Patent ID: 8764691

Claim:
A pannus support member for lifting and containing a pannus of a patient comprising: a main belt portion for securing around the abdomen of the patient; a disposable first front belt portion that is intended for wearing prior to and during surgery and is detachably secured at two opposing ends to the main belt portion in such a way that the first front belt portion can be completely detached and removed from the main belt portion by solely detaching the two opposing ends of the front belt portion from the main belt portion to allow disposal thereof after surgery, the first front belt portion and the main belt portion forming an assembled belt when the first front belt portion and the main belt portion are attached to one another, the assembled belt being positioned and adjustable about the abdomen such that the pannus is contained and lifted by the main belt portion and the first front belt portion away from a target incision area on the abdomen, the first front belt portion having a bottommost edge that has a contoured concave shaped front section that is centrally located for positioning above the incision area of the abdomen when the assembled belt is secured around the abdomen; a second front belt portion that comprises a post-operative belt portion that is worn post surgery, the second front belt portion being detachably secured at two opposing ends to the main belt portion in such a way that the second front belt portion can be completely detached from the main belt portion to allow disposal thereof, the second front belt portion and the main belt portion forming an assembled belt when the second front belt portion and the main belt portion are attached to one another, the assembled belt being positioned and adjustable about the abdomen such that the pannus is contained and lifted by the main belt portion and the second front belt portion away from an incision area on the abdomen, wherein the second front belt portion has a different construction relative to the first front belt portion, the second front belt portion having a bottom edge that has a contoured convex shaped front section that is positioned above the incision area when the assembled belt is secured around the abdomen; and a pair of straps that are coupled at each end to the belt portion, the pair of straps being constructed to extend across shoulders of the patient and apply a lifting force to the belt portion to cause the pannus to be maintained in a lifted position away from the incision area.