Compression garment

Abstract

In one representative embodiment, a compression garment can comprise a front portion, a rear portion, first and second side portions, wherein the first and the second side portions each have first and second end portions, a lower pelvic portion extending from the rear portion to the front portion, wherein the lower pelvic portion is releasably connected to the front portion, and a plurality of flexible support members coupled to the first and the second side portions, wherein each of the flexible support members is configured to at least substantially extend from the first end to the second end of one of the first and the second side portions.

1 . A compression garment, comprising:
 a front portion;   a rear portion;   first and second side portions, wherein the first and the second side portions each have first and second end portions;   a lower pelvic portion extending from the rear portion to the front portion, wherein the lower pelvic portion is releasably coupled to the front portion;   a plurality of flexible support members coupled to the first and the second side portions, wherein each of the flexible support members is configured to at least substantially extend from the first end to the second end of one of the first and the second side portions; and   a plurality of adjustable closure elements.   
     
     
         2 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support members are removably coupled to the first and the second side portions. 
     
     
         3 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support members are formed of metal. 
     
     
         4 . The compression garment of  claim 3 , wherein the flexible support members are formed from stainless steel. 
     
     
         5 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support members are formed of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support members each comprise an elongate shaft having a serpentine portion. 
     
     
         7 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support members each comprise a plurality of segments connected end-to-end along a length of the flexible support member, each segment having two 180-degree turns. 
     
     
         8 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein a length of each of the flexible support members is between 5-15 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein the length of each of the flexible support members is between 10-12 inches. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein a first closure element of the plurality of closure elements is a hook and eye closure which that releasably couples the lower pelvic portion to the front portion. 
     
     
         12 . The compression garment of  claim 11 , wherein the first closure element comprises at least two rows of eyes, each row having three eyes, and a row of three hooks. 
     
     
         13 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein a second closure element of the plurality of closure elements is centrally positioned on the front portion of the compression garment, wherein the second closure element extends from a first end portion of the front portion toward the lower pelvic portion. 
     
     
         14 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein a third closure element of the plurality of closure elements is centrally positioned on the first or the second side portion of the compression garment, wherein the second closure element extends from the first end portion of the first or the second side portion toward the second end portion of the first or the second side portion. 
     
     
         15 . The compression garment of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the flexible support members is disposed between the third closure element of the plurality of closure elements and the rear portion of the compression garment. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower pelvic portion has a width between 2-2.5 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , further comprising end caps disposed on ends of each of the flexible support members. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The compression garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower pelvic portion has a width of less than three inches.