FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to garments and methods
for maintaining body temperature and, more particularly, but not exclusively, garments
for maintaining body temperature to enhance sperm production.
[0005] In another study scrotal temperature was continuously measured, demonstrating a significant
relationship between average daily scrotal temperature and sperm count. This study
has demonstrated that even a moderate and physiological elevation in scrotal skin
temperature was consistently associated with a substantial reduction in sperm concentration.
[0007] Raising the scrotal temperature may not only reduce sperm concentration but also
increase the numbers of morphologically abnormal sperm, decrease sperm motility and/or
decrease the number of sperm in the ejaculate. There is also concern whether scrotal
temperature elevation can affect implantation and early embryo development as the
miscarriage rate is significantly increased in female animals after mating with an
'affected' male.
"
Heat and the testis"; Setchell BP., Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 1998; 114:
179-184.
[0008] Sperm count in men is consistently poorer in the summer than in the winter. In long-term
studies the sperm count in the same men showed an average 30% reduction in summer
compared with winter.
[0010] Background related to the effect of temperature on inter alia sperm count and quality,
include the following articles, herein incorporated in their entirety by reference.
i) Mieusset R. & Bujan L. "The Potential Of Mild Testicular Heating As A Safe, Effective
And Reversible Contraceptive Method For Men", International Journal of Andrology 1995;
17: 186-191;
ii) Figa-Talamanca I. et al, "Effects Of Prolonged Auto Vehicle Driving On Male Reproductive
Function: A Study Among Taxi Drivers", American Journal of Industrial Medicine 1996;
30: 750-758;
iii) Bonde, J. P. "Semen Quality In Welders Exposed To Radiant Heat", British Journal of
Industrial Medicine 1992; 49: 5-10;
iv) Figa-Talamanca, I., et al, "Fertility And Semen Quality Of Workers Exposed To
High Temperatures In The Ceramics Industry", Reproductive Toxicology 1992; 6: 517-523;
v) Thonneau, P. et al, "Heat Exposure As A Hazard To Male Fertility", The Lancet 1996;
347; 204-205;
vi) Bonde, J. P. et al, "A Follow-Up Study Of Environmental And Biologic Determinants
Of Fertility Among 430 Danish First Pregnancy Planners: Design And Methods", Reproductive
Toxicology 1998; 12: 19-27;
vii) Bujan L. et al, "Increase In Scrotal Temperature In Car Drivers", Human Reproduction
2000; 15: 1355-1357;
viii) Gyllenborg J. et al, "Secular And Seasonal Changes In Semen Quality Among Young Danish
Men - A Statistical Analysis Of Semen Samples From Donor Candidates during 1977-1995",
International Journal of Andrology 1999; 22: 28-36;
ix) Levine R.J. et al, "Differences In The Quality Of Semen In Outdoor Workers During
Summer And Winter", New England Journal of Medicine 1990; 323: 12-16; and
x) Jorgensen N. et al, "Regional Differences In Semen Quality In Europe", Human Reproduction
2001; 16:1012-1019.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided
a garment for maintaining body temperature to enhance effective sperm production.
[0012] The garment includes a mesh material configured to encompass at least a portion of
the male testes and a support structure attached to the mesh material.
[0013] The support structure includes a belt of a size that is suitable for encircling a
male torso.
[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the mesh material has fibers of a diameter
between about 0.1 and about 5.0 millimeters.
[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, the mesh material includes apertures
of between about 1.0 and about 100 square millimeters.
[0016] According to another aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is
provided a method of manufacturing a garment for maintaining body temperature to enhance
sperm production, the method including producing a mesh material, forming the mesh
material into a form configured to encompass at least a portion of a male testes and
attaching the mesh material to a support structure including a belt having a length
suitable for encircling a male torso.
[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method includes forming the mesh
material from fibers having of a diameter between about 0.1 and about 5.0 millimeters.
[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method includes forming apertures
in the mesh material, the apertures having an area of between about 1.0 and about
100 square millimeters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020] With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars
shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments
of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent
to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.
[0021] In the drawings:
Figure 1-3 show examples of garments for maintaining body temperature to enhance sperm
production, according to embodiments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to garments and methods
for maintaining body temperature and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to garments
for maintaining body temperature to enhance sperm production.
[0023] As used herein, the phrases "enhance sperm production" and/or "enhance effective
sperm production" refer to, inter alia, an increase in sperm count associated with
maintaining a temperature reduction of, inter alia, the male testes with respect to
the core body temperature.
[0024] As used herein, the term "male testes" refers to a portion of the male body, including
at least one of:
i) a scrotum;
ii) a pubic area; and
iii) all organs and organelles associated with the production, storage and ejaculation
of sperm.
[0025] Optionally, the garment includes a mesh material, allowing air flow to the skin associated
with the male testes, thereby reducing the temperature of the male testes.
[0026] As used herein, "reducing the temperature of the male testes", means maintaining
or reducing the temperature of the male tests below the core body temperature; wherein
such maintenance contributes to in increase sperm count and quality in an ejaculate
above that produced when the temperature of the male testes approaches the core body
temperature.
[0027] In some embodiments of the present invention, the mesh may cover the testicular area
alone, for example the scrotal sac. Alternatively, the garment may include a larger
mesh area that covers, for example, the scrotum, and the pubic area.
[0028] In some embodiments of the present invention, the garment may be designed in any
one of a variety of garment styles known in the art, such garment styles including:
i) a regular bikini;
ii) a strip-bikini;
iii) a mini-slip;
iv) a thong;
v) a trunk;
vi) a full-rise brief;
vii) a low-rise brief; and
viii) a mid-rise brief.
Referring to the Drawings:
[0029] Figure 1 shows a garment 100 for maintaining body temperature to enhance effective
sperm production that includes a mesh material 106 that allows the above-noted air
flow to the skin associated with the male testes, thereby reducing the temperature
of the male testes.
[0030] According to embodiments of the invention, garment 100 includes a belt 102 which
optionally includes an elastic material. Alternatively, belt 102 includes a Velcro™
material that the wearer fastens around the torso area.
[0031] Garment 100 includes a scrotal sac 104 configured for supporting a male scrotum that
includes mesh material 106. Additionally, garment 100 includes a pubic area 108 extending
upward from scrotal sac 104. Pubic area 108 optionally includes mesh material 106
in addition to mesh material 106 of scrotal sac 104.
[0032] Figure 2, shows a garment 120 for maintaining body temperature to enhance effective
sperm production in which pubic area 108 includes a material having a denser area,
meaning an area of smaller apertures, than mesh material 106.
[0033] Additionally, belt 102 includes strips 112 including a rubberized material, optionally
to provide additional snugness to belt 102.
[0034] Figure 3 shows a garment 130 for maintaining body temperature to enhance effective
sperm production, in which pubic area 108, scrotal sac 104 and belt 102 include mesh
material 106.
Materials
[0035] In some embodiments of the present invention, materials included in garment 100 are
characterized by a mesh material 106 that allows movement of air through apertures
in mesh material, thereby ventilating portions of the male testes as noted above.
Examples of the fibers of mesh material 106 include:
natural fibers;
synthetic fibers; and
a combination of synthetic and natural fibers.
[0036] In some embodiments of the present invention, mesh material 106 is characterized
by apertures of any one of a variety of aperture areas. Optionally, mesh material
106 includes a variety of sizes of apertures sizes, for example, with aperture size
increasing from the pubic area towards the testes area.
[0037] It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from this application, many
relevant garment configurations and materials will be developed and the scope of the
term garment is intended to include all such new technologies
a priori.
[0038] As used herein the term "about" refers to ± 10 %.
[0039] The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "having" and their
conjugates, mean "including but not limited to".
[0040] The term "consisting of" means "including and limited to".
[0041] The term "consisting essentially of" means that the composition, method or structure
may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional
ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics
of the claimed composition, method or structure.
[0042] As used herein, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term "a compound" or "at
least one compound" may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.
[0043] Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented
in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is
merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation
on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered
to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical
values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6
should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3,
from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual
numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless
of the breadth of the range.
[0044] Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited
numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases "ranging/ranges
between" a first indicate number and a second indicate number and "ranging/ranges
from" a first indicate number "to" a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably
and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional
and integral numerals therebetween.
[0045] As used herein, the term "method" refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures
for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means,
techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners,
means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the chemical, pharmacological,
biological, biochemical, and medical arts.
[0046] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity,
described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination
in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are,
for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided
separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described
embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various
embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless
the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.
[0047] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments
thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope
of the appended claims.
[0048] All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification
are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to
the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was
specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In
addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not
be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the
present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be
construed as necessarily limiting.