Abstract:
A compress garment for application to a body generally includes a member sized and shaped for positioning onto a body when in position conforms to and supports a body shape. A least one, preferably a multiple number of access windows disposed in the garment member for enabling dermal application and removal of a medical electrode. The access windows are located on the garment member at positions enabling access to pre-selected dermal areas.

Description:
The present application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 09/748,548 filed on Dec. 26, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,115. 
    
    
     The present invention generally relates to a compress garment, and more specifically is directed to a compress garment for positioning medical electrodes against a body. 
     Monitoring electrodes are well known for their use in determining a multitude of body conditions. 
     Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is used for example, in post-operative and chronic pain control. 
     On the other hand, muscle stimulation is useful for example, in maintenance and development of muscle tissue and is a particularly important function in sports medicine. 
     While significant advantages afforded through the use of electrical stimulation of nerves and muscles, its effectiveness can be enhanced when used in combination with a supporting compress, band or brace, which may not only provide for immobilization of the body part, but also proper placement and positioning of electrical stimulation electrodes with respect to the body part. Reference is made to U.S. patent application entitled “ELECTRICAL STIMULATION COMPRESS” Ser. No. 09/428,196 filed Oct. 27, 1999. This patent application is to be incorporated herewith in its entirety, including all specifications and drawings by this specific reference thereto. The referenced patent application is limited to relatively small supports, bands, or braces because of the difficulty in placement of electrodes thereunder. For large compresses, or garments, such as for example, sleeves and torso garments, it is difficult to effect proper placement of the electrodes because the “skin tight” nature of the garment. Such garments must be rolled, pulled over, strapped or slid into position in order to effect proper compress or bracing for the patient. It is also evident that electrode placement, or the means therefore, should not interfere with the purpose of the garments. 
     The present invention provides for the use of difficult to don compress garments in combination with accurate placement of one or more medical electrodes without interfering with the garment placement or function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A compress garment in accordance with the present invention for application to a body generally includes a garment member sized and shaped for positioning onto a body, and when in position, conforming to and supporting a body shape. The positioning may be by sliding, rolling or strapping the garment member onto the body. Typically the garment member is elastic and of sufficient elasticity to not only conform to the body part but act also as a brace or compress. Such garment members cover a large area of body and are custom made and fitted to a patient in order to apply compress, or support, to selected body parts as noted hereinabove. 
     In accordance with the present invention, at least one access window is disposed in the garment member for enabling dermal application and removal of a medical electrode. The access window is located on the garment member at a position enabling access to a pre-selected dermal area. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the access window comprises a slit in the garment member and the slit is sized and shaped for enabling the insertion and removal of a medical electrode therethrough. Further, an electrical contact for example, an eyelet of a snap assembly, is disposed in the garment member and passes through the garment member proximate the slit for establishing electrical connection with the medical electrode. In this embodiment, the medical electrode has no separate electrical lead wires extending therefrom. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the access window comprises at least one hinged flap with the hinged flap being sized and shaped for enabling insertion and removal of the medical electrode thereunder. In addition, an electrical contact, passing through the hinged flap is provided for establishing electrical connection with the medical electrode. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the access window may comprise an opening in the member with the opening being sized and shaped for enabling insertion and removal of a medical electrode. The garment further comprises a cover for covering the opening and the medical electrode. In addition, an electrical contact passing through the cover, may be provided for establishing electrical connection with the medical electrode. 
     A carrier, for example, a pocket, may be provided in the garment for supporting an electrical/electronic module for connection to the medical electrode. In this instance electrical connection between the electrode and the module may be through wires embedded in the garment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a compress garment in accordance with the present invention showing a plurality of access windows and slits with electrical contact snaps extending therethrough; 
         FIG. 2  is a compress garment similar to that shown in  FIG. 1  also featuring a pocket for supporting an electrical module and a plurality of electrodes disposed through access windows with wires integral with or beneath the garment for attachment to the electronic module (not shown) which may be disposed in the pocket; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section exploded view of an access window flap in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the flap access window as shown in  FIG. 3  illustrating a variety of electrode positions; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative flap access window in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the flap access window shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional exploded view of an access window and cover in accordance with the present invention sized for accommodating two electrodes, for example, an anode and cathode electrode, as may be desired in certain treatments or applications; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the cover access window shown in  FIG. 7  utilizing attachment tabs disposed in an asymmetric position around a window opening or alternately, an index for orienting the electrode beneath the cover; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional exploded view of an alternative embodiment of an access window and cover in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  along with an index marking for properly orienting the electrode within the access window; 
         FIG. 11  is an alternative embodiment of a cover window access in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional exploded view of a slit access window in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of the slit access window shown in FIG.  13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a compress garment  10 , specifically a lower torso garment, for application to a body. It should be appreciated that while a lower torso garment  10  is shown, other garment such as sleeves, leggings, upper torso garments or any garment covering large areas of the body are to be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     Such garments are typically custom fitted to a patient and even light adhesion to the skin hampers donning and doffing of such garments. Prior art garments, not shown, utilizing stimulation electrodes, see for example the referenced patent application Ser. No. 09/428,196, further hamper the donning and doffing of the garments. The prior art has attempted to solve this problem though the use of sliding electrodes, however, the manufacture of such electrodes is difficult, and further, when sliding over the skin such slidable electrodes leave an undesirable “snail trail”. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 1 , the garment  10  includes a sized member  12  which is shaped for slidable positioning onto a body, and when in position conforming to an supporting the body shape. In the present described embodiment  10 , the shape is for the lower torso. 
     Various access windows  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  are shown disposed in the garment member  12  for enabling dermal application and removal of a medical electrode (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) with the access window  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  being located on the garment member at positions enabling access to a preselected dermal area (disposed beneath the access windows). The positioning of the window  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  shown in the Figure is only intended to be a representation and not limiting the present invention to such limited positions. Fixed art positions are determined by a professional in the art of electrode placement. Also shown, are electrical snap connectors  26  described hereinafter in greater detail. 
     An alternative compress garment embodiment  30  is shown in  FIG. 2  including a garment member  32  along with a pocket  34  for supporting an electrical module for connection to medical electrodes  40  shown in dashed line beneath access windows  42  and directly interconnected to the pocket through embedded wires  44  to a plug  46  for connecting with an electronic module (not shown). It should be appreciated that the electrodes  40  may be monitoring or stimulation electrodes, accordingly, a corresponding electronic module (not shown) is utilized. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , there is shown the flap window access  18  which includes a flap  44  with a hinge  46  integral with the garment member  12 . The flap  18  may be cut from the garment member  12  and a circumferential band  48  disposed therearound, which may include an attachment system for providing a positive coupling between the flap  18  and the garment member  12 . Any suitable attachment system, for example Velco® may be used in accordance with the present invention. In addition, a separate flap closure tab  50  may be included to provide tension and a smooth surface between the flap  18  and the garment member  12 , see FIG.  4 . 
     The flap  18  is sized and shaped for enabling insertion and removal of a medical electrode  54  which preferably includes a highly conductive gel  56 , a conductive layer  58  and a skin specific gel  60 . The electrode  54  is fully described in the referenced patent application Ser. No. 09/428,196 which is incorporated herewith, and accordingly, further specific details of the electrode  54  construction are omitted herewith for brevity. 
     The electrode  54  is electrically connected through the flap  44  by means of an electrical connector  64  passing through the hinged flap  44  and including a snap eyelet  66  and a snap stud  68 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  within the flap  18  area, the electrode  54  may be oriented in various positions as shown in a broken line. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , there is shown the access window  20  which includes, alternatively, two flaps  72 ,  74  having integral hinges  76 ,  78  symmetrical with the garment member  12 . Common reference numerals shown in  FIG. 5  being identical or substantially equivalent to the elements referenced to hereinbefore with the same reference characters. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the window access  20  as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is shown the access window  22  which includes an opening  84  in the garment member  12  with the opening  84  being sized and shaped for the insertion or removal of a plurality of medical electrodes  54  and a cover  86  for covering the opening  84  and electrodes  54 . Common reference numbers, particularly with regard to the snap eyelets  66  and snap stud  68  are identical to hereinbefore referenced elements having the same character reference. In the embodiment shown, the electrodes  54  may be cooperating electrodes, such as an anode and cathode, or be independent, such as a stimulation electrode, monitoring electrode or drug delivery electrode. 
     In the embodiment  22  fastener tabs  90  are utilized for securing the cover  86  directly to the member  12 . An asymmetric pattern of the tabs  90  may be used to orient the cover  86 , with the electrodes  54  attached thereto, within the opening  84 . Alternatively, an indexed tab  92  and index  94  may be used for orientation. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , there is shown alternative embodiment access window  24 , that includes a removable cover  96  and an attachment system  98 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , indicia  102 ,  104  disposed on the cover  98  and the garment member  12  may be utilized for alignment of the electrode  54  when the cover  96  is removed and replaced on to the garment member  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , there is shown an alternate embodiment of window access  100  (which generally includes a cover  102 ) which is secured to the garment member  12  by an attachment system  104 . Common reference numerals refer to identical or substantially similar elements as hereinbefore described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the arrangement facilitates manufacture through the use of rectangular attachment pieces. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the slit window access  16 , which includes a slit  108  in the garment member, is disclosed. The elastic nature of the garment member  12  enables a stretching as indicated by the bend  112  in  FIG. 13  enables the insertion of the electrode  54 . The electrical connecter  64  comprising the eyelet  66  and snap stud  68  pass through the garment member  12  proximate the slit  108  for establishing electrical contact with the electrode  54 . Again, reference numerals represent identical or substantial component as hereinabove described. 
     Although there has been hereinabove described a compress garment in accordance with the present invention, for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.