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  SocksUSPTO Application #: 20060010574Title: Socks Abstract: A sock suitable for wearing on a limb of a patient, the sock comprising material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface and the sock comprising padding located in those areas of the sock which in use will cover the ankle and shin of the patient. (end of abstract)
Agent: Bristol-myers Squibb Company - Skillman, NJ, US Inventors: Patrick G. Linnane, Paul Hanmer, David G. Wild, Duncan J. Rowley, Ian S. Tabron, Wayne L. Bonnefin, Simon M. Adams USPTO Applicaton #: 20060010574 - Class: 002239000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Head Coverings, Stockings The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060010574. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to a sock suitable for wearing on a limb and particularly to a sock for use on the leg. The sock is particularly suited for use with a compression device for the limb and in the type of compression therapy used in the treatment of venous leg ulcers, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), vascular disorders and the reduction of oedema. The invention further relates to a pair of such socks, and to a kit comprising such a sock. [0002] Ulceration of the lower limbs affects a significant proportion of the population over the age of sixty. Although there are several forms of ulcer one of the more common is the venous leg ulcer, which is believed to result from failure of the valves within the venous system. The failure of these valves reduces the efficiency of return of blood from the limb and this is believed to correlate to the incidence of ulceration. [0003] Venous leg ulcers are currently treated both by the use of a dressing to the wound and the application of compression to the affected limb. Compression is conventionally applied by either the use of bandages or stockings, with the tension within the fabric structure of these products generating compressive force. The effectiveness of the dressings, which allow the passage of water vapour from the wound, is impaired by the application of conventional compression materials, particularly bandages. Some of the wound exudates can leak around or through the dressing, creating wetness; this fluid contains enzymes that can cause maceration of the surrounding skin which is of course undesirable. [0004] Bandages or stockings are furthermore uncomfortable to wear, especially in hot weather, as moisture cannot easily escape. With bandages and stockings, the bony prominences, such as the shin bone and ankle bone, receive concentrated pressure levels and therefore an under layer of soft non woven padding is also used, to pad the limb and make its cross section more circular. [0005] This padding may also perform the function of absorbing any fluid that escapes from the dressing. However, it is a skilful and difficult to perfect job to locate the padding appropriately, and the bandages may subsequently move and dislodge the padding. [0006] Compression may also be applied using a constrained air bladder, which solves some of the problems associated with the use of bandages and stockings. The air bladder itself is impermeable to vapour and this can therefore cause problems, as heat and moisture from sweat are trapped by the bladder. [0007] Accordingly, there is a need for means for alleviating the problems associated with the use of known compression systems for leg ulcer patients. [0008] The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a sock suitable for wearing on a limb of a leg ulcer patient, the sock comprising material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface. [0009] Some, most, substantially all, or all of the ankle portion of the sock may comprise material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface. Preferably, all of the area, or substantially all of the area, that, in use, will be coextensive with the patient's ankle comprises material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface. All, or substantially all, of the gaiter region of the sock may comprise material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface. [0010] Preferably the sock comprises material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface in all regions. [0011] Such a sock is advantageous as it can be worn on a leg of a leg ulcer patient, over a dressing to the wound, whilst not impairing the effectiveness of the dressing, which allows the passage of water vapour from the wound. [0012] Accordingly, the wearing of the sock can assist in maintaining healthy skin in the region of the ulcer. The sock is particularly effective for use by leg ulcer patients having leg ulcers in the gaiter region, which is the area in which it is most common for leg ulcers to occur. [0013] The material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface may be any material with moisture wicking properties. In particular, the material may be fibres having the ability to wick. The fibres may suitably be knitted into the sock or the sock may be knitted from a wicking fibre or from a combination of two or more different fibres including one or more wicking fibres. Suitable wicking fibres include Coolmax.TM., Duraspun.TM., Isolfil.TM., polypropylene, polyester microfibre and Soft Touch.TM. P180W and Galaxy.TM. or other fibres with a large surface area. [0014] When fibres other than wicking fibres are included, these may be any fibres suitable for use in a sock and may be natural fibres or synthetic fibres or a combination thereof. Preferably the sock comprises a blend of cotton and Coolmax Antibacterial.TM. fibres or a blend of cotton and polypropylene. The blend may comprise from 5% to 80% by weight of wicking fibres; and preferably from 20% to 60% by weight of wicking fibres; and more preferably from 25% to 50% by weight of wicking fibres blended with natural or synthetic fibres suitable for use in a sock. [0015] Wicking is the transport of fluid within a yarn or fabric structure. This process is governed by the arrangement of the fibres comprising the structure and by the ease with which the fluid wets out the fibre surface. [0016] Preferably, the sock is knitted with a stitch pattern that encourages moisture transfer to other areas of the sock. Useful stitches/processes for producing useful stitches include rib, rib loop transfer, pelerine plain loop transfer, single or double jersey and jacquard double jersey. [0017] In particular, stitch patterns that encourage moisture transfer to areas of the sock that, in use, will not be covered by the patient's footwear or a compression sleeve are preferred. More preferably, stitch patterns that encourage moisture transfer to areas of the sock that, in use, will not be covered by the patient's footwear or by any compression applying means, such as bandages, compression stockings, compression sleeves or air bladders, being worn, may be used. [0018] Preferably, the material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface includes one or more wicking fibres on the side of the material that in use is on the inner surface of the sock, adjacent the skin, and includes absorbent material, such as absorptive fibres, on the side that in use is on the outer surface of the sock. For example, the material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface may be a wicking fibre, or from a combination of two or more different fibres including one or more wicking fibres, located on the side that in use is on the inner surface of the sock, whilst it may be knitted from an absorptive fibre, or from a combination of two or more different fibres including one or more absorptive fibres, on the side that in use is on the outer surface of the sock. Thus an aim of the wicking fibres is, in many embodiments, to transport moisture to the outside of the sock. When the sock is used in combination with a compression sleeve an aim of the wicking fibres is to transport moisture to those areas of the sock not covered by the compression sleeve or to those areas from which evaporation of moisture is possible. [0019] The sock may suitably further comprise ventilation channels running away from the ankle portion, along which water vapour may be transferred laterally, for example by diffusion and/or by air flow, currents or convention. The ventilation channels may suitably be of a ribbed construction. The sock may comprise a foot portion that includes ventilation channels running away from the ankle portion, along which water vapour may be transferred laterally, for example by diffusion and/or by air flow, currents or convention. [0020] The sock may alternatively or additionally comprise a leg portion that includes ventilation channels running away from the ankle portion, along which water vapour may be transferred laterally, for example by diffusion and/or by air flow, currents or convention. [0021] The sock preferably further comprises a leg portion including an area made from material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface. The material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface may be as described above in relation to the ankle portion and may be the same as or different to the material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface used in the ankle portion. [0022] The sock preferably further comprises a foot portion including an area made from material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface. The material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface may be as described above in relation to the ankle portion and may be the same as or different to the material having the ability to wick moisture away from the skin surface used in the ankle portion. [0023] The present invention also provides, in a second aspect, a sock suitable for wearing on a leg of a leg ulcer patient, the sock comprising an ankle portion made from material having the ability to apply compression to the ankle area of the patient's foot. [0024] Some, most, substantially all or all of the ankle portion may be made from material having the ability to apply compression to the ankle area of the patient's foot. Preferably, all, or substantially all, of the area that, in use, will be coextensive with the patient's ankle is made from material having the ability to apply compression to the ankle area of the patient's foot, and more preferably all of the gaiter region of the sock is made from material having the ability to apply compression to the ankle area of the patient's foot. Continue reading... Full patent description for Socks Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Socks patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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