| CPC A41D 13/08 (2013.01) [A41D 13/0002 (2013.01); A41D 27/10 (2013.01); A41D 2300/32 (2013.01); A41D 2600/00 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
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1. A fistula sleeve for wearing on an arm of a person to protect a fistula, the arm having a wrist joint, a forearm, an elbow joint, an upper arm, inside, outside and side surfaces and a natural contour, said fistula extending generally longitudinally along and protruding from the natural contour of the inside surface of the arm, the fistula has a top surface and side surfaces, the side surfaces abruptly protruding from the natural contour of the arm, and said fistula sleeve comprising:
a main body formed by at least one about 1/32 inch thin layer of floppy, laterally stretchable fabric, said main body having first and second sleeve surfaces, first and second longitudinal sleeve sides, first and second lateral sleeve ends and a sleeve perimeter, and said main body including:
a lateral slot extending inwardly from said second sleeve side, said slot having an innermost slot end and defining a slot line extending from said innermost slot end to said first sleeve side, said lateral slot being a linear slot extending generally parallel to said first and second ends and generally perpendicular to said first and second sides;
a main flap extending longitudinally and continuously along said first sleeve side between said first and second sleeve ends, said main flap having a shorter forward portion, a longer rearward portion and a main securement strip fixed to said first sleeve surface, said main securement strip extending along said first sleeve side;
a joint flap located between said slot and said first sleeve end and having a joint securement strip fixed to said second sleeve surface;
an arm flap located between said slot and said second sleeve end and having an arm securement strip fixed to said second sleeve surface, said securement strips are semi-rigid securement strips, and each of said securement strips stiffening its said flap, said semi-rigid securement strips joining together to form a semi-rigid longitudinal spine;
a joint gripping region between said first end and said slot and slot line, said joint gripping region including said joint flap and said shorter forward portion of said main flap;
an arm covering region between said second end and said slot and slot line, said arm covering region including said arm flap and said longer rearward portion of said main flap, said arm covering region having a smooth central area between said main flap and said arm flap; and,
wherein said sleeve is adapted to wrap around the arm with said joint securement strip securing to said shorter forward portion of said main securement strip in a laterally adjustable manner, said arm securement strip securing to said longer rearward portion of said main securement strip in an independently laterally adjustable manner, said joint gripping region is adapted to grip the arm proximal one of the joints to secure said sleeve to the arm, said longitudinal spine is adapted for positioning away from the longitudinally extending fistula, said arm covering region is adapted to snuggly and flushly engage the contours of the arm and the fistula with said smooth central area covering the fistula in a non-pressure generating manner, and said arm covering region is adapted to provide a gradually sloping contour between the natural contour of the arm and the top surface of the fistula.
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