Mastectomy brassiere

Abstract

A mastectomy brassiere, comprising: a member adapted to encircle a torso; a first cup on the member adapted to support a reconstructed breast having an unnaturally firm implant, the first cup being adjustable to comform in shape at least in part to the reconstructed breast; and, a second cup on the member adapted to support a natural breast, the second cup having padding for urging the natural breast to conform in appearance to the reconstructed breast with the unnaturally firm implant, whereby the brassiere can be custom tailored to support natrual and reconstructed breasts differing significantly from one another in firmness, yet impart to the natural and reconstructed breasts an appearance of similar firmness. The brassiere can further comprise: a deformable support wire for adjusting the partial perimeter of the first cup to conform to the partial perimeter of the reconstructed breast; and, padding in the second cup for urging the natural breast to conform in appearance to the reconstructed breast. A method for fitting a brassiere to mastectomy patients is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mastectomy brassiere, comprising: 
 at least one member adapted to at least partially encircle a torso;    a first cup adapted to support a reconstructed breast having an unnaturally firm implant, said first cup being adjustable to conform in shape at least in part to said reconstructed breast; and,    a second cup adapted to support a natural breast, said second cup having padding for urging said natural breast to conform in appearance to said reconstructed breast with said unnaturally firm implant,    whereby said brassiere can be custom tailored to support natural and reconstructed breasts differing significantly from one another in firmness, yet impart to said natural and reconstructed breasts an appearance of similar firmness.    
     
     
         2 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pocket in contact with said torso when said brassiere is worn, said pocket at least partially encircling said first cup along a partial perimeter of said first cup and said reconstructed breast; and,    a deformable support wire disposed in said pocket for adjusting said partial perimeter of said first cup to conform to said partial perimeter of said reconstructed breast.    
     
     
         3 . The brassiere of  claim 2 , wherein said second cup comprises padding for urging said natural breast to conform in appearance to said reconstructed breast.  
     
     
         4 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein said second cup comprises padding for urging said natural breast to conform in appearance to said reconstructed breast.  
     
     
         5 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein said member comprises: 
 a first modular member adapted to partially encircle said torso and having a first part of a first releasable clasp and a first part of a second releasable clasp at opposite ends thereof, said first modular member supporting one of said first and second cups; and,    a second modular member adapted to partially encircle said torso and having a second part of said first releasable clasp and a second part of said second releasable clasp at opposite ends thereof, said second modular member supporting the other one of said first and second cups,    whereby said first and second modular members can be manufactured separately and thereafter mixed and matched to facilitate said custom tailored arrangement.    
     
     
         6 . The brassiere of  claim 3 , wherein said member comprises: 
 a first modular member adapted to partially encircle said torso and having a first part of a first releasable clasp and a first part of a second releasable clasp at opposite ends thereof, said first modular member supporting one of said first and second cup; and,    a second modular member adapted to partially encircle said torso and having a second part of said first releasable clasp and a second part of said second releasable clasp at opposite ends thereof, said second modular member supporting the other one of said first and second cups,    whereby said first and second modular members can be manufactured separately and thereafter mixed and matched to facilitate said custom tailored arrangement.    
     
     
         7 . The brassiere of  claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second modular members further comprises a shoulder strap.  
     
     
         8 . The brassiere of  claim 7 , wherein each of said first and second modular members and their respective shoulder straps are disposed only on opposite side of said torso.  
     
     
         9 . The brassiere of  claim 6 , wherein each of said first and second modular members further comprises a shoulder strap.  
     
     
         10 . The brassiere of  claim 9 , wherein each of said first and second modular members and their respective shoulder straps are disposed only on opposite side of said torso.  
     
     
         11 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein said second cup comprises a pocket on an interior side thereof closest to said breast, said pocket being adapted to receive at least one pad, and further comprising at least one pad insertable into said pocket so as to urge said natural breast to conform in appearance to said at least one breast.  
     
     
         12 . A modular brassiere, comprising: 
 a pair of complementary straps, each adapted to only partially encircle a torso;    a pair of releasable clasps, each having mating portions on different ones of said pair of straps;    a breast supporting cup mounted on each one of said pair of straps; and,    said pair of straps being connectable to one another by respective engagement of said pair of releasable clasps to fully encircle said torso and form a complete brassiere.    
     
     
         13 . The modular brassiere of  claim 12 , wherein said breast supporting cups differ in at least one of size and shape.  
     
     
         14 . A brassiere, comprising: 
 a torso encircling strap;    breast supporting cups disposed on said strap;    a pocket in contact with said torso when said brassiere is worn, said pocket at least partially encircling one of said cups along a partial perimeter of said one cup and said breast supported by said one cup; and,    a deformable support wire disposed in said pocket for adjusting said partial perimeter of said one cup to conform to said partial perimeter of said breast and said breast supported by said one cup.    
     
     
         15 . The brassiere of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said cups is padded are padded.  
     
     
         16 . The brassiere of  claim 14 , comprising a second pocket in contact with said torso when said brassiere is worn, said second pocket at least partially encircling the other one of said cups along a partial perimeter of said other cup and said breast supported by said other cup.  
     
     
         17 . The brassiere of  claim 16 , wherein both said cups are padded.  
     
     
         18 . A method for fitting a brassiere to a natural breast and a reconstructed breast, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a brassiere having at least one member adapted to at least partially encircle a torso; a first cup adapted to support a reconstructed breast having an unnaturally firm implant, said first cup being adjustable to conform in shape at least in part to said reconstructed breast; and a second cup adapted to support a natural breast, said second cup having padding for urging said natural breast to conform in appearance to said reconstructed breast with said unnaturally firm implant;    fitting said brassiere to support natural and reconstructed breasts differing significantly from one another in firmness, yet imparting to said natural and reconstructed breasts an appearance of similar firmness.