Wearable Article to Hold a Ventricular Assist Device Controller

The present disclosure is directed to a wearable article for holding a medical device, such as a ventricular assist device, and methods of using and making the same. The wearable article comprises a rear pocket that is upside-down and can further be padded. Other padded pockets can also be provided.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to a wearable article for holding a medical device, such as a ventricular assist device, and methods of using and making the same.

BACKGROUND

A ventricular assist device (VAD)—also known as a mechanical circulatory support device—is an implantable mechanical pump that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (the ventricles) to the rest of the recipient's body. A VAD is used in patients who have weakened hearts or heart failure. Although a VAD can be placed in the left, right or both ventricles of your heart, it is most frequently used in the left ventricle. When placed in the left ventricle it is called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

A VAD consists of a pump, tubes that connect the pump to the heart, a control module (i.e., controller), and a power source. A thin cable connects the pump with the controller. This cable, also called a lead or driveline, comes out of your belly through a small cut in your skin called an exit site. The recipient carries the control module, a battery, and a back-up battery on their body.

Vests, shirts, and harnesses with pockets have been designed to carry the control module and batteries. However, a need exists to make these more discreet, user friendly, and/or comfortable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to a wearable article that has an interior-facing rear pocket for receiving a ventricular assist device (VAD) controller that is located in the upper back area between the shoulder blades and methods of making and using the same. The pocket can be upside-down and/or padded for comfort.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a wearable article for at least partially covering a trunk of a wearer comprising one or two front panels of fabric configured to be located on the front of the wearer during use; a rear panel of fabric configured to be located on the back of the wearer during use; the one or two front panels affixed to the rear panel to define two arm openings and at least partially define a neck opening; a rear pocket formed from a rear pocket panel affixed to the interior face of the rear panel, the opening of the pocket sized to receive a VAD controller; at least one rear strap coupled to the rear panel and configured to prevent the VAD controller when in the pocket from falling out of the pocket. In some embodiments, the rear pocket panel is affixed to the rear panel so that the opening of the rear pocket is at the bottom. In other words, the pocket can be upside down. In the same or different embodiments, the rear pocket panel can also be padded for the wearers comfort.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes methods of using the wearable article. The user of the article can place the VAD controller or one or more of the batteries in the rear pocket. Two or more pockets may be located nearer the waistline, and the VAD controller or one or more of the batteries can also be placed in the two or more pockets at the waistline. The article can be worn underneath another article of clothing or can be the outermost article of clothing. No wires, controllers, or batteries are exposed or visible to others when properly used.

Yet a third aspect of the present disclosure making the wearable article. In some embodiments, the wearable article can be made by knitting, sewing, and/or laser cutting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4Billustrate various aspects of an embodiment of a wearable article10in accordance with the present disclosure. The wearable article depicted is a vest.FIG. 1illustrates a front view of the wearable article10. A wearable article10can partially, predominantly (more than 50% coverage), or completely cover the trunk of the wearer.

Shown inFIG. 1is the front view of the wearable article10. In the embodiment shown, a front panel11is shown and is configured to be located on the front trunk portion of the wearer during use. A single or multiple panels of fabric or a single panel of fabric can be used to form a the front panel11. In the embodiment shown, a first and second panel of fabric11aand11bform the front panel11. In other embodiments (not shown), a knit shirt may only require a single front panel. Front panel11be configured to partially, predominantly (more than 50% coverage), or completely cover the front surface of the trunk of the wearer.

Shown inFIG. 2is a rear view of the wearable article10. In the embodiment shown, a rear panel12is configured to be located on the back of the wearer during use. A single or multiple panels of fabric can be used to form a rear panel12. Rear panel12can be configured to partially, predominantly (i.e., more than 50% coverage), or completely cover the rear surface of the trunk of the wearer.

The front panel11is affixed to the rear panel12to define two arm openings13and at least partially define a neck opening14. The embodiment shown in theFIGS. 1 and 2comprises front panels11aand11band rear panel12configured to be a vest when attached on the sides15and the shoulder16except at the arm openings13and neck opening14.

Configured to hold an object, such as a VAD controller, a rear pocket100is formed from a rear pocket panel120affixed to the interior face of the rear panel12. An embodiment of a rear panel12with a rear pocket100is shown inFIG. 3Aand a close up view of the rear pocket100is shown inFIG. 3B. The pocket100is located on the rear panel12such that when the article10is worn, the rear pocket100is located in the middle of the back and on the upper half of the trunk of the wearer. In some embodiments, the rear pocket100is located between the shoulder blades. InFIG. 3B, an object150is shown located within the rear pocket100.

The rear pocket100can be right side up or upside down. The embodiment shown inFIG. 3Aillustrates the rear pocket100that is upside down. In other words, the rear pocket100has an opening101at the bottom of the rear pocket panel120. In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 3B, the rear pocket100is configured to hold a VAD controller150, and as such, the opening101of the pocket100is sized to receive a VAD controller. To ensure that the VAD controller remains securely in an upside down pocket, a fastener110configured for supporting the VAD controller to prevent it from falling out of the pocket100can be provided. For example, a hook and loop tape (Velcro®) can be affixed to the rear pocket panel120adjacent the opening101and the corresponding pieces can placed on the interior face of the rear panel12. In embodiments, the fastener can comprise one or more rear straps, such as rear straps110aand100b, coupled to the rear panel12and the rear pocket panel120, which are releasable to at least one of the rear panel12and the rear pocket panel120and configured to prevent an object150, such as a VAD controller, when in the pocket from falling out of the pocket. The rear straps110a,110bcan be releasable by way of a hook and loop tape112a,112bor a snap button (not shown), for example.

In some embodiments, the rear pocket panel120is padded to provide cushioning between the wearer and the object150in the pocket, such as the VAD controller. Such padding can be sufficiently thick to provide for comfort to the wearer, particularly when the wearer rests his/her back up against a chair or wall, for example. The padded rear pocket panel is sized and positioned relative to the VAD controller securement member to provide cushioning over all edges of the VAD controller during use.

For embodiments with the a padded rear pocket100, for example, the article10can further comprise an object securement member160(such as a VAD securement member) located within the rear pocket100and configured to limit left to right movement of an object, such as a VAD controller150, within the rear pocket during use. For example, as shown inFIG. 3B, the object securement member160is an inner rear pocket formed from a panel of fabric affixed to the interior face of the rear panel12or to a face of the rear pocket panel120facing the interior face of the rear panel12so that the inner rear pocket has an opening at the bottom of the inner rear pocket panel. The opening161is smaller than the rear pocket100opening101yet the opening161of the inner rear pocket is also sized to receive the VAD controller150. In other words, the padded rear pocket panel100is wider as measured from the left side to the right side than the inner rear pocket. In embodiments with a rear pocket100and an inner rear pocket, the releasable fastener can be coupled to either one of the rear pocket100or the inner rear pocket in order to support the object150.

Additional pockets with fasteners may also be provided in other locations on the wearable article. The pocket can be interior or exterior facing and in any orientation and the opening of the pockets may be in any side or orientation such at an angle, sideways, right side up or upside down. For example, the wearable article can also comprise a second rear pocket500that is the same as rear pocket100except positioned on the lower half of the wearer's trunk such as adjacent the sacrum area. This pocket500can be right side up or upside down. In the embodiment shown, the pocket is right side up. The second rear pocket can be formed from a second rear pocket panel affixed to the interior face of the rear panel to form a pocket. The second rear pocket500can have an opening of the pocket at the top of the second rear pocket panel. The pocket can be sized to receive the object150so it can be the same size as the rear pocket100or the inner rear pocket, for example. The second rear pocket panel can also padded to provide cushioning between the wearer and the object held therein, such as a VAD controller150. One or more fasteners510such as fastener110described above can be configured to prevent the object within from escaping the pocket can be included. The fastener510can be coupled to at least one of the rear panel12and the second rear pocket500and releasable coupled to one or the other.

And like rear pocket100if padded, the article10can further comprise a second object securement member that is the same as the securement member160except that it is located within the second rear pocket500and is right side up. As such, the second object securement member can be a second inner pocket formed from rear pocket panel affixed to the interior face of the rear panel or to a face of the second rear pocket panel facing the interior face of the rear panel so that the second inner rear pocket has an opening at the top of the inner pocket panel. Also, the opening of the second inner rear pocket can be sized to receive an object, such as a VAD controller150but is narrower as measured from the left side to the right side than the outer rear pocket500.

One or more pockets can also be located on one or both of the front panels11a,11b. As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the front pockets300,400can be like that of the other pockets but may not be padded as a padded pocket is not as useful on the front panel. The front pockets300or400can be sized to hold an object such as a VAD controller or a VAD battery. The front pockets300or400can be a breast pocket or located on the lower half of the trunk. A fastener310,410as described above can also be included to keep an object held within the front pocket300or400secure.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 5, the wearable article is like that ofFIG. 1but can further comprise a lumbar support belt/brace200to distribute the load of the wearable article and object(s) carried in the pockets therein about the hips and take some load off of the shoulders. The lumbar support belt200can be affixed to the rear panel12below the rear pocket100. The lumber support belt/brace200can comprise a wide elastic band that wraps around the lower back and can comprise one or more fasteners220, such as a hook and loop fastener, to firmly wrap and secure the band/brace around the lower back.

In some embodiments, a portion of the support belt200serves as the second rear pocket panel210. In other words, the support belt200is secured to the rear panel forming a U-shaped seam such that the support belt200together with the rear panel12form a pocket wherein an object, such as a VAD controller can be held.

The rear pocket100of the above described device is useful when oriented upside down because the VAD controller wires that connect to the VAD extend downward and can easily extend underneath the wear's arm to connect to the chest. The position at the upper center of the back also allows the VAD controller to be worn without other's being aware of the VAD controller's presence and with less obstruction to the wearer. In addition, if a user wanted to move the VAD controller, the user could reach back, release the fastener, and easily place it in another pocket without having to remove the article10or disconnect any wires.

A method using the wearable article can comprise placing a VAD controller in rear pocket100of a wearable article as described above. The wires of the VAD controller extending from the opening of the rear pocket100. The method can further comprise extending the wire(s) from the VAD controller, underneath an arm, and to the VAD connector that is located on the wearer's chest and connecting the VAD wire thereto. The method can further comprise removing the VAD controller150from rear pocket100and placing it in the second rear pocket500or a front pocket300or400while wearing the wearable article10.

A method of making the wearable article described above can comprise attaching a rear pocket panel to an interior face of the rear panel of a wearable article at a location that would be at least partially between the shoulder blades when worn by the user. The rear pocket being like that described above and shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B. A method can also comprise attaching a support belt to the wearable article and forming a second rear pocket between the support belt and the rear panel. The attachment points of the support belt to the rear panel can be the seams of the pocket.

Although the present wearable article and methods of using the same has been described with reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except as and to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.