Foam Sleeve Compression Garment With Expandable Notch Closure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compression garments for lymphedema management are difficult to don and doff due to their snug fit, especially when used on extremities like wrists or ankles, and lack features that facilitate easy adjustment and secure fitting.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a notch at one end of the garment, allowing for expansion during donning and doffing, and an elastic stretch panel loop to maintain closure, along with adjustable straps for secure fitting, enhancing ease of use and adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compression garment is made with a snug fit to provide effective compression, then the compression effectiveness is improved, but the ease of donning and doffing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into a main body portion and a separate closure portion with a notch. The notch can be separated or opened to create an expansion aperture, allowing the garment to be segmented during donning/doffing operations while maintaining full compression effectiveness when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure portion with the notch provides dynamic adjustability - it can be in a closed state for full compression or opened to create an aperture for easier donning/doffing. This dynamic state change allows the garment to adapt between two functional modes.
2Ease of manufacture
If the garment is made with a fixed size to simplify manufacturing, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different user sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closure portion with adjustable notch positioning enables the same garment to adapt to different limb circumferences and sizes. Users can adjust the notch position or opening size to accommodate variations in limb size while the garment maintains its manufactured form.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure portion provides localized adjustability at specific positions along the garment, allowing size adaptation without requiring the entire garment to be manufactured in different sizes. This local quality adjustment maintains manufacturing simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The notch and elastic stretch panel facilitate easier donning and doffing of compression garments, providing a secure fit and adjustable comfort, thereby improving user experience and garment functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic stretch panel loop to maintain closure
Data Source
AI summary
A chip sleeve garment including an outer layer of fabric connected to an inner layer of fabric to form a sleeve with a space between the outer layer of fabric and the inner layer of fabric. Foam chips, flat foam, or foam with ridges are disposed in the space between the outer layer of fabric and the inner layer of fabric. The garment includes two ends, including at least one open end, and a notch in at least one open end having an opening. The notch can be separated to create a larger opening than the opening to allow the garment to be donned or doffed easier than the opening allows. A second garment can be disposed over the chip sleeve garment. Either the chip sleeve garment, the second garment, or both can be compression garments.