Surgical support

April 7, 1936. a. _{M LE MAY} 2,036,484

SURGICAL SUPPORT Filed Dec. 14, 1932

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Patented Apr. 7, 1936

2,036,484

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,036,484

SURGICAL SUPPORT

Ariel M. Le May, Chicago, Ill., assignor to S. H. Camp &amp; Company, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan

Application December 14,1932, Serial No. 647,165 8 Claims. (Cl. 2—41)

The present invention relates to surgical garments and has particular reference to supports and belts capable of correcting entroptosis and gastroptosis conditions.

As a primary object, this invention provides a surgical garment having an occupancy surface which is adapted to be positioned inwardly of the plane of the iliac crest to hug closely the abdominal wall thus providing a supporting shelf normally positioning ptosed organs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an occupancy surface which is anchored snugly against the abdominal walls through the employment of retaining side sections effective above and below the iliac crests and free from any interference thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide an abdominal support for positioning ptosed organs in which iliac crest pressure or interference is eliminated through the employment of specific type of hood or pocket.

These and other objects will appear in the following description. It is to be distinctly understood, however, that I do· not wish to be limited to the exact structure herein disclosed, but intend to include as part of my invention all such changes and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of, the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown for the purpose of illustration, my improved surgical support is shown in an extended position with the outside of the garment presented to view.

My invention is especially applicable to persons having prominent iliac crests suffering from visceroptosis resulting from the disappearance of the fatty tisues of the abdomen which normally supports the organs in proper position. In such cases, it is necessary to gravitate the organs up into their normal position and then occupy from without the region from which the fatty tissues have disappeared. This is accomplished in my improved surgical support by anchoring an occupancy surface closely against the abdominal wall with the wearer in a Trendelenberg position. The occupancy surface is carried within the plane of the iliac crests by locating the retaining side sections for the occupancy surface above and below the projection of the ilia and removing all iliac crest pressure or interference by providing a hood portion defining the contour of the ilium. Preferably, the direction of the warp and weft threads from which the hoods are fabricated is such, relative to the direct pull upon the retaining sections, that the warp and weft threads are “racked” to lend a decided degree of elasticity to the hood to further relieve any iliac crest pressure or interference in the operation of the .. occupancy surface. 5

Having specific reference to the drawing, my improved surgical support comprises an occupancy surface I of pliable woven material preferably stiffened by longitudinally extending ... stays 2. Hooks 3 or the like cooperate with eyes 10 4 to provide quick attachment means. A triangular like side retaining section 5 is secured to the occupancy surface 1 along the line 6. A lower side section 7 is secured to the upper sec- .. tion 5 along the line 8 constituting the hypotenuse 15 of the section 5. The location of the line 8 in the garment and the construction of the sections 5 and 7 are highly important. The upper and lower sections 5—7, as shown in the drawing, are secured together along line 8 which is posi- 20 tioned over the iliac crest and curves downwardly conforming approximately to the anterior superior spine. The curvature of section 5 along the line 8 is less than that of section 7, prior to securing the two sections together, with the re- 25 suit that a fullness constituting a hood-like portion is provided. Preferably, the differentiation in curvature is greatest over the iliac crest. In the drawing, the broken lines in sections 5—7 designate the direction of the warp or weft 30 threads as the case may be. It is to be noted that the threads, which may be termed the warp threads, are parallel to the line 6 along which section 5 is secured to the occupancy surface i. This is for the purpose of effecting a uniform 35 application of retaining force to the surface. The warp threads of section 7 are located in the garment at an angle to the line 6. As shown, the direction of the warp in section 5 is uniformly altered until it is substantially parallel with the 40 warps in section 7 in the locality of the iliac crest as at 9. It is particularly in the locality 9 that a lateral adjustment of the garment to position the surface f results in a “racking” or movement of the interwoven warp and weft 45 thread out of the usual right angle position. This “racking” action increases the elasticity of the hood portions and lends considerable flexibility to the locality of maximum fullness with the result that the application of retainer forces 50 upon the occupancy surface I from above and below the iliac crests is rendered increasingly freer from iliac crest pressure or interference.

The occupancy surface I is positioned, in part, within the iliac crests of the wearer, through re- 55

2,036,484 taining sections iO superimposed upon the sections 5—7 and secured to the surface i along the line 6. The sections 1 0 are substantially unyielding in their retaining action upon the surface 5 I as distinguished from the flexible and elastic action in the locality 9 of the hip crest and in a plane therethrough parallel with the retaining sections. This construction permits a rearward adjustment of the sections 10, through tightening 10 means located in laced rear sections 11—12, to anchor the garment below the iliac crests and prevent the same from rising thereover while worn; and what is more important, the flexibility of the hood formed along the line 8 relieves the 15 garment from iliac crest pressure and interference and the retaining sections 10 position the occupancy surface ί well within the iliac crests and into contact with the abnormal abdominal wall in a manner never before accomplished. It 20 eliminates in a great many cases the necessity of employing the usual occupancy , pad and in severe cases limits the thickness of such pads to a minimum.

Preferably, the tightening means located in the 25 rear sections 11—12 consist in fabric: strips 13 secured to the sections 10 at 14 and passed through adjustment buckles 15 to present forwardly extending portions 16, which are drawn forward to effect a “block and tackle” drawing in action ³⁰ upon the rear sections II—12, through laces: 17 operatively connected with the sections 11—12 and the buckles 15 in a well known manner. It is to be noted that the entire retaining force, effected by an inwardly adjustment of the sec³® tions 11—12 and transmitted to· the occupancy surface I through the sections 10, is applied well below the iliac crests. This construction materially assists in providing a garment which will not raise over the hips of the wearer and as the-retaining force is below the iliac crests and free from interference therefrom, the occupancy surface I is carried further within the ilium.

For positioning the upper-portion of the occupancy surface I, straps 18 are secured to the sections 5 and pass through buckles 19 to provide forwardly extended portion 20. Laces 21 coact with the upper portion of the rear sections I I—12 and buckles 19 in a manner similar to the laces Π and buckles 15 herebefore described. In the ⁶⁰ upper adjustment the retaining force upon the occupancy surface is applied through the upper portion of the sections 5 well above the locality 9. Thus, as in the lower adjustment, all iliac crest interference is avoided by application· of the retaining-forces to one side of the ilium.

Obviously, other well known types of adjustments may be employed in lieu of those illustrated with varying degree of success. The essence of the present, invention does not lie in any ⁶⁰ particular type of adjustment but resides in positioning and retaining an occupancy surface within, the ilium by providing a garment having upper and lower side sections through which the retaining forces are applied to the occupancy ⁶⁵ surface, with an intermediate section in the locality of the ilium which is hood-like and capable of .considerable flexibility for removing all iliac crests interference or pressure from the upper and lower side sections.

7° To apply the garment the wearer will preferably, take, the Trendelenberg position and will pass the same under the back securing the fasteners3—4. Due to the position taken the ptosed organs will assume, their .normal position, and 75 upofl drawing forward, the strap portions 16—20 the occupancy surface I will be drawn into the abdomen, well within the ilia, to provide a supporting shelf for the organs by occupying from without that which is normally occupied by tissues, the dissipation of which has resulted in a 5 ptosed condition.