Tools, Systems and Methods for Standardization of Bra Cup Measurements

Disclosed is an algorithmic measurement data tool, method and system of tools used to standardize bra cup sizing, that can be useful to women, surgeons, and bra manufacturers to provide consistency and realistic expectations of breast and standardize bra cup sizes. The method utilizes measurement of the breast hemicircumference, used in conjunction with a standardized scale developed according to measurement results obtained from over 5000 patients, to accurately determine the woman's cup size. Tools, such as a slide rule, a software program, and 3D imaging may also be used, establishing the breast hemicircumference, to determine the proper bra size. The tool documents and algorithmically compares documented hemicircumference measurements to actual reported cup sizes and manufacturers. This tool, method and system is particularly useful for breast surgery patients, providing a standardized bra cup measurement of the patient's current size and a more accurate estimation of what her post-operative result may be.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a novel measurement tool, method and a system for performing a breast measurement and using the measurements based on a databased algorithm, to determine a specific bra cup size, that can provide standardized sizing for manufacturers and individuals. The standardization method utilizes measurement of the breast hemicircumference (HC), using a simple soft tape measure12, transparent ruler, or similar measurement tool, measured from the medial most point14of the breast20at nipple areolar level to the lateral most point16of the breast20over the maximum apex18of the breast20. Examples of the measurement of the breast HC are shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

Three dimensional imaging, such as Vectra 3D, may also be used to measure the HC of the breast. New 3-D Vectra imaging has helped simplify and automatically landmark and measure validated hemi-circumference distances in patients.

The breast HC measurement was used in a study of over 3000 primary augmentation patients over a 15 year period (Allergan Medical Corporation, Style 410 Cohesive Gel Implant Study). Pre-operative and post-operative breast HC was measured and compared to patent reported bra cup sizes. In addition, 450 primary augmentation patients from one surgeon's (Bengtson) cohort as a subset of this overall data was collected in a similar fashion and compared to the overall database. The average hemicircumference organized by patient reported bra cup sizes showed mean measurements listed below in Table 1:

In reporting their bra cup sizes, patients also provided the bra manufacturer name. Of the data in Table 1, approximately 85% of the sizes reported were for Victoria's Secret bras, followed by Maidenform, Bali, and Calvin Klein. As such, the average measurements listed are somewhat skewed towards the correlating size in Victoria's Secret merchandise. However, the other manufacturers varied minimally from the mean HC measurement of Victoria's Secret: Of the 104 patients wearing Bali, it took more volume and a greater HC to fill a reported cup on average: 4 mm more for size B, 3 mm size C, 15 mm for size D. Calvin Klein on the other hand was significantly smaller HC averaging with 115 patients, 15 mm smaller for size A, 9 mm smaller for size B, 12 mm smaller for size C, and 12 mm smaller for D. Maidenform, with 204 patients revealed a difference of 9 mm larger for size B but all other sizes essentially the same average.

The above mean measurements collected and analyzed provide a generalized, quick check scale that may be used without referring to a reference table for a more general bra cup estimate and can provide an instant estimate based on the breast HC measurement. A surgeon, individual, or manufacturer may memorize and know instantly that approximately 17 cm is an “A cup”, 19 cm is a “B cup”, 21 cm a “C cup”, 23.5 cm a “D cup” and 25 cm a “DD cup”. For a more specific bra cup size or manufacturer size the tool or software program may be utilized.

In addition, this measurement tool and system has been validated with over 3000 additional breast measurements as related to specific manufacturer.

The present invention may also provide tools to help a woman, patient, manufacturer, surgeon, etc to use the HC measurement to accurately determine the woman's cup size, and more specifically, to determine the woman's cup size in a specific bra style by a specific manufacturer. Using the HC measurement results discussed above, a novel, data driven, algorithmic slide rule as shown inFIG. 4can be constructed so that a person can dial in the HC measurement, as well as the bra manufacturer/style, and will be shown the appropriate cup size. The Figure is representative of the cup size differences that exists among the manufacturers, and depicts that there are differences in cup size from one manufacturer to the next. The slide rule, is thus helpful to prevent mistaken purchases based on lack of awareness of the differences between the manufacturers, and also allows patients to get started in the right size range when trying bras on that vary between both manufacturer and styles within individual brands. More importantly, it helps to standardize actual bra measurements and outcomes so patients, bra manufacturers and surgeons can be on the same page and comparing “apples to apples and oranges to oranges”. The slide rule shown inFIG. 4is one embodiment of a slide rule according to the present invention. There are many other ways of implementing the breast HC measurements into a slide rule device, that would be known to one skilled in the art.

Similarly, a software program may be developed to perform the same algorithmic analysis based on each individual woman's HC measurements as discussed above. The software program may be used for personal computers or on websites, or may be developed into a smart phone or tablet application. Such an application may be used, as one example, by a woman who knows her HC measurement while shopping, so that she can input her measurement as well as the bra style that she is looking at, in order to accurately select the appropriate bra size for purchase. Example screen shots of a possible smart phone application are shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B. As with the slide rule depicted inFIG. 4, there are other embodiments of the application and other ways of presenting the information on a smart phone or tablet screen that are within the scope of the present invention.

As noted above, 3D imaging may be used to measure the breast HC and the same analysis can be performed by the imaging device to determine and be incorporated into the 3D imaging software and thus present the cup size of the imaged patient. 3D imaging can also be used in conjunction with the present measurement system to provide visualization of what the breasts will look like post-operatively at the desired size, so that the patient is well aware of the expected results and can, therefore, make more informed decisions prior to the surgery, and be on the same page size wise with her plastic surgeon.

Once the hemicircumference measurement is obtained by the 3D imaging system the data can be integrated into the simulation system and various implant sizes and volumes can be placed and the 3D system can give a bra cup size based on our data tool and information. This can be based on any or all of the breast implant manufacturers such as Allergan, Mentor or Sientra and future manufacturers.

In addition, the method can be used to determine how the difference between pre-operation and post-operation HC measurement compares to the size of the implant used. This may provide guidance for the surgeon and patient in selecting the correct implant volume to be used for the desired cup size change. For example, knowing the volume of the implant used on a patient who went from a 17 cm HC to a 21 cm HC can be useful to a surgeon who has a patient with similar expectations. The average volume difference to get a patient up or down one cup size is approximately 220 ccs.

As a result of the techniques described herein, there has been no size change operations performed in the past 3 years over 650 primary augmentations when this measurement system is combined with 3-D imaging, and patients are involved and sign-off on their desired size range that they are looking to achieve when presented in the preoperative consultation process. In addition, litigation has been averted by re-referencing patients to this standard when a patient believes or has been told they were a smaller or larger size than what our standard size measures. Thus, this new simple and standard sizing system will be of great value and a significant contribution to surgeons and patients on many levels.