Compression device comprising a compression band and a holding device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023729404
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-02
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-09
AI Technical Summary
Current compression devices, such as stockings and sleeves, are not suitable for patients with acute sprains or painful conditions, as they are difficult to apply and require frequent re-adjustment due to slippage, which complicates treatment and increases workload for healthcare personnel.
A compression device comprising a extensible compression band and a holding device with a substantially inextensible strip that forms a strapping around a turn of the bandage, ensuring effective and long-term fixation without slippage, allowing the bandage to maintain consistent pressure even during patient movement.
The solution prevents slippage of the bandage turns, maintaining consistent compression pressure for extended periods without discomfort to the patient or injury, reducing the need for frequent re-adjustment and minimizing workload for healthcare professionals.
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Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] TITLE: Compression device comprising a compression band and a holding device
[0003] The present invention relates to a compression device of the type comprising at least one compression band extending in a direction of elongation and at least one holding device comprising at least one holding strip extending in a direction of extension, said compression band being extensible at least in the direction of elongation and the holding strip being substantially inextensible in the direction of extension, the compression band forming a bandage comprising turns when it is wound in the direction of elongation around a part of a limb of a patient, the holding strip comprising at least one reversible fixing device on the compression band.
[0004] The invention also relates to a method of placing such a compression device around a portion of a patient's limb.
[0005] It is known to apply a specific pressure to a limb or part of a limb of a patient, for example in the treatment or prevention of venous pathologies.
[0006] To apply pressure, compression garments, such as stockings, tights, socks, compression sleeves, or other items, are generally used. Such garments are sized to apply the desired pressure, and a particular garment always applies the same amount of compression. The garments are therefore offered in different sizes suitable for applying different amounts of compression. The choice of a type of compression garment and its size depends on the part of the limb to which the treatment is to be applied and the desired pressure.
[0007] However, the use of such articles is not always possible, for example when a patient cannot put on the compression article. This is particularly the case when a patient suffers from an acute sprain, an active venous ulcer or other symptoms that make putting on or wearing a compression article too painful.
[0008] In such a case, it is known to use one or more compression bandages instead of a compression garment to be put on. Such a compression bandage is applied to the part of the limb to be treated by being wrapped around it so as to form a bandage comprising partially overlapping turns.
[0009] However, applying and maintaining such a compression bandage is complicated because the bandage must be rolled up while being stretched to apply the desired pressure, and this stretch must be maintained while the bandage is rolled up. Once the bandage is applied, it must be secured to the limb to hold it in place and apply the compression treatment.
[0010] Furthermore, for compression treatment to be effective, the compression bandage must be kept in place for a long period of time without the coils slipping over each other and / or over the limb, which would cause the pressure on the limb to be released. Such slippage also requires the bandage to be re-done regularly, which results in a significant workload for healthcare workers.
[0011] In order to fix the compression bandage, it is for example known to use a fastening clip to fix the compression bandage to itself at one end of it, but such a fixation is not likely to prevent the bandage from sliding along the limb, in particular after the bandage has been worn for a certain time. Also, it is common for these clips to injure the patient or the hands of the person positioning them.
[0012] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a compression device comprising at least one compression band held effectively on a part of the limb around which the band is wound and which can be worn for a long period without significant slippage of the turns of the band.
[0013] To this end, the invention relates to a compression device of the aforementioned type, in which the compression band and the holding device are formed by separate parts, said holding device being wound in the direction of extension on the compression band while being fixed reversibly on at least one turn of the bandage by making at least one complete turn of said turn in the direction of elongation to form a strapping around said turn and the limb part when the compression band is wound around said limb part.
[0014] By forming a closed and fixed strap around one turn of the bandage using a holding device comprising at least one substantially inextensible strip, effective support of the bandage on the part of the limb to which the bandage is applied is ensured, in particular by preventing slippage of the turn around which the strapping is performed, which also results in blocking of the other turns of the bandage. Thus, the bandage can be worn for long periods without the compression exerted being modified, even when the patient wearing the bandage moves. Furthermore, since the strap is applied to the bandage, the material of the strip is not applied to the patient's skin and does not cause discomfort when the patient wears the bandage.
[0015] The compression device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, considered alone or in any technically conceivable combination:
[0016] - the retaining strip comprises an internal face, applied to the turn of the bandage, and an external face, opposite the internal face, the reversible fixing device of the retaining strip extending over the internal face;
[0017] - the retaining strip comprises a complementary fixing device extending on the external face, one end of the retaining strip being applied to the opposite end of the retaining strip so that a part of the internal face is applied to a part of the external face and that said complementary fixing device cooperates with the reversible fixing device in order to fix the retaining strip on itself or on another retaining strip of the retaining device when the retaining device is wound on the turn of the bandage;
[0018] - the compression bandage comprises an internal face, applied to the patient's skin when the compression bandage forms a bandage around a part of the patient's limb, and an external face, opposite the internal face, a complementary fixing device extending on the external face and cooperating with the reversible fixing device of the support strip so as to directly fix the support strip on the turn of the bandage when the holding device is wound on the turn of the bandage;
[0019] - the reversible fastening device comprises hooks and the complementary fastening device comprises loops, the hooks being capable of engaging with the loops;
[0020] - the bandage extends between two end turns, the holding device being wound on one of said end turns;
[0021] - the support strip has a length, measured in the direction of extension, substantially between 30 cm and 60 cm and a width, measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension, substantially greater than or equal to 10 mm and less than or equal to the width of the compression strip, measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation;
[0022] - the compression bandage is a dry bandage. According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of applying a compression device as described above to a portion of a patient's limb, the method comprising the following steps:
[0023] - wrapping the compression bandage around the patient's limb portion in the direction of elongation so as to form a bandage comprising turns extending around the patient's limb portion,
[0024] - winding the holding device around at least one turn of the bandage, said holding device making at least one complete turn of said turn in the direction of elongation and forming a ring around said turn, said holding device being reversibly fixed to the bandage.
[0025] The method may include the following feature: when the patient's limb is one of said patient's legs, the holding device is wrapped and secured around an upper end coil extending around an upper portion of the calf in the vicinity of the knee of said leg.
[0026] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0027] [Fig. 1] - Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a compression band of a compression device according to the invention wrapped around a portion of a patient's limb to form a bandage,
[0028] [Fig. 2] - Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective representation of a retaining strip closed on itself to form a strapping,
[0029] [Fig. 3] - Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective representation of the compression device according to the invention applied to a part of a patient's limb, and
[0030] [Fig. 4] - Fig. 4 is a schematic side view showing one location of the support strap on a patient's leg.
[0031] With reference to Figs 1 to 3, a compression device is described comprising at least one compression band 1 and a holding device comprising at least one holding band 2. Such a compression device is intended to be applied to a part of a patient's limb 4, such as the lower part of a leg extending for example from the top of the calf to the patient's foot, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
[0032] The compression band 1 extends mainly in a direction of elongation L and comprises an inner face and an outer face 6, opposite the inner face. The length of the compression band 1 corresponds to the dimension of the compression band in the direction of elongation L and the width of the band corresponds to the dimension of the band in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation L, called transverse direction T.
[0033] The compression bandage is wrapped around the limb portion 4 to be treated in its direction of elongation so as to cover the limb portion to be treated.
[0034] When the compression bandage is wrapped around a limb portion 4, the inner face is applied to the patient's skin and the outer face 6 faces the outside of the limb portion 4. By convention, the terms "under", "over", "below", "above", etc. are defined with respect to the direction from the inner face to the outer face 6, corresponding to the thickness of the compression bandage 1.
[0035] As shown in Fig. 1, when the compression band 1 is wound onto the member portion 4, the compression band 1 partially overlaps, i.e. a portion of the inner face of an upper turn is applied to a portion of the outer face 6 of a lower turn in an overlapping zone, one turn corresponding to one turn of the band around the member portion 4. The overlapping zone extends, for example, over substantially half the width of the compression band. Alternatively, the overlap may be over less than half the width of the band or over more than half, for example over two-thirds of the width of the band.
[0036] When the compression bandage 1 is wrapped around the limb portion 4, it forms a bandage comprising several turns, including two end turns between which the bandage extends. The end turns are spaced apart from each other along the length of the limb portion. Thus, in the case of the lower part of a leg, one of the end turns, called the lower end turn 8, extends at the foot, and the other end turn, called the upper end turn 10, extends over the top of the calf near the knee. When applying the compression bandage 1, a healthcare professional begins by forming the lower end turn 8 and wraps the compression bandage up to the upper end turn 10.
[0037] The compression band 1 is extensible at least along the elongation direction L. In other words, the compression band 1 can be stretched along the elongation direction L. The compression band 1 has, for example, an elongation of between 10% and 180% along the elongation direction. As known per se, the stretching of the compression band along the elongation direction L makes it possible to adjust the pressure exerted by the compression band on the limb portion 4 around which the compression band is wrapped. According to a particular embodiment, the compression band is furthermore elastic along the elongation direction, so that it returns to its initial length when the stretching ceases to be applied to the compression band.
[0038] According to one embodiment, the compression band 1 is furthermore extensible in the transverse direction T. This is then referred to as a bi-extensible compression band. The extensibility in the transverse direction T is for example between 0% and 100%, 0% corresponding to a compression band 1 extensible only in the direction of elongation L. For the extensibility in the direction of elongation and in the transverse direction, the elongation is measured according to the specifications of standard NF EN ISO 20932 of 1 er February 2020. As is known, the extensibility in the transverse direction T makes it easier to apply the compression bandage, as it naturally adapts to the morphology of the part of the limb 4 around which the bandage is wrapped, and reduces the risk of folds forming in the bandage during application.
[0039] During application, the healthcare professional maintains a certain tension in the compression band along the direction of elongation L in order to apply the desired pressure to the limb portion 4. Furthermore, during application, the compression band is, for example, wound so that the turns extending along the direction of elongation L form an angle, greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°, relative to a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the limb portion 4, this direction corresponding to the width of the limb portion. The angle is, for example, more particularly between 0° and 45°, preferably between 0° and 20°.
[0040] The compression bandage is, for example, a so-called "dry" bandage, i.e. a bandage without adhesive to attach itself to itself and / or to the patient's skin. It is in fact with dry bandages that the problem of the bandage's turns slipping mainly arises.
[0041] The holding device is formed by one or more separate pieces of the compression band 1. Thus, when the holding device comprises only one holding strip 2, the holding strip 2 and the compression band 1 are not permanently attached to each other. In other words, when the holding strip is attached to the compression band 1, as will be described later, the holding strip is attached to the compression band 1, the attachment is reversible and the holding strip can be completely separated from the compression band when the attachment is undone. When the holding device comprises several holding strips, as will be described later, the compression band and each holding strip are formed by separate pieces.When several retaining strips 2 are provided, the different retaining strips are substantially identical to each other. Only one retaining strip 2 will therefore now be described.
[0042] The retaining strip 2 extends in a direction of extension and has a length, measured in this direction of extension, sufficient for the retaining strip 2 to make at least one complete turn of a coil of the bandage when the retaining strip 2 is fixed to the bandage by being wound around the bandage in the direction of extension. Thus, the retaining strip 2 has, for example, a length, measured in the direction of extension, substantially between 30 cm and 60 cm. Thus, when the circumference of the part of the limb around which the retaining device is applied is greater than 60 cm, the retaining device comprises several retaining strips, as will be described in more detail later.Furthermore, the retaining strip 2 has, for example, a width, measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension, less than or equal to the width of the compression strip 1. Thus, the retaining strip 2 has, for example, a width, measured in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension, substantially greater than or equal to 10 mm and less than or equal to the width of the compression strip 1.
[0043] The retaining strip 2 is substantially inextensible in the direction of extension. By inextensible, it is meant that the retaining strip 2 is not, or only slightly, extensible in the direction of extension and has, for example, an elongation of between 0% and 60%.
[0044] The elongation in the direction of extension of the retaining strip 2, for example between 0% and 60%, is always strictly less than the elongation in the direction of extension of the compression strip 1, for example between 10% and 180%. In other words, the compression strip 1 and the retaining strip 2 have two distinct levels of extensibility, the extensibility of the retaining strip being less than that of the compression strip.
[0045] As more particularly visible in Fig. 2, the holding strip 2 has an inner face 12 and an outer face 14. When the holding device is wound onto the bandage, as will be described in more detail later, the inner face 12 of the holding strip 2 is applied to the compression strip 1 and the outer face 14 is turned towards the outside of the limb part 4.
[0046] As indicated previously, the holding device is arranged to be reversibly fixed on the compression bandage 1. More particularly, the holding device is wound on the compression bandage 1 in the direction of extension so as to make at least one complete turn of at least one turn of the bandage, as shown in Fig. 3.
[0047] More particularly, when the holding device comprises a single holding strip, the holding strip 2 is for example arranged to make more than one complete turn of the coil and to be reversibly fixed to itself at its ends 16, as shown in Fig. 2. When several holding strips 2 are necessary, these are reversibly fixed to each other at their ends to make one or more than one complete turn of the coil.
[0048] For this purpose, the or each retaining strip 2 comprises, on the internal face 12, a fixing device 18 and on its external face 14, a complementary fixing device 20, capable of cooperating with the fixing device 18 to reversibly fix the retaining strip 2 to itself. Thus, when the retaining strip 2 is wound on a turn of the bandage, the internal face 12 of one of its ends 16 is applied to the external face 14 of the other end 16 so as to apply the fixing device 18 to the complementary fixing device 20 and to make them cooperate together to fix the retaining strip 2 to itself and thus ensure the fixing of the retaining strip 2 to the bandage.
[0049] According to one embodiment, the outer face 6 of the compression bandage 1 also comprises a complementary fixing device (not shown) so that the fixing device 18 on the inner face 12 of the retaining strip(s) 2 cooperates with the complementary fixing device on the outer face 6 of the compression bandage when the retaining device surrounds a turn of the bandage in order to ensure direct fixing between the retaining strip(s) 2 and the compression bandage 1. Thus, the retaining strip(s) 2 are fixed to the bandage as the retaining strip(s) 2 are applied to the bandage to go around it. In addition, an unintentional separation between the retaining strip(s) 2 and the bandage is prevented.It is understood that the complementary fixing device provided on the external face 6 of the compression band is not necessarily identical to the complementary fixing device 20 provided on the external face 14 of the retaining strip 2. Thus, the complementary fixing device on the external face 6 of the compression band is for example obtained without any particular treatment of the external face 6 of the compression band, which can be naturally adapted to cooperate with the fixing device 18 of the internal face of the retaining strip(s) 2.
[0050] According to a particular embodiment, the retaining strip 2 makes a complete turn of one turn of the bandage and is only fixed to the compression strip 1 by the cooperation of the fixing device 18 and the complementary fixing device on the external face 6 of the compression strip 1. In other words, according to this embodiment, the retaining strip 2 is not fixed to itself and makes exactly one complete turn of the bandage, the ends 16 of the retaining strip 2 being placed end to end to form the strapping. According to this embodiment and although this is not preferred, the external face 14 of the retaining strip 2 can then be devoid of a complementary fixing device.
[0051] The retaining strip 2 can therefore adapt to several diameters of the limb part 4, by being fixed to itself, and possibly to the bandage, when the circumference of the limb part 4 is less than the length of the retaining strip 2, by being fixed only to the compression strip 1 when the circumference of the limb part 4 is substantially equal to the length of the retaining strip 2 or by being fixed to another retaining strip 2 when the circumference of the limb part 4 is greater than the length of a retaining strip 2. It is understood that more than two retaining strips 2 can be provided if necessary.
[0052] According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the fixing device 18 is formed by hooks 22 extending projecting from the inner face 12 of the retaining strip 2 and the complementary fixing device 20 is formed by loops 24 extending projecting from the outer face 14 of the retaining strip 2 and / or from the outer face 6 of the compression strip 1. As indicated previously, the loops provided on the outer face 14 of the retaining strip 2 do not necessarily have the same dimensions as the loops formed on the outer face 6 of the compression strip 1. The hooks 22 are able to hook into the loops 24 to ensure reversible fixing between the fixing device 18 and the complementary fixing device 20.Advantageously, the hooks 22 extend over the entire inner face 12 of the retaining strip 2 and the loops 24 extend over the entire outer face 14 of the retaining strip 2 and / or the outer face 6 of the compression strip 1. Thus, any part of the inner face 12 of the retaining strip 2 can be fixed to any part of the outer face 14 of the retaining strip 2 and / or another retaining strip 2 and / or any part of the outer face 6 of the compression strip 1. It is understood that the fixing device 18 could be of another nature, such as an adhesive adapted to adhere reversibly to the outer face 14 of the retaining strip 2 and / or another retaining strip and / or to the outer face 6 of the compression strip 1.
[0053] The strapping of a turn of the bandage by the holding device is such that the inner face 12 of the holding strip(s) 2 extends entirely opposite the bandage, that is to say that the holding strip(s) 2 are only applied to the outer face 6 of the compression strip 1 and / or to the holding strip 2 and not to the patient's skin. Thus, the strapping does not degrade the comfort of wearing the bandage.
[0054] Furthermore, the strapping is adjusted around the turn of the bandage, i.e. the holding device is wrapped around the bandage without changing the pressure exerted by the compression band 1 on the limb part 4. Such an adjustment makes it possible to slightly increase the interface pressure between the turns and therefore to increase the coefficient of friction of the turn covered by the strapping on the previous turn partly covered by this turn. The increase in the coefficient of friction makes it possible to reduce, or even eliminate, the sliding of the covered turn on the previous turn, and consequently the sliding of the previous turn on the turn it covers, etc. The strapping also has the effect of dimensionally fixing the length of the compression band 1 on the last turn, which can then not relax, lose compression force and slip.
[0055] The holding device is advantageously positioned on the bandage in the vicinity of one of the end turns of the bandage, more particularly the upper end turn 10 in the case of a bandage applied to the lower part of a leg, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. According to one embodiment, the holding device is applied to and surrounds the upper end turn 10 of the bandage. Indeed, in the case of a bandage applied to the lower part of a leg, it has been found that the phenomenon of slippage of the turns is more pronounced towards the end of the bandage while the beginning of the bandage is practically not subject to such slippage. It has also been found that a single strapping in the vicinity of the upper end turn 10 makes it possible to suppress this phenomenon for a long period of time, in particular more than 24 hours. As shown in Fig.4, the strapping is for example provided around a coil extending around an upper part of the calf in the vicinity of the knee of the leg. More particularly, the strapping is for example provided just above the part of the calf having the largest diameter, that is to say above the curve of the calf, which prevents the strapping from passing the curve of the calf by sliding under gravity according to the length of the leg. More particularly, the strapping is for example placed between the largest circumference of the calf and the circumference of the calf where the bandage stops.
[0056] The retaining strip(s) 2 are for example applied substantially along the axis of the limb portion 4 to which the bandage is applied. Thus, when the bandage is applied at an angle of less than 45° with a direction perpendicular to the length of the limb portion 4, the strapping may be applied to two consecutive turns as shown in Fig. 3, while being applied mainly to the upper turn of these two turns. In other words, according to the embodiment of Fig. 3, the strapping extends mainly over the upper end turn 10 and marginally over the preceding turn.
[0057] It is understood that the bandage may comprise more than one compression band 1, for example two compression bands. In this case, the strapping is applied to the outer compression band 1, which covers another compression band. The two compression bands are for example applied in opposite winding directions, which reduces the sliding of the outer compression band on the inner compression band, this sliding being further reduced by the presence of the strapping formed by the holding device. Alternatively, the strapping may be applied between the inner compression band and the outer compression band, i.e. the strapping is applied to the inner compression band.In this case, the inner face of the retaining strip(s) 2 forming this strapping comprises a fixing device arranged to cooperate with the outer face of the inner compression strip and the outer face of the retaining strip(s) 2 forming the strapping comprises a fixing device arranged to cooperate with the inner face of the outer compression strip.
[0058] It may also be envisaged to provide more than one holding device in order to form strapping around several areas of the bandage or one or more holding devices comprising several holding strips 2 around limb circumferences greater than the length of the strip, as described previously.
[0059] Since the retaining strip(s) 2 are formed by one or more separate pieces of the compression bandage 1, they can be used with different models of compression bandage. In other words, it is not necessary to produce a retaining strip 2 specific to a model of compression bandage 1. Furthermore, the retaining strip(s) 2 can easily be removed when the bandage needs to be redone and then repositioned when the bandage has been redone. If, on this occasion, the compression bandage needs to be changed, it is not necessary to also change the retaining strip(s) 2.
[0060] The compression device has been described for application to a patient's leg. It is understood, however, that the compression device may be applied to another part of the limb, such as a forearm, the lower turn of the bandage being, for example, wrapped around a hand or wrist and the upper turn of the bandage being, for example, wrapped in the vicinity of the elbow.
Claims
DEMANDS 1. Compression device comprising at least one compression band (1) extending in an elongation direction (L) and at least one retention device comprising at least one retention strip (2) extending in an extension direction, said compression band (1) being extensible at least in the elongation direction (L) and the retention strip (2) being substantially inextensible in the extension direction, the compression band (1) forming a bandage comprising coils when wrapped in the elongation direction (L) around a part of a limb (4) of a patient, the retention strip (2) comprising at least one reversible fastening device (18) on the compression band (1), characterized in that the compression band (1) and the retention device are formed by separate parts,said support device being wound in the extension direction onto the compression bandage (1) and being reversibly fixed onto at least one turn of the bandage by making at least one complete turn of said turn in the elongation direction (L) to form a band around said turn and the limb part (4) when the compression bandage (1) is wound around said limb part (4).
2. Compression device according to claim 1, in which the retaining strip (2) comprises an inner face (12), applied to the coil of the bandage, and an outer face (14), opposite the inner face (12), the reversible fixing device (18) of the retaining strip extending over the inner face (12).
3. Compression device according to claim 2, wherein the retaining strip (2) comprises a complementary fastening device (20) extending over the outer face (14), one end (16) of the retaining strip (2) being applied to the opposite end (16) of the retaining strip (2) such that a portion of the inner face (12) is applied to a portion of the outer face (14) and said complementary fastening device (20) cooperates with the reversible fastening device (18) to fix the retaining strip (2) to itself or to another retaining strip of the retaining device when the retaining device is wound around the coil of the bandage.
4. Compression device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the compression bandage (2) comprises an inner face, applied to the patient's skin when the compression bandage (1) forms a bandage around a limb part (4) of the patient, and an outer face (6), opposite the inner face, a fastening device complementary (20) extending over the external face (6) and cooperating with the reversible fixing device (18) of the retaining strip (2) so as to fix the retaining strip (2) directly onto the coil of the bandage when the retaining device is wound onto the coil of the bandage.
5. Compression device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the reversible fastening device (18) includes hooks (22) and the complementary fastening device (20) includes loops (24), the hooks (22) being able to hook with the loops (24).
6. Compression device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bandage extends between two end turns (8, 10), the retaining device being wound around one of said end turns (8, 10).
7. Compression device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the retaining strip (2) has a length, measured along the extension direction, substantially between 30 cm and 60 cm and a width, measured along a direction substantially perpendicular to the extension direction, substantially greater than or equal to 10 mm and less than or equal to the width of the compression strip, measured along a direction substantially perpendicular to the elongation direction (L).
8. Compression device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the compression strip (1) is a dry strip.
9. A method for applying a compression device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 to a part of a limb (4) of a patient, the method comprising the following steps: - wrap the compression bandage (1) around the patient's limb (4) in the direction of elongation (L) so as to form a bandage comprising coils extending around the patient's limb (4), - wrap the retaining device around at least one turn of the bandage, said retaining device making at least one complete turn of said turn in the direction of elongation (L) and forming a band around said turn, said retaining device being fixed reversibly on the bandage.
10. A method of application according to claim 9, wherein the patient's limb is one of the patient's legs, the support device being wound and secured around an upper end coil (10) extending around an upper part of the calf in the vicinity of the knee of said leg.