Abstract:
The invention provides an adhesive support article for supporting a body part of a user. A single-sided stretchable adhesive tape blank is precut into a sheet having a central anchoring portion and a plurality of outwardly extending fingers. The sheet is marked with visual indicators to guide the user of the support article for applying the central anchoring portion onto a first exterior surface of the body part and for stretching the fingers before adhering them at a predetermined distance away from the central anchoring portion. The adhesive support article can also be provided in a support system with at least one corresponding body landmark article, providing further guidance for applying the support article to the desired body part.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/526,829, filed Sep. 25, 2009 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,742,196, issued on Jun. 3, 2014), which is a national stage application of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2008/000233, filed Feb. 7, 2008, which claims benefit of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,578,927, filed Feb. 19, 2007. Each of the aforementioned patent applications is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to articles for supporting a user body part and more particularly to adhesive body support articles. 
     Background of the Invention 
     A relatively new tool in the physiotherapy and sports medicine arsenal is high-stretch adhesive support tape. Such tape is distinct from traditional “sports” tape which is used to isolate and restrain a body part to protect it and allow healing. It is also distinct from traditional TENSOR® wrap bandages, which although stretchable, are primarily used for bracing an injury. High-stretch adhesive support tape, by contrast, is used for the purpose of positioning the body part (typically a joint) while permitting a high degree of natural mobility. 
     High-stretch adhesive support tape acts as an assist to weak musculature. The stretch in the tape allows a mild degree of tension to be placed across the supported body part, in effect acting as an auxiliary muscle. 
     High-stretch adhesive support tape can also be used for pain therapy in acute situations. The tape lifts the skin providing a stimulus to the fascia and/or muscular tissue, stimulates blood and lymphatic flow, alters the forces over the affected joint, effects muscle inhibition and facilitation, and stimulates muscle and skin receptors such as mechanoreceptors, nociceptors, exteroceptive receptors, and cutaneous proprioceptive afferents. 
     The adhesive aspect of the tape is critical to producing these effects. The tape sticks directly to the body. The adhesive is strong enough that opposite ends of a length of tape applied to the body will remain adhered even when the tape length is under tension and the body part is in regular active use. This contrasts with other tapes that are either non-adhesive or adhesive only to themselves. These tapes can be wrapped repeatedly on a body part or dispensed from a self-adhesive roll but cannot be adhered directly to the body. 
     One particularly effective type of high-stretch adhesive support tape is Kinesio Tex™ by Kinesio Co., Ltd. of Japan. This tape has many of the advantageous properties discussed above. However, it suffers several drawbacks, relating to the fact that it is sold in rolls, which must be customized for application according to the imagination and skill of the doctor. A physiotherapist or sports doctor must cut off a section of the tape from a roll, cut the length of tape further into a therapeutic shape, and apply it to the patient. The cutting, shaping and positioning (tensioning) of the tape piece are left to the complete discretion of the doctor. It is a trial and error process. The doctor is effectively trying to estimate a position, length, shape and degree of tension that will cause a subjective improvement in sensation, range of motion or pain relief in the patient. 
     The tape includes no visual indication of where or how to position it on the patient&#39;s body or how to use the stretch property effectively (what tension to apply). As a result, it is possible to position the tape incorrectly or with an inappropriate tension reducing the therapeutic effectiveness, reducing or constricting blood circulation, or even worsening the underlying condition. 
     For the patient, this trial and error process can be frustrating. Obtaining relief and/or satisfactory support from the tape is thus heavily dependent on the skill of the particular doctor and his/her experience with the tape product. Furthermore, the patient is committed to attending regularly at the doctor&#39;s office to have the tape freshly applied, since the tape is not typically available to patients directly, and in any case, could not be applied without considerable professional guidance. 
     For the doctor, the tape cutting and shaping are time-consuming and may be impossible to accommodate in a busy practice. Most doctors do not see their patients on a sufficiently regular basis to keep up a continuous tape therapy. There may be long gaps between “tape application” visits for chronic conditions, during which gaps the patient has no self-treatment option. 
     Another drawback of existing tapes is that they are frequently only available in narrower widths (less than 3 inches). While a narrow width provides a convenient size for packaging on a roll, the size is not conducive to effective coverage for support of many body parts. The doctor applying the tape may have to cut and apply multiple pieces of tape to achieve the desired effect. This complicates the application process and increases the time commitment. 
     It would be desirable to provide a pre-cut, pre-engineered adhesive body support article to overcome the aforementioned problems of high-stretch adhesive support tapes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, an adhesive support article is provided for supporting a body part of a user. A single-sided stretchable adhesive tape blank is precut into a sheet to form the adhesive support article. The sheet has a central anchoring portion and a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the central anchoring portion. The sheet is marked with visual indicators to guide the user of the support article for: applying the central anchoring portion onto a first exterior surface of the body part; and stretching the fingers a predetermined distance away from the central anchoring portion according to the marked indicators and adhesively applying the fingers to a second exterior surface of the body part spaced away from the first exterior surface to support the body part by tethering the first and second exterior surfaces together. 
     The tape blank preferably comprises a waterproof, breathable, high-elasticity physiotherapy tape. 
     The central anchoring portion may define a centrally positioned hole for allowing a joint to protrude through the sheet. This aids with positioning of the support article and enhances user comfort. 
     The fingers may be the same length or different lengths. The fingers may comprise alternating longer and shorter lengths. The length of the fingers is used to pre-calibrate the tension that will be present in the completely installed article. Shorter fingers will be stretched more than longer fingers. Longer fingers may be adhered with no tension at all. 
     Preferably, the central anchoring portion comprises a generally rectangular portion having two opposing longer sides and two opposing shorter sides. The fingers may extend outward from one or both of the two longer sides. The central anchoring portion defines an axis along its length. The fingers may extend at a perpendicular or non-perpendicular angle to the axis. In one embodiment, the fingers are precut to extend helically outward from the central anchoring portion. 
     To aid in installation, the sheet may comprise a release liner. The release liner is preferably scored to provide separate releasable portions at the central anchoring portion and at the fingers, so as to facilitate placement of the central anchoring portion before stretching and adhering the fingers. 
     The indicators on the sheet may comprise numerical indicators, letter indicators, or other indicators (such as pictograms or color codes). These may be marked on the fingers, the central anchoring portion or both. Preferably, a set of coordinating indicators are used on the fingers and the central anchoring portion to facilitate installation. The indictors may be marked to guide the user of the support article for overlapping the fingers when applying them. 
     In one embodiment of the support article, the central anchoring portion has a U shape with a pair of side portions joined by a base portion. The fingers extend from at least one of the side portions of the U. Each finger may extend from one of the side portions be stretchable toward the other side portion. The indicators may be marked to guide the user of the support article for stretching the fingers from one side portion to the other side portion when applying them. Alternatively, the indicators may be marked to guide the user of the support article for stretching the fingers toward the base portion when applying them. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, an adhesive support system is provided. The system includes an adhesive support article and at least one adhesive body landmark article. The support article is adapted for supporting a body part of a user and comprises: a single-sided stretchable adhesive tape blank precut into a sheet having a central anchoring portion and a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the central anchoring portion. 
     The sheet is marked with visual indicators to guide the user of the support article for: applying the central anchoring portion onto a first exterior surface of the body part; and 
     stretching the fingers a predetermined distance away from the central anchoring portion according to the marked indicators and adhesively applying the fingers to a second exterior surface of the body part spaced away from the first exterior surface to support the body part by tethering the first and second exterior surfaces together. 
     The at least one adhesive body landmark article is adapted for adhering to an identifiable body landmark of the user to aid in gauging how far to stretch the fingers of the support article to adhere the fingers to the second exterior surface according to the marked indicators. The body landmark article may, for instance, be manufactured to a length that corresponds to the distance the fingers should be stretched from the central anchoring portion. 
     Preferably, the body landmark article is marked with a second set of indicators corresponding to the indicators on the support article. 
     Preferably, the system is packaged with instructions for the order of application of the body landmark article and the support article. It may be desirable to apply the body landmark article before the support article, or after. 
     The body landmark article is preferably pre-folded into halves at a central fold line. The body landmark article preferably includes a release liner, which is also scored at the central fold line to permit the pre-folded halves to be adhered separately. Preferably, at least one of the halves of the body landmark article is adapted to overlap and retain at least a portion of the fingers of the body support article when the fingers are adhered in the indicated position. The overlapping half of the body landmark article may be marked with indicators corresponding to indicators on the fingers that it overlaps. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention, a further adhesive support article is provided for supporting a body part of a user. The article combines a support article similar to the first embodiment with body landmarks similar to the second embodiment. The embodiment differs in that the support article and body landmarks are integral with each other in one unified support article. A single-sided stretchable adhesive tape blank precut into a sheet has: a central anchoring portion; a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the central anchoring portion; at least one T-shaped body landmark projection extending outwardly from the central anchoring portion beyond the fingers, the body landmark having a pair of laterally extending wing members. 
     The sheet is marked on the fingers and the at least one body landmark with visual indicators to guide the user of the support article for: 
     applying the central anchoring portion onto a first exterior surface of the body part; 
     applying the at least one body landmark onto a second exterior surface of the body part; and 
     stretching the fingers away from the central anchoring portion to meet the wing members of the body landmark before adhesively applying the fingers, to thereby support the body part by tethering the first and second exterior surfaces together. 
     The invention has numerous advantages over the prior art. The support article and support system provide improved user-friendly adhesive support over existing tapes requiring professional cutting and shaping. The invention also provides an objectively engineered design which eliminates the guesswork of the prior tape systems, allowing tension to be pre-calibrated so that users can apply the articles themselves, providing an effective self management strategy for those suffering from painful joints and/or chronic weakness. 
     The pre-cut shape of the support article further allows for a physiologically more effective adhesive support for supporting a joint, as all of the extensions (fingers) of the support article are focused around an anatomically significant central point allowing the central anchoring portion and fingers to work together increasing the overall effectiveness. The single piece (or single piece with body landmarks) design provides continuous support to work in an interdependent manner providing muscular facilitation and inhibition as well as cutaneous proprioceptive input. 
     Physiologically, the support article is designed to pull the cutaneous attachment of the support, the projections (fingers) back toward the central anchoring portion relieving tension on the underlying superficial fascia and providing afferent sensory input altering pain reception and joint awareness. This is believed to closely replicate how the human body work by means of a continuous interfacing of fascia. Skin irritation from friction is minimized as the adhesive support and the underlying skin move as one unit. 
     Unlike wrap bandages and other forms of braces (both adhesive and non-adhesive), this form of support does not restrict expansion of the muscles or compression of subcutaneous blood flow and is therefore safer for application by unskilled users. 
     A further advantage of the support system is that the body landmarks can be used to provide additional stabilization of the fingers of the support article. In an overlapping configuration, the landmarks overlap the finger “tips” thereby preventing curling and premature delamination of the fingers when in use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows a top plan view of a first body support article according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top plan view of a second body support article according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  show top plan views of a body landmark article for use in the present invention (upper and lower, respectively). 
         FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of a first stage of installation of a body support system having a body support article and upper and lower body landmark articles. 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the upper body landmark article folded prior to installation. 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of the upper body landmark article being unfolded in the course of first stage installation. 
         FIG. 8  shows a side view of the lower body landmark article folded prior to installation. 
         FIG. 9  shows a side view of the lower body landmark article being unfolded in the course of first stage installation. 
         FIG. 10  shows a top plan view of completed installation of the body support system. 
         FIG. 11  shows a top plan view of completed installation of the body support system on a human body part. 
         FIG. 12  shows a top plan view of a third body support article having integral upper and lower body landmarks. 
         FIG. 13  shows a top plan view of a variation of the first body support article, having fingers extending in one direction only. 
         FIG. 14  shows a top plan view of a fourth body support article having a U-shaped central anchoring portion with fingers extending toward opposite sides of the U. 
         FIG. 15  shows a top plan view of a variation of the fourth body support article marked with indicators for stretching the fingers in an overlapping or interwoven pattern. 
         FIG. 16  shows a top plan view of a further variation of the fourth body support article marked with indicators for stretching the fingers in an interlaced or interdigitated pattern. 
         FIG. 17  shows a top plan view of a variation of the body support system shown in  FIG. 10  marked with indicators for stretching the fingers in a cross-over pattern. 
         FIG. 18  shows a top plan view of an adhesive support system for supporting a body part. 
         FIG. 19  shows a bottom view of the adhesive support system of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  shows a simplified side view of the adhesive support system of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a very simplistic adhesive body support article  10  according to the present invention. For the greatest simplicity, a single fixed shape may be used which is capable of providing support to the knee, low back, hip, shoulder, hamstring, and elbow in one design. The pre-cut sheet has a central anchoring portion (generally,  20 ), which may include a central hole  40  for allowing a joint to protrude. Projecting generally outwardly from the central anchoring portion  20  are fingers  30 . As shown, the support article  10  may have separate upper and lower fingers terminating at upper ends  50 A and lower ends  50 B respectively. An alternative configuration of the body support article is shown in  FIG. 13 . As illustrated, the article may be configured so that all fingers  30  extend in one direction away from the central anchoring portion  20 . 
     The support article is an adhesive sheet having a skin-safe high tack adhesive on one side. The sheet has a high-stretch fabric base, which is preferably breathable. A stretch coefficient of approximately 140% is considered optimal, however a range of stretchability may be useful. Acceptable adhesives and base fabrics are considered to be within the knowledge of persons skilled in the art of bandage and body tape manufacturing and are not discussed here in detail. 
     Of note, the support article of the present invention is pre-cut and marked with indicators allowing positioning of the article on a body part of a user. Ideally, the article will also be packaged with simple instructions (not shown) for the user to apply the article. For instance, the instructions may indicate that, after adhering the central anchoring portion  20 , the user should measure up from the central anchoring portion 5 inches and adhere the “A” marked  60 A finger tips  50 A at that location. The user should measure down from the central anchoring portion 4 inches and adhere the “B” marked  60 B finger tips  50 B at that location. These measurements are merely for illustration and must be selected to be appropriate to the particular application desired (i.e. particular body part to be supported) and may further be dependent on the size of the user. The distances to stretch govern the tension on the fingers, which support the body part. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the fingers may have individual markings  60 , each corresponding to a different placement direction and desired end point, which would be detailed in the accompanying instructions (not shown). Note that in both the variations the central anchoring portion  20  is adhered without stretching, therefore it has no tension. 
     A body support system is illustrated in  FIGS. 2-11 and 17 . The main components of the system are the support article  110  and body landmark articles  150 A,  150 B. The body landmark articles  150 A,  150 B avoid the need to perform a measurement in order to adhere the support article. They assist in positioning the support article. 
     As with the basic body support described above, the body support article  110  shown in  FIG. 2  has a central anchoring portion  120  (also shown in  FIG. 2  as having cutaway  140  for joint protrusion), and fingers  130  extending outwardly from the central anchoring portion  120 . The fingers  130  are marked with indicators (shown as being separate upper and lower indicators  170 A and  170 B, respectively). The indicators correspond to indicators  170 A and  170 B on landmark articles  150 A and  150 B shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The body support article  110  has a release liner, which is preferably scored along line  125  at the upper and lower boundaries of the central anchoring portion  120 . The score lines  125  allow the release liner to be separated to expose the central anchoring portion  120  separately from the release liner(s) along fingers  130 , so that the portions may be adhered in sequence. 
     A preferred body landmark article design is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . These correspond generally to a preferred design of upper and lower landmarks  150 A,  150 B (respectively). Each landmark article is preferably provided with a central fold line  180 A,  180 B (also scored on the release liner), which separates the landmark article into two halves ( 182 ,  184  on the upper landmark article and  186 ,  188  on the lower landmark article). 
     The installation process of the body support system is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 10 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the first phase of installation, while  FIG. 10  illustrates the completed installation. To install the body support system, the release liner portion on the back of the central anchoring portion  120  is first removed along score lines  125 . The central anchoring portion with adhesive exposed is then adhered (with zero tension, zero stretch) to the physiological centre that is desired to be supported. Cutaway  140  is used to center the anchor over an affected joint or other significant body feature (e.g. spine). At this point, the fingers  130  are at zero tension and are covered by the release liner. The pre-folded upper and lower body landmark articles  150 A and  150 B are then adhered at fold halves  182 ,  188  only. The length  160 A,  160 B of each of the upper and lower body landmark articles preferably corresponds to the distance away from the central anchoring portion that is needed for effective stretch support by the fingers. Therefore, before adhering the landmark articles, these may be used as rulers by positioning them extending outwardly lengthwise from the fold line  125 , the end giving a visual guideline for where the landmark fold line  180 A,  180 B should then be positioned when the landmark article is situated in its installation position (shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
     Once the halves  182 ,  188  are adhered so that the landmark articles are in their installation position, the release liners on the fingers  130  are removed and the fingers  130  are stretched so that they extend to the lines  180 A,  180 B. The upper fingers are stretched in accordance with their marked indicators to the marked positions on the landmark articles  150 A,  1508  (best shown in  FIG. 10 ). The different lengths of the fingers  130  are pre-engineered so that different tensions will result when the fingers are stretched to lines  180 A,  180 B. Preferably, the tensions will range between about 10% to about 40% to support the affected area. Once the fingers  130  have been stretched and adhered in position, the landmark articles are unfolded. The release liner portions on the unadhered halves of the landmark articles are removed, exposing their adhesive layers. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the folded half  184  is brought down to lie flat adjacent half  182  in the upper landmark article  150 A. The folded half  186  is brought down to lie flat adjacent half  188  in the lower landmark article  150 B. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the fingers  130  in completely stretched position are overlapped by the landmark articles  150 A,  150 B at  190 A,  190 B. This also serves to secure the ends of the fingers against peeling. 
       FIG. 17  shows an alternative variation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 . In this variation, the fingers  130  and body landmark articles  150 A,  150 B are marked for application of the fingers in a cross-over pattern. The cross-over provides a higher concentration of positioning force focused toward the center of the body part supported. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a sample placement of the body support system  110  on a human knee. As an illustration of the physiological effect of the support system, the use will be described having reference to the knee. It will be appreciated that the support article and support system are equally capable of supporting another body part, either in the shape illustrated or in a similar shape having similar general features of a central anchoring portion and extensible fingers. 
     Patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of the most frequently experienced reasons for knee pain. Factors associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome are inactivation of the vastus medialus muscle, over-recruitment of the vastus lateralis, weakness of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior. The patella ends up having excessive force pulling it laterally altering the normal wear and friction leading to pain and inflammation. Muscle weakness may attribute to arthrogenous inhibition, muscle fibre atrophy or mypopathic change. 
     The support system provides adhesive support bracing objectively engineered, in the case of the knee, to control the position of the patella, altering the magnitude or distribution of patellofemoral joint pressures or stress on joint and soft tissue structures thus providing pain relief. The support system helps correct and realign movement of the patella to take pressure off inflamed tissue and alter “somatic” sensations thus increasing cutaneous proprioceptive acuity, quadriceps strength and neuromotor control. 
     A further effect is to provide facilitation to the regional muscles of the knee to influence the forces experienced by the knee (vastus medialis, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior). The support system further provides exteroceptive stimulation thus altering pain sensation and provides cutaneous proprioceptive input thus affecting muscle control. 
     These effects are achieved because of the differential tensions on the adhesive fingers pulled from the origin at the central anchoring portion. The pre-cut support article includes a central anatomically significant fixed point of origin and physiologically important projections to facilitate and inhibit muscles acting of the knee, governed by different levels of tension, in order to alter the forces over the knee in such a way as to reduce pain and improve range of motion. 
     A variant design is shown in  FIG. 12 . As illustrated, the body support article  210  may be provided as an integral piece with the landmark portions  165 A,  165 B. The article  210  has a central anchoring portion  220  with cutaway  240  and scored release liner lines  225 . Fingers  230  project away from the central anchoring portion  220  and include marked indicators  270 A,  270 B. Also extending outwardly from the central anchoring portion is a pair of T-shaped landmark portions, each having trunk portion  235  and T portion  165 A,  165 B having laterally extending wings. The landmark portions are marked with indicators  270 A,  270 B corresponding to indicators on the fingers. Following installation and adhesion of the central anchoring portion  220 , the landmark portions with their respective trunk portions are adhered (having zero tension) at their pre-measured distance away from the central anchoring portion. The fingers  230  are then stretched to match the indicators  270 A,  270 B together (respectively) to provide the pre-determined level of tension to support the body part. 
       FIGS. 14-16  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a body support article  310  having a U-shaped central anchoring portion  320 . Different marking configurations are possible, as shown in  FIGS. 14-16 . In  FIG. 14 , the fingers  330  (which extend from side portions  320 A,  320 B) are marked for application in a grid pattern. In  FIG. 15 , the fingers  330  are marked for application by stretching them to coordinating positions on the U-shaped central anchoring portion  320 . The U-shaped central anchoring portion may thus take the place of the body landmark articles in the body support system embodiment described above. In  FIG. 16 , the fingers  330  are marked for application in an interlaced or interdigitated pattern (each finger being stretchable to extend to a corresponding indicator on the opposite side portion  320 A,  320 B). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18-20 , in the example illustrated, another body support article  410  includes a pre-cut stretchable sheet  415  having an adhesive surface  417 . The pre-cut stretchable sheet includes a central anchoring portion  420 . The central anchoring portion  420  includes a positioning aid for guiding the user to apply the central anchoring portion  420  to a physiological center to be supported. In the example illustrated, the positioning aid includes a central hole  440  in the central anchoring portion  420 . 
     In the example illustrated, the sheet further includes a first plurality of fingers  430 A projecting outwardly from the central anchoring portion  420  in a first direction, and a second plurality of fingers  430 B projecting outwardly from the central anchoring portion  420  in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The article  410  further includes a release liner  419  on the adhesive surface  417 . The release liner  419  is scored along a first boundary  425 A between the central anchoring portion  420  and the first plurality of fingers  430 A, and scored along a second boundary  425 B between the central anchoring portion  420  and the second plurality of fingers  430 B. The article  410  further includes a set of indicators  470  indicating that the central anchoring portion  420  is to be applied prior to the first plurality of fingers  430 A and the second plurality of fingers  430 B. In the example illustrated, the set of indicators  470  is printed on the release liner  419 . 
     The foregoing description illustrates only certain preferred embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the foregoing examples. That is, persons skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that modifications and variations are, or will be, possible to utilize and carry out the teachings of the invention described herein. Accordingly, all suitable modifications, variations and equivalents may be resorted to, and such modifications, variations and equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as described and within the scope of the claims.