Compression device having weld seam moisture transfer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9387146-B2
Application number	US-201313858314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2013
Priority date	Apr 9, 2007
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A compression sleeve includes a wicking layer secured to bladder material defining an inflatable bladder along a seamline. Fibers of the wicking layer extend through the seamline to allow fluid wicked by the wicking layer from the wearer's skin to evaporate to the atmosphere.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying compression treatment to a part of a wearer's body, the device comprising:
a wicking layer contacting skin on the wearer's body part when the device is mounted on the body part; and
a bladder for selectively applying compression to the body part, the bladder comprising two sheets of air impermeable thermoplastic bladder material secured together and to the wicking layer along a weld having a thickness extending from the wicking layer through the thickness of the sheets of bladder material, wherein the wicking layer has uniformly distributed polymeric wicking fibers that extend through the thickness of the weld to allow fluid wicked from a wearer's skin to evaporate to the atmosphere.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wicking layer is a knitted sheet.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the separate sheets of bladder material are secured to the wicking layer along a plurality of welds, one weld extending along a periphery of each sheet of bladder material.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the wicking layer extends beyond the periphery of the sheets of bladder material.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the weld is a spot weld.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic bladder material has a polar molecule and the polymer of the polymeric wicking fibers has a non-polar molecule.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic bladder material is PVC and the polymeric wicking fibers are polyester.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bladder extends around at least 90 percent of a median circumference of the wearer's body part.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an outer layer disposed on a side of the bladder away from the wearer's body part when the device is mounted on the body part, the outer layer secured to the thermoplastic bladder material and the wicking layer at the weld.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the bladder defines a plurality of openings, and the wicking layer and the outer layer are secured to each other at the openings.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the outer layer comprises woven fibers.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the outer layer is a polyester mesh material treated with a hydrophilic material.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the wicking layer and the outer layer is resilient.

14. A device for applying compression treatment to a part of a wearer's body, the device comprising:
a wicking layer contacting skin on the wearer's body part when the device is mounted on the body part; and
a bladder for selectively applying compression to the body part, the bladder comprising two sheets of polyvinyl chloride bladder material secured together and to the wicking layer along a weld having a thickness extending from the wicking layer through the thickness of the sheets of bladder material, wherein the wicking layer is a knitted sheet having polyester wicking fibers that extend through the thickness of the weld to allow fluid wicked from a wearer's skin to evaporate to the atmosphere.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the separate sheets of bladder material are secured to the wicking layer along a plurality of welds, one weld extending along a periphery of each sheet of bladder material.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the wicking layer extends beyond the periphery of the sheets of bladder material.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the weld is a spot weld.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Avitable Raymond C
• Brown Jennie

Classifications

• A61H2201/1697

  Breathability of the material · CPC title

• A61H9/0078 Primary

  with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs (mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776) · CPC title

• A61H2205/108

  for the upper legs · CPC title

• A61H2205/10

  Leg · CPC title

• A61H9/0092

  Cuffs therefor · CPC title