Compression garment for lipedema management

Abstract

A compression garment configured to be worn by a user for the management of lipedema includes a leg portion, a hip portion configured to be above the leg portion when the compression garment is worn by the user, and a waistband portion configured to be above the hip portion when the compression garment is worn by the user. The waistband portion includes a high-rise waistband. The compression garment also includes a gluteal panel extending from the leg portion to a top of the waistband portion on a rear of the compression garment. The compression garment includes a textured therapeutic compression fabric configured to apply gentle pressure to the user's leg as the user moves when the compression garment is worn by the user; and the textured therapeutic compression fabric has graduated compression extending from ankle to waist of the user.

Description

[0001]COMPRESSION GARMENT FOR LIPEDEMA MANAGEMENT Related Applications This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63 / 580,782, filed on September 6, 2023, entitled “COMPRESSION GARMENT FOR LIPEDEMA MANAGEMENT”, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Field of Invention The present application relates generally to compression garments, and more particularly to devices and methods for providing comfort and multiple therapeutic effects to a user wearing a compression garment who suffers specifically from lipedema. Background of the Invention Lipedema is a loose connective tissue disease primarily in women and is identified by increased nodular and fibrotic adipose tissue in the lower abdomen, buttocks, hips, and limbs of a patient. Lipedema may be more likely to develop in women during times of hormone, weight and shape change, such as during puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Lipedema may also arise from stress associated with lifestyle change or by altering tissue structure after surgery or trauma. Symptoms of lipedema can include enlargement of limbs, pain, discomfort, heaviness, and tenderness of affected areas. Lipedema can impair mobility due to changes in limb shape and weight and its associated pain. Efforts have been made to develop a standard for treating lipedema. For example, therapeutic levels of compression have been shown to prevent the build-up of fluid in tissue that is commonly seen with lipedema. Accordingly, compression garments may be worn by those having symptoms of lipedema to alleviate various symptoms of the disease. Persons who may use such a garment may include post-surgical patients, obese persons, and persons with other ailments that impede circulation, such as Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Diabetes. Application of therapeutic compression may improve circulation and prevent fluid from collecting in the affected areas. Compression garments may also alleviate pain associated with poor circulation or edema, and aid in the prevention and treatment of ulcers and other issues that can result from poor circulation in the limbs. Additionally or alternatively, medical massage including manual lymphatic drainage may be used to reduce swelling and help break down fibrotic tissue associated with lipedema. A common limitation in the effectiveness of such compression garments, however, relates to the wearer’s compliance with wearing the compression garments for a sufficient amount of time to achieve the therapeutic benefits of the compression levels. Therefore, to optimize the effectiveness of compression garments, such garments must be worn by patients in compliance with appropriate compression levels and for a sufficient amount of time to achieve the therapeutic benefits. Accordingly, comfort of the compression garment when worn by the user is important to encourage users to comply with such requirements to achieve the desire therapeutic effects. Conventional compression garments, however, lack an appropriate combination of features that are specifically targeted for users suffering from lipedema and fibrosis. According to a survey conducted by Applicant, people with lipedema have expressed low satisfaction with conventional compression garments, and development of compression garments specifically designed for managing lipedema has been absent. Summary of the Invention The present disclosure describes a compression garment, and more particularly a medical grade compression garment, specifically designed for managing lipedema and / or any associated fibrosis in a user’s legs. The compression garment has a combination of features that enhances both the therapeutic effectiveness and comfort of the compression garment for a wearer having lipedema. Specifically, the compression garment includes a high-rise waistband and gluteal panel, which together provide a more comfortable and wider fit-range over the hips and torso region of the wearer, while also including a circular-knit pattern and micro-massage textured fabric, resulting in greater therapeutic benefits to the user. By providing the utmost comfort and fit-range while helping to reduce pain, the compression garment encourages greater compliance of a wearer with wearing the compression garment for sufficient periods of time to achieve the therapeutic results, such as improving leg shape and enhancing mobility. Particularly, it has been discovered that the combination of features of the compression garment described herein provides improvements in the comfort, pain reduction, and therapeutic management of lipedema and fibrosis compared to conventional compression garments. That is, none of such features alone provides adequate comfort or therapeutic effects for managing the serious symptoms of lipedema and fibrosis. The inventors have found, however, that the particular combination of features disclosed herein, when implemented together in a common compression garment, provides unexpected and enhanced results specifically for managing lipedema and fibrosis which are not apparent from the features considered individually. Therefore, an aspect of this disclosure is a compression garment configured to be worn by a user for the management of lipedema. The compression garment includes a leg portion, a hip portion configured to be above the leg portion when the compression garment is worn by the user, and a waistband portion configured to be above the hip portion when the compression garment is worn by the user. The waistband portion includes a high-rise waistband. A gluteal panel extends from the leg portion to a top of the waistband portion on a rear of the compression garment. The compression garment includes a textured therapeutic compression fabric configured to apply gentle pressure to the user’s leg as the user moves when the compression garment is worn by the user, and the textured therapeutic compression fabric has graduated compression extending from ankle to waist of the user. These and further features of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and attached drawings. In the description and drawings, particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail as being indicative of some of the ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed, but it is understood that the invention is not limited correspondingly in scope. Rather, the invention includes all changes, modifications and equivalents coming within the spirit and terms of the claims appended hereto. Features that are described and / or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and / or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG.1 is a perspective view of an exemplary compression garment. FIG.2 is a schematic view of another exemplary compression garment. FIG.3 is a schematic view of another exemplary compression garment. FIG.4 is a schematic view of another exemplary compression garment. FIG.5 is a schematic view of a textured therapeutic compression fabric of a compression garment. FIG.6 is a perspective view of a high-rise waistband of a compression garment. FIG.7 is a perspective view of a gluteal panel of a compression garment. FIG.8 is an exploded view of the various components of the compression garment prior to assembly. FIG.9 is a schematic view of graduated compression of a compression garment. Detailed Description Embodiments of the present application will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale. Embodiments of the present application include a compression garment to be worn on the legs of a user, with which improved therapeutic effects in the management of lipedema and / or any associated fibrosis of the user may be achieved. The compression garment includes a therapeutic compression fabric having micro-massage technology configured as a textured fabric that massages soft tissue through gentle pressure as a user moves. The textured fabric operates to lessen pain, increase circulation, and reduce fibrotic tissue in the user’s legs. The compression garment further includes a high rise waistband and gluteal panel that together provide a better fit for smoothing shape and improving range of motion and comfort while providing tissue support. The therapeutic compression fabric of the compression garment further is configured as a full knit graduated medical compression fabric, with the graduated compression extending from ankle to waist to help ease edema and provide additional leg support. As referenced above, the inventors have found that the combination of the textured fabric, the high rise waistband, the gluteal panel and the full knit graduated medical compression fabric, when implemented together in a common compression garment, provides unexpected and enhanced results specifically for managing lipedema and fibrosis, which are not apparent from the features when applied individually. The combination of features, therefore, alleviates the deficiencies that have been reported by users of conventional compression garments. FIG.1 depicts a compression garment 10 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The compression garment 10 is a full knit compression garment, meaning that there is no seam where a leg portion 7 meets a hips portion 9, and where the hips portion 9 meets a waistband portion 11 of the compression garment 10. In the depicted embodiment of FIG.1, the compression garment 10 is in the form of full-length leggings in which the leg portion 7 extends from the hips portion 9 past the ankles of the user when the compression garment 10 is worn by the user. For example, as depicted, the leg portion 7 may extend from the hips portion 9 to the toes of the user. FIGS.2, 3 and 4 depict alternative embodiments of the compression garment 10. FIG.2 depicts the compression garment 10 in the form of ankle-length leggings, in which the leg portion 7 extends from the hips portion 9 to the ankles of the user when the compression garment 10 is worn by the user. FIG.3 depicts the compression garment 10 in the form of shorts-length leggings, in which the leg portion 7 extends from the hips portion 9 to or above the knees of the user when the compression garment 10 is worn by the user. FIG.4 depicts the compression garment in the form of pantyhose, in which the leg portion 7 extends from the hips portion 9 past the toes of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user, the leg portion 7 being closed off around the toes. It is understood that the compression garment 10 may be provided in another length or form other than those depicted in FIGS.1-4. For example, the compression garment 10 may be in the form of capri-length leggings, in which the leg portion 7 extends from the hips portion 9 past the knees of the user and above the ankles of the user when the compression garment 10 is worn by the user. The compression garment 10 is constructed with a circular knit technique. Accordingly, the circular knit compression garment 10 has no seams on the leg portion 7. The fabric of a circular knit compression garment 10 tends not to be as dense or stiff as a flat knit compression garment and, therefore, the elasticity of the circular knit compression garment 10 may be ideal for users having mild to moderate stages of lipedema. Additionally, the fabric of a circular knit compression garment 10 tends to have more texture, with raised and recessed portions, than a flat knit compression garment. The circular knit compression garment 10, therefore, is made of a therapeutic compression fabric 12 having micro-massage technology, the therapeutic compression fabric 12 being a textured fabric that massages soft tissue through gentle pressure as a user moves. The textured therapeutic compression fabric 12 operates to lessen pain, increase circulation, and reduce fibrotic tissue. For example, as depicted in FIG.5, the textured therapeutic compression fabric 12 is configured in a waffle-knit pattern that creates pressure points on the skin to provide a gentle massaging of the skin through movement. This helps stimulate the lymphatic capillaries and break down fibrotic tissue, thereby reducing pain. It is understood that the waffle-knit pattern depicted in FIG.5 is provided as a non-limiting example, and that other patterns of texture may be implemented in the therapeutic compression fabric 12 of the circular knit compression garment 10. As depicted in FIG.1, and depicted in more detail in FIGS.6 and 7, the compression garment 10 may include a high rise waistband 14 and gluteal panel 16. Together, the high rise waistband 14 and gluteal panel 16 provide a more comfortable and better fit of the compression garment 10 on the user, as compared to compression garments having neither feature, or simply one of these features without the other. The high rise waistband 14 and gluteal panel 16, together, also provide a smoothing effect on the user’s midsection while providing enhanced tissue support for the user in the waist and buttocks region, and improves range of motion and comfort of the user while wearing the compression garment 10. The high-rise waistband 14 is constructed by the same circular knit pattern as the leg portion 7, but may not have the same waffle-knit pattern as the leg portion 7. Instead, the high-rise waistband 14 may have a smoother texture than the leg portion 7 and may have a thicker and more structured construction. For example, the high rise waistband 14 may have two layers of the therapeutic compression fabric 12 overlaid each other. The additional structure or layers help improve the fit and comfort of the waistband 14 above the user’s hips by extending partially or wholly over the user’s midsection. With this additional coverage of the waistband 14 over the wearer’s midsection, the waistband 14 is less likely to roll down or otherwise slip while the wearer is wearing the compression garment 10. This enhances the comfort of the compression garment 10 to the wearer, and therefore the wearer’s compliance in wearing the compression garment 10. The high rise waistband 14 may extend from the hips portion 9 to the top of the waistband portion 11 in a range of 8 centimeters to 16 centimeters, for example 12 centimeters when unstretched. As depicted in FIG.7, the gluteal panel 16 may be an added panel of the textured therapeutic compression fabric 12 applied to a rear of the compression garment 10, being connected to the hips portion 9 and the waistband portion 11 of the compression garment 10 with a seam on each lateral side of the gluteal panel 16. The gluteal panel 10 may extend completely from where the hips portion 9 meets the leg portion 7 to the top of the waistband portion 11 of the compression garment, thereby extending the fit range of the compression garment 10 in the hips portion 9 and waistband portion 11 of the compression garment 10. The gluteal panel 16 may be made of the same circular knit and waffle-knit pattern as the leg portions 7 and may be joined to each leg portion 7. FIG.8, for example, depicts the gluteal panel 16 in isolation, next to two sides of the compression garment 10 prior to being assembled. Each of the two sides of the compression garment 10 have a respective leg portion 7, hips portion 9 and waistband portion 11. The gluteal panel 16 has a corresponding hips portion 9 and waistband portion 11, which are lined up with the corresponding portions of the two sides of the compression garment 10 before being sewn together to form the compression garment 10. In this manner, instead of simply sewing together the two sides of the compression garment 10, as is typical in conventional compression garment construction, the addition of the gluteal panel 16 in between the two sides of the compression garment 10 extends the fit-range of the compression garment 10 and results in greater comfort of the compression garment 10 when worn by the wearer. With reference to FIG.9, the compression garment 10 may have a graduated compression level extending from ankle to waist to help ease edema and provide additional leg support. For example, the graduated compression may be highest at the ankle or calf region of the compression garment 10 at a therapeutic level appropriate for treating lipedema, such as in the range of 15-30mmHg, and will gradually decrease in level towards the hips portion 9 and waistband 14. For example, the hips portion 9 and waistband portion 14 may have a lesser compression level than the ankle or calf region of the leg portion 7, such as in a range of 6-8mmHg. The graduated compression alleviates discomfort, aching, and heaviness in the limbs, while also promoting tissue health. The graduated compression further operates to even out and improve the shape of distorted limbs, as well as enhance movement. Additionally, the graduated compression is helpful in reducing edema by decreasing interstitial fluid and promoting venous and lymphatic return in cases of lipedema. For use as a medical grade compression garment, the compression level of the therapeutic compression fabric 12 of the compression garment 10 is provided greater than 15 mmHg. Compression therapy using the compression garment 10 can help improve the quality of life for individuals with lipedema. Specifically, the compression garment 10 helps with pain relief, shape distortion, and mobility for its users. As discussed above, the particular combination of the full knit configuration, the high-rise waistband, the gluteal panel and the micro-massage waffle knit pattern of the compression garment 10, advantageously alleviates the deficiencies that have been reported by users of conventional compression garments. Therefore, according to an aspect of this disclosure, a compression garment configured to be worn by a user for the management of lipedema. The compression garment includes a leg portion, a hip portion configured to be above the leg portion when the compression garment is worn by the user, and a waistband portion configured to be above the hip portion when the compression garment is worn by the user. The waistband portion includes a high-rise waistband. A gluteal panel extends from the leg portion to a top of the waistband portion on a rear of the compression garment. The compression garment includes a textured therapeutic compression fabric configured to apply gentle pressure to the user’s leg as the user moves when the compression garment is worn by the user, and the textured therapeutic compression fabric has graduated compression extending from ankle to waist of the user. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, the compression garment is a full knit compression garment. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, the compression garment is in the form of full-length leggings in which the leg portion extends from the hips portion past ankles of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, the compression garment is in the form of ankle-length leggings in which the leg portion extends from the hips portion to the ankles of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, the compression garment is in the form of shorts-length leggings in which the leg portion extends from the hips portion to or above knees of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, the compression garment is in the form of pantyhose in which the leg portion extends from the hip portion past the toes of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user, the leg portion being closed off around the toes of the user. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, the compression garment is in the form of capri-length leggings in which the leg portion extends from the hips portion past the knees of the user and above the ankles of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, the compression garment is a circular knit compression garment. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, the textured therapeutic compression fabric has a waffle-knit pattern. According to an embodiment of one or more paragraphs of this disclosure, a greatest compression level of the graduated compression of the therapeutic compression fabric is greater than 15 mmHg. Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a "means") used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A compression garment configured to be worn by a user for the management of lipedema, the compression garment comprising: a leg portion; a hip portion configured to be above the leg portion when the compression garment is worn by the user; a waistband portion configured to be above the hip portion when the compression garment is worn by the user, wherein the waistband portion includes a high-rise waistband; and a gluteal panel extending from the leg portion to a top of the waistband portion on a rear of the compression garment; wherein the compression garment includes a textured therapeutic compression fabric configured to apply gentle pressure to the user’s leg as the user moves when the compression garment is worn by the user; and wherein the textured therapeutic compression fabric has graduated compression extending from ankle to waist of the user.

2. The compression garment of claim 1, wherein the compression garment is a full knit compression garment.

3. The compression garment of any of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compression garment is in the form of full-length leggings in which the leg portion extends from the hips portion past ankles of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user.

4. The compression garment of any of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compression garment is in the form of ankle-length leggings in which the leg portionextends from the hips portion to the ankles of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user.

5. The compression garment of any of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compression garment is in the form of shorts-length leggings in which the leg portion extends from the hips portion to or above knees of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user.

6. The compression garment of any of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compression garment is in the form of pantyhose in which the leg portion extends from the hip portion past the toes of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user, the leg portion being closed off around the toes of the user.

7. The compression garment of any of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compression garment is in the form of capri-length leggings in which the leg portion extends from the hips portion past the knees of the user and above the ankles of the user when the compression garment is worn by the user.

8. The compression garment of any of claim 1 to claim 7, wherein the compression garment is a circular knit compression garment.

9. The compression garment of any of claim 1 to claim 8, wherein the textured therapeutic compression fabric has a waffle-knit pattern.

10. The compression garment of any of claim 1 to claim 9, wherein a greatest compression level of the graduated compression of the therapeutic compression fabric is greater than 15 mmHg.

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