Brassieres which facilitate the drainage of lymphatic fluid from the breast areaof the human female

摘要

Bosom-support garments such as brassieres reduce lymph flow interference by providing a pattern of alternating higher and lower skin-compression areas which are configured to follow the direction of the lymph pathways in the various sectors of the breast, side, and/or back areas of the wearer. Preferably the areas of lower skin compression do not actually touch the skin, and the width of and spacing of the pattern may be varied at different areas of the garment to accommodate the comfort of the wearer and to optimize the flow of lymph. The pattern may be defined by elongated ribs of relatively higher density material formed through weaving, compression molding, or other appropriate processes. Such ribs preferably extend generally away from the nipple area of the breast so that the pattern corresponds to lymph drainage pathways leading to the axillary or subclavicular nodes, to an intercostal space, or to a plurality or all of the above. The pattern may be defined by pockets or cells at least partially filled with a solid, a liquid, or a gas. As an alternative to elongated ribs, the pattern may be defined by localized, semi-rigid regions operative to massage the lymph drainage pathways when the garment is worn. As one example of many, such regions may be in the form of semi-rigid members disposed at an angle relative to the skin and terminating in skin-contacting points, causing the application of a generally upward force when the garment is worn. In particular, upward arm and shoulder motion as a result of normal body movement during the day causes the shoulder straps to periodically pull up on the outer wall of the fabric, which causes the semi-rigid members or "fingers" to press against and slide upward along the inner wall, thereby exerting a generally upward force on the wearer's skin. This force gently massages the lymph ducts, helping to push the lymph fluid in a desired upward direction.