Post-mastectomy garment
OwnerCarol J. Eweninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A garment for use by a patient after surgery for breast removal which alleviates post-operative pain and discomfort and facilitates normal activities during the recovery period. A padded vest-like garment is adapted for applying comforting pressure to the sites of removal of breast and other tissues and for holding pain relieving packages. A detachable arm support provides further comfort in a similar manner.
Claims15
A garment for use following surgical breast removal in which a patient has had removed substantially all of the subcutaneous tissue of a least one breast so that the contour of the patient's body at the site of breast removal approximates the contour of the patient's rib cage and also has had removed lymphatic and muscle tissue adjacent the patient's armpit comprising:
- a. a body portion for surrounding the patient's upper body including a back portion and two front portions, said front portions being separable from one another along vertical edges to permit placement of said body portion around the patient's upper body, said body portion and front portions having total horizontal dimensions larger than the largest circumference of the patient's upper body so that said vertical edges overlap one another when said body portion is placed around the patient's body,
- b. said body portion comprising inner and outer layers of soft non-expansible fabric permeable to gasses and liquids to provide skin comfort to the patient and resilient padding material disposed between said inner and outer layers to provide resilient pressure on the patient's body,
- c. a plurality of fastening means vertically spaced along each of said vertical edges, said fastening means each being continuously variable horizontally and independently of one another so that the garment is adjustable for a snug fit around all portions of the upper body of the patient,
- d. at least one of said padded front portions having a cross-section which is substantially uniform so that said front portion snugly fits and exerts comforting pressure on the site of the removed breast, and
- e. said body portion including an arm opening adjacent a site of breast removal which fits more snugly against the armpit adjacent a site of breast removal than an arm opening in said body portion that is not adjacent a site of breast removal and said body portion is provided with resilient padding additional to that in a remainder of said body portion to exert comforting pressure on the site of removed lymphatic and muscle tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.