorders such as lymphedema, edema and venous diseases is to wear a compression garment. Current compression garments are available in various ready-to-wear standard sizes. Unfortunately, a wide array of inventory must be kept on hand when distributing ready-to-wear garments in order to accommodate the population majority. Although compression garments have been designed that can be modified in circumference or length to obtain a better fit, the “nearest” size must still be chosen.

#Alternatively, custom made-to-measure garments have also been produced as a form of treatment. Unfortunately, measuring, sizing, and ordering these made-to-measure garments is time consuming and may still not result in a properly fitted compression garment. For limbs that are outside of the standard ready-to-wear size range, custom garments need to be built to match the curvature, length and circumference of the limb. As a result, many measurements are needed to make these custom garments and there is a period between measuring, ordering, production and fitting of the garment where the limb profile may change, which can result in an improper fit due to the time it takes for the patient to receive their garment.

#FIG. 1A is an illustration of the garment prior to attaching the body and spine portions together.

#FIG. 1B is an illustration of the garment after attaching the body and spine portions together.

#FIG. 2A is a close up of the top of the garment showing the alignment of the body and spine portions.

#Referring first to FIGS. 1A to 5B, a therapeutic compression garment 10 is provided. Garment 10 comes in two pieces, being a body portion 20 and a spine portion 30. Body portion 20 has a plurality of bands 22 extending from one side as shown. Spine portion 30 similarly has a plurality of bands 32 extending, from one of its sides as shown.

#As will be explained, the bands 22 extending from body portion 20 are juxtaposed between the bands 32 extending from spine portion 30 when garment 10 is wrapped around the patient's limb. Specifically, as seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B, bands 22 are fastened onto spine portion 30 and bands 32 are fastened onto body portion 20. Most preferably, bands 22 and 32 have Velcro® (i.e.: hook and loop fastener) ends. Similarly, the surfaces of body portion 20 and spine portion 30 are also covered with corresponding Velcro® (i.e.: hook and loop fastener) surfaces. In some embodiments, bands 22 and 32 may extend past the spine divider (i.e.: the connection point between the body and spine portions) and back onto their own portions respectively.

#In operation, the therapeutic compression garment 10 is fitted onto a patient's limb, as follows. First, the patient (or other person assisting the patient) measures the circumference of the limb at a top location and at a bottom location and the length of the limb. For example, the limb would be the leg, the top location would be the calf, the bottom location would be the ankle, and the leg length from ankle to knee crease would determine the preferred garment length.