Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Bandage structure – Support covering
Patent
1994-11-07
1996-12-24
McDermott, Corrine M.
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Bandage structure
Support covering
602 41, 602 75, 66195, 428225, A61L 1500
Patent
active
055869726
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to bandages which exhibit a crepe effect and to processes for the manufacture thereof.
Crepe bandages are normally used to provide light support and low compression for example in the treatment of sprains and strains and varicose veins. These bandages have sufficient elasticity to enable them to conform to the bandaged area and when secured, to allow limited movement and swelling to take place so that the circulation is not adversely affected. Crepe bandages normally comprise a woven fabric strip or tape containing high twist cotton warp yarns which are usually present in pairs with opposite twist in approximately equal numbers. These high twist warp yarns shrink when the woven fabric is treated for example by boiling in a vat to provide the bandage with elastic stretch and properties and a crepe appearance. However, high twist cotton yarns provide the bandage with a relatively harsh "feel" which can irritate sensitive skin areas. Furthermore, high twist cotton yarns used in conventional crepe bandages usually comprise in excess of 2000 turns per meter of yarn and are thus relatively expensive to manufacture.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,550, describes a bandage which comprises elastic and non-elastic threads. However, the bandages described therein possess relatively high elasticity and are therefore not suitable for use as support dressings in the same manner as a crepe bandage. Indeed U.S. No. 550 describes the disclosed dressings as being Useful as "a fixing band".
We have now found a woven bandage which avoids the use of high twist cotton yarns and thereby any problems associated with the use of these yarns and exhibits a crepe effect.
According to the present invention we provide a woven bandage which exhibits a crepe effect and which contains composite warp yarns comprising a staple fibre yarn and a textured filament yarn twisted together.
The bandage according to the invention may comprise warp yarns which are only made of the aforementioned composite. However, in addition, cheaper and more lightweight bandages may be prepared by utilising alternate composite yarns and textured filament yarns.
According to the invention we provide a woven bandage which exhibits a crepe effect and which contains textured filament yarns and composite yarns as hereinbefore described. Such a bandage may have 1-3 textured filament yarns for every composite yarn although we prefer such a bandage to comprise one textured filament-yarn for every composite yarn.
Preferably the textured filament yarns and composite yarns alternate but when the ratio of textured filament to composite yarns is greater than 1:1 the textured filament yarns are preferably in repeating patterns, e.g. ##STR1## where C=a composite filament in the warp direction T=a textured filament in the warp direction.
By the term crepe effect we mean that known in the art, that is, e.g. having a crinkled or puckered surface.
Composite warp yarns used in the woven bandage of the invention are formed of loosely twisted staple fibre and textured filament yarns. Bandages of the invention therefore do not contain any of the high twist yarns used in conventional crepe bandages.
The twist level for the composite yarn can suitably be from 60 to 200 turns/meter, preferably less than 140 turns/meter and preferably less than 130 turns/meter. Similarly the twist level for the composite yarn can be suitably at least 80 turns/meter and preferably at least 100 turns/meter. Apt twist levels for the composite yarn are 120-130 turns/meter for example 125 turns/meter.
The composite warp yarns used in the bandage of the invention are novel per se.
Thus according to the invention we also provide a composite yarn comprising a staple fibre yarn and a textured filament yarn twisted together and comprising from 60 to 200 turns.
The staple fibre yarns used in the invention are usually characterised by having only limited or no elasticity and good moisture absorption properties.
Suitable staple fibre yarns for use in composite warp yarns of bandages of the invention i
REFERENCES:
patent: 4236550 (1980-12-01), Braun et al.
patent: 4424808 (1984-01-01), Schafer et al.
patent: 4572171 (1986-02-01), Wegner et al.
patent: 4761321 (1988-08-01), McCall et al.
patent: 4940047 (1992-07-01), Richter et al.
patent: 5256134 (1993-10-01), Ingham
McDermott Corrine M.
Smith & Nephew plc
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