Bulletin

Issue: November/December 2005

News

New bra helps after surgery

La Trobe University postgraduate nursing student, Ms Carolyn Naismith, has designed a special bra to assist women recovering from cardiac surgery.

In October Ms Naismith won the weekly award for her invention, called the Cardibra, on the ABC television program, New Inventors.

With the help of La Trobe Professor of Nursing, Annette Street, Ms Naismith is hoping to commercialise the vest-shaped bra which acts like a splint to provide support to women who are recovering from a sternotomy – splitting the breast bone – associated with cardiac surgery.

For several days following a sternotomy, women need breast support but cannot wear a normal bra which may crush the wounds and prevent easy dressings.

Ms Naismith made her new bra from fabric used in burns suits and it has no wire or hard material that could compress wounds. It is also designed to open so that it can be fitted to the patient on the operating table and later adjusted by tabs to allow the replacement of dressings.