Post-operative vest

Abstract

The invention relates to a variable tension chest support for use by patients having undergone thoracic surgery. The chest support may be worn directly on the skin of a patient and comprises a band of stretchable material and one or more grips which are wholly or partially concealed within pockets with which the patient may alter the tension of the chest encircling band. The device allows a patient to modify the level of tension applied to the chest, thus managing the recovery process, while providing a basic level of support at all times the support is in use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post-operative chest support for a patient comprising:
 a chest encircling band of stretchable material, the chest encircling band having a securing system for securing the band about the patient's chest; and   first and second pressure adjusting members attached on a front surface of the chest encircling band at a location that is accessible to the patient when the chest encircling band is secured about the patient's chest, a distance between the first and second pressure adjusting members being adjustable upon application of external force by the patient, the first and second pressure adjusting members being configured such that a decrease in the distance between the first and second pressure adjusting members increases a chest encircling pressure applied to the patient's chest by the chest encircling band and an increase in the distance between the first and second pressure adjusting members decreases a chest encircling pressure applied to the patient's chest by the chest encircling band.   
     
     
         2 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 1  further comprising:
 first and second shoulder straps mounted on the chest encircling band. 
 
     
     
         3 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 1  wherein the securing system comprises hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 1  wherein the first and second pressure adjusting members comprise first and second handles. 
     
     
         5 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 4  wherein the chest encircling band further comprises first and second pockets sized to receive the first and second handles. 
     
     
         6 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 1  wherein the stretchable material has an untensioned length and wherein the stretchable material has a maximum tensioned length that is less than 20% greater than the untensioned length. 
     
     
         7 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 6  wherein the maximum tensioned length is about 10% greater than the untensioned length. 
     
     
         8 . A post-operative chest support for a patient comprising:
 a chest encircling band of stretchable material having a constant width, the chest encircling band having first and second ends;   first and second shoulder straps, each strap having a first end fixedly attached to the chest encircling band and a second end removably and adjustably attached to the chest encircling band; and   a securing system for fixing the chest encircling band about the chest of a patient, the securing system having first and second securing members attached to one end of the chest encircling band, the first and second securing members being configured to be attached to the other end of the chest encircling band and being positioned to enable the chest encircling band to be adjustably fixed about the patient's chest at first and second chest selectable encircling pressures.   
     
     
         9 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 8  wherein the securing system comprises hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 8  wherein the stretchable material has an untensioned length and wherein the stretchable material has a maximum tensioned length that is less than 20% greater than the untensioned length. 
     
     
         11 . The post-operative chest support of  claim 10  wherein the maximum tensioned length is about 10% greater than the untensioned length.