# US 11,896,511 B2 · Contact point reduction garment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,511 B2 - Document ID: US11896511B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/931,233 - Filed: 2022-09-12 - Published: 2023-01-05 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-31 - Assignees: Sanford Health - Applicants: Sanford Health - Inventors: Patrick W. Kelly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896511B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/32: Adjustable pressure pads - A61F 5/0109: {Sleeve-like structures} - A61F 5/0111: {for the feet or ankles} - A61F 5/0118: {for the arms, hands or fingers} - A61F 5/34: Pressure pads filled with air or liquid - A61F 13/066: {for the ankle} - A61M 39/22: Valves or arrangement of valves {(A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a wearable garment comprising (a) a sheath having a first end and a second, wherein the sheath defines a cavity in a wearable position, wherein the sheath has a first opening at the first end, and wherein the sheath comprises a first material, and (b) one or more relief zones coupled to the sheath, wherein the relief zones comprise a second material, wherein a pressure distribution of the second material is greater than a pressure distribution of the first material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressure reduction garment comprising: a sheath having a first end and a second end, wherein the sheath defines a cavity in a wearable position configured to receive an appendage of a user, wherein the sheath has a first opening at the first end, and wherein the sheath comprises a first material; and one or more relief zones coupled to the sheath, wherein the one or more relief zones comprise a second material different from the first material, wherein the second material comprises a gel, wherein a pressure distribution of the second material is greater than a pressure distribution of the first material, wherein the one or more relief zones comprise a first relief zone configured to cover a first metatarsal head of the user, a second relief zone configured to cover a fifth metatarsal head of the user, a third relief zone configured to cover a medial malleolus, a lateral malleolus, a heel, and an Achilles of the user, and a fourth relief zone configured to cover a cuneiform and a shin of the user, wherein the first material surrounds each of the first relief zone, the second relief zone, the third relief zone, and the fourth relief zone such that each relief zone is separated from each of the other relief zones by the first material, and wherein an interior surface of the sheath includes an adhesive material configured to contact the shin of the user to prevent the pressure reduction garment from slipping down the shin of the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein a volume of the second material is variable via injection or extraction into or out of an encapsulating material that encapsulates the second material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pressure reduction garment of claim 2, wherein the encapsulating material is self-sealing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The pressure reduction garment of claim 2, further comprising a valve coupled to the one or more relief zones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising the first material, wherein the second layer of the sheath is configured to contact the appendage of the user when in use, and wherein the second material of the one or more relief zones is arranged between the first layer and the second layer of the sheath. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pressure reduction garment of claim 5, wherein an inner surface of the second material is coupled to a layer of a bio-adhesive material arranged to contact the appendage of the user when in use. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein a layer of the first material of the sheath includes an inner surface coupled to a layer of the second material arranged to contact the appendage of the user when in use. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the second material is configured to reduce a peak localized pressure from a weight of the appendage resting on a surface to be less than a mean capillary perfusion pressure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the second end of the sheath has at least one second opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pressure reduction garment of claim 9, wherein the at least one second opening comprises five openings each configured to receive a toe of a user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The pressure reduction garment of claim 9, wherein the at least one second opening is a single opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The pressure reduction garment of claim 9, further comprising one or more of an elastic band and stretchable stitching surrounding the at least one second opening at the second end of the sheath. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, further comprising one or more of an elastic band and stretchable stitching surrounding the first opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the second end of the sheath is closed such that the sheath is configured to cover the toes of a user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a breathable matrix, a cotton material, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyester, an elastic material, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the one or more relief zones are coupled to an interior surface of the first material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the wearable position further comprises a calf region and a foot region, wherein the calf region and the foot region are substantially perpendicular to one another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The pressure reduction garment of claim 17, wherein a bottom surface of the foot region of the sheath comprises a third material having a higher coefficient of friction than the first material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pressure reduction garment of claim 18, wherein the third material comprises silicone, neoprene, fluoroelastomer, fluorosilicone or plastisol inks. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the first material has an elastic property such that the sheath is configured to expand to receive the appendage of the user, and thereafter retract to conform to the appendage to thereby hold the pressure reduction garment in place on the appendage. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the one or more relief zones are removably coupled to an exterior surface of the first material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment of claim 1, wherein the one or more relief zones are removably coupled to an interior surface of the first material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The pressure reduction garment of claim 22, wherein the one or more relief zones include a plurality of hooks configured to removably couple with a plurality of loops on the first material. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The pressure reduction garment claim 1, further comprising: a separable seam extending from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The pressure reduction garment of claim 24, wherein the one or more relief zones comprise at least an anterior side of the pressure reduction garment, positioned posterior to the separable seam. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The pressure reduction garment of claim 24, wherein the separable seam comprises one of a hook and fastener system, a mechanical fastener, a zipper, a string, one or more straps, one or more magnets, or an interior glue.