Endoscopy band with visual indicator to assist placement
AssigneeColowrap, LLC
InventorJames Hathorn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An endoscopy support apparatus that includes a primary wrap sized for placement around a subject's lower abdomen. At least one elastic strap extends from the primary wrap and is configured to extend across at least a portion of the primary wrap and to fasten to a third portion of the primary wrap to adjust the amount of pressure applied by the endoscopy support apparatus. The endoscopy support apparatus includes at least one visual indicator provided on the primary wrap or the at least one elastic strap that indicates placement of the endoscopy support apparatus relative to the subject or adjustment of the at least one elastic strap.
Claims21
An endoscopy support apparatus, comprising:
- a primary wrap comprising a band of elastic material sized for placement around a lower abdomen of a subject;
- a closing mechanism provided at an end of the primary wrap to secure the primary wrap around an abdomen of the subject by removably attaching the end of the primary wrap to a second portion of the primary wrap;
- at least one elastic strap having a first end fixed to the primary wrap and a second end comprising a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the second end to the primary wrap, wherein the at least one elastic strap is configured to be placed with the first fixed end at a left hip of the subject and to extend in a left to right direction across a front abdomen portion of the primary wrap in order to exert an additional targeted force between the first end and the second end, wherein the additional targeted force is targeted to at least one of a sigmoid region or a transverse colon region of the abdomen of the subject;
- and
- at least one visual indicator provided on the primary wrap or the at least one elastic strap that indicates a direction of adjustment of the at least one elastic strap for targeted compression, wherein the at least one visual indicator includes:
- a sigmoid text label and a first arrow indicating a first direction to apply the targeted compression to the sigmoid region, and
- a transverse text label and a second arrow indicating a second direction to apply the targeted compression to the transverse colon region, the first direction being different than the second direction.
A method for applying pressure to an abdomen of a patient to apply constant pressure and support to the abdomen during advancement of an endoscope during an endoscopy, comprising:
- wrapping a primary wrap about the abdomen of the patient between a hip level and umbilicus of the patient with a first end of at least one elastic strap that is fixed to the primary wrap at a left hip of the patient;
- securing the primary wrap by attaching a first end of the primary wrap to a second portion of the primary wrap after wrapping the primary wrap about the abdomen of the patient;
- and
- adjusting a targeted compression applied to the at least one of a sigmoid region or a transverse colon region of the abdomen of the patient by pulling the at least one elastic strap extending from the first end, which is fixed to the primary wrap, across at least a portion of the primary wrap and to fasten the at least one elastic strap to a third portion of the primary wrap, wherein the targeted compression is adjusted by extending the at least one elastic strap in a direction indicated by at least one visual indicator on the at least one elastic strap, wherein the at least one visual indicator includes:
- a sigmoid text label and a first arrow indicating a first direction to apply the targeted compression to the sigmoid region, and
- a transverse text label and a second arrow indicating a second direction to apply the targeted compression to the transverse colon region, the first direction being different than the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.