Method and apparatus for putting a tubular compressive orthosis of knitted elastic textile material, such a stocking, tights, or a sock, onto a limb

Abstract

The method comprises the following steps: a) enveloping the limb ( 22 ), over a length corresponding at least to the length of the orthosis ( 18 ), in a flexible sleeve ( 10 ) of material having a low coefficient of friction and great strength in traction and resistance to tearing, the limb possibly having dressings or bandages present thereon; b) the orthosis is put on over that portion of the limb which is enveloped by the sleeve, with this being performed manually, causing the orthosis to slide over its entire length on the sleeve interposed between the orthosis and the limb; and c) once the orthosis has been put on and put into place, the interposed sleeve is extracted by traction, the sleeve sliding between the orthosis and the limb which then come mutually into contact as the sleeve is extracted.

1 / A method of putting a tubular compressive orthosis ( 18 ) such as a stocking, tights, or a sock of knitted elastic textile material onto a limb, optionally with dressings or bandages present on the limb, the method being characterized by the following steps: 
 a) the limb is enveloped, over a length corresponding at least to the length of the orthosis, in a flexible sleeve ( 10 ) of a material that presents a low coefficient of friction and high strength in traction and against tearing;    b) the orthosis is put on over that portion of the limb which is enveloped by the sleeve, with this being performed manually, causing the orthosis to slide over its entire length on the sleeve interposed between the orthosis and the limb; and    c) once the orthosis has been put on and put into place, the interposed sleeve is extracted by traction, the sleeve sliding between the orthosis and the limb which then come mutually into contact as the sleeve is extracted.    
     
     
         2 / The method of  claim 1  in which the orthosis is open at both its distal and its proximal end, the sleeve being extracted via the distal opening by being pulled out in the vicinity of said opening (FIG. 7).  
     
     
         3 / The method of  claim 1  in which the orthosis is closed at its distal end and open at its proximal end, the sleeve being extracted via the proximal opening by pulling outwards in the vicinity of said opening, and then withdrawing the sleeve extracted in this way by causing it to pass around the limb, over the orthosis (FIG. 6).  
     
     
         4 / A device for putting a tubular compressive orthosis ( 18 ) of knitted elastic textile material onto a limb ( 22 ) by a method according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , the device being characterized by a flexible sleeve ( 10 ) of material that presents a low coefficient of friction and high traction strength, and dimensioned in such a manner as to enable the limb to be enveloped over a length that corresponds at least to the length of the orthosis.  
     
     
         5 / The device of  claim 4 , in which the flexible sleeve is a sleeve of cloth, in particular a cloth coated in a substance having a low coefficient of friction.  
     
     
         6 / The device of  claim 4 , in which the flexible sleeve is tubular and open at at least one of its ends.  
     
     
         7 / The device of  claim 4 , in which the flexible sleeve has two thickness of material ( 14 ,  16 ) turned one inside the other by invagination.  
     
     
         8 / The device of  claim 4 , in which the flexible sleeve is secured at one of its ends to the distal end of the orthosis via a releasable link ( 20 ).  
     
     
         9 / The device of  claim 4 , in which the flexible sleeve is provided at one of its ends with at least one reinforced element constituting a strap or handle ( 12 ) for grasping and pulling.