The present invention relates to the field of bandages, more specifically, bandages for applying arterial pressure.
Generally, bandages have been used to protect open wounds from infection and further damage post-trauma. Bandages also help collect blood it has time to coagulate. To promote coagulation and prevent the excess loss of blood, the victim or medical aid will apply pressure to the wound, typically using their hands or a tourniquet. Each of these require the use of the victims hands, or a medical aid which may not be available at the time of trauma.
Hemostasis is accomplished via three mechanisms. First, vasoconstriction is the blood vessels first response to injury. Vasoconstriction is promoted by the smooth muscle cells, which are in turn controlled by the vascular endothelium. Collagen is exposed at the site of injury promoting platelets to adhere to the injury site. Second, platelets adhere to the damaged endothelium to form a platelet plug. The platelets then adhere to collagen and further produce glycoprotein receptors that interact with other platelets, promoting aggregation and adhesion. Third, clots form upon the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and its addition to the platelet plug. As the fibrin mesh forms, blood is transformed from a liquid to a gel.
To aid in the clotting process, pressure should be added to the wound post-trauma. Applying pressure to the wounded area causes the walls of the blood vessels to cave inward toward one another. This slows the turbulent flow of blood and increases the rate of coagulation at the wounded area. In the event of a gunshot wound, pressure must be applied to the wound until care at a hospital is received, or else the victim may die from exsanguination. The invention described herein elegantly addresses the need for constant pressure during trauma while reducing the need for a victim or caregiver to actively apply pressure to the wound.
The above process takes time while occupying the hands of one or more victims and medical aids. A suitable solution is desired.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a bandage that applies arterial pressure to a wound, thus promoting hemostasis.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a panel that may be positioned over a wound. An adhesive layer is coupled to the panel. The adhesive layer engages a users skin. The panel is retained on the wound. A button is couple to the panel. The button is engaged by the user. The button transfers direct pressure to the wound. The button stops bleeding of the wound.
An object of the invention is to provide a device that is a bandage for applying arterial pressure.
These together with additional objects, features, and advantages of the bandage for applying arterial pressure will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the bandage for applying arterial pressure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the bandage for applying arterial pressure in detail, it is to be understood that the bandage for applying arterial pressure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, method, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the bandage for applying arterial pressure.
It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the bandage for applying arterial pressure. It is also to be understood the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to
As best illustrated in
An adhesive layer 24 is coupled to the bottom side 18 of the panel 12. The adhesive layer 24 completely covers the bottom side 18 of the panel 12. Additionally, the adhesive layer 24 engages the users skin 26 so the panel 12 is retained on the wound 20. The adhesive layer 24 may be comprised of a non-residual medical grade adhesive of any conventional design.
A pad 28 has an outer edge 30 extending between an upper side 32 and a lower side 34 of the pad 28. The pad 28 is removably coupled to the adhesive layer 24. Moreover, the pad 28 is peeled away from the adhesive layer 24 when the panel 12 is to be applied to the wound 20. The pad 28 protects the adhesive layer 24 until the panel 12 is utilized.
A button 36 is provided. The button 36 has a top surface 38 extending upwardly from an extraneous edge 40 of a lowermost side 42 of the side button 36. The top surface 38 of the button 36 is curvilinear. Moreover, the button 36 has a hemispherical shape.
The button 36 is positioned within the button opening 22. The lowermost side 42 of the button 36 lies on a plane that is planar with the bottom side 18 of the panel 12. Additionally, the extraneous edge 40 of the lowermost side 42 of the button 36 is coupled to a bounding edge 44 of the button opening 22. The button 36 is retained on the panel 12.
The top surface 38 of the button 36 is positioned over the wound and is depressed by the user 21 after applying force to the panel 12. The button 36 transfers direct pressure to the wound 20. Additionally, the button 36 stops the wound 20 from bleeding.
The button 36 may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material.
In an alternative embodiment, the outer edge 30 of the panel 12 may define a pair of intersecting arms 48 of the panel 12. The panel 12 may have a cross shape. Additionally, the outer edge 30 of the panel may have a length that is greater than a width of the outer edge 30 of the panel 12. The panel 12 may have a rectangular shape. The extraneous edge 40 of the lowermost side 42 of the side button 36 may have a width that is greater than a length of the extraneous edge 40 of lowermost side 42 the button 36. The button 36 may have a rectangular shape.
In use, the pad 28 is removed from the adhesive layer 24. The panel 12 is positioned over the wound 20 so the top surface 38 of the button 36 engages the wound 20. The user 21 depresses the button 36 so the top surface 38 of the button 36 transfers the direct pressure to the wound 20. The user 21 continues to depress the button 36 until the bleeding is controlled or until the user 21 is able to seek medical attention.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the bandage assembly 10, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the bandage assembly 10.
In reference to
In an embodiment, the pad 28 comprises an elevated perimeter 52, which is dimensioned to retain the bottom side 18 of the panel 12.
In an embodiment, the button 36 is releasably engaged with the pad 28, allowing for the user to substitute alternate embodiments of the button 36 design, shape, hardness, size and likewise characteristics. The button 36 may be retained within the elevated perimeter of the pad 28 by a friction fit or adhesive.
In an embodiment, the button 36 is a semi-dome having a flat top 55. The flat top 55 functions to increase the surface area, wherein the wound is under direct and even pressure when applied. In an embodiment, a beveled portion 51 separates the flat top 55 and the panel 12. In alternate embodiments, the button 36 may be any 3-dimesional shape as seen in
In use, as the user positions the button 36 over the wound, the pressure will compress the air out of the aperture due to the semi-resilient material of the dome. The evacuation of air from the button 36 creates a vacuum, drawing fluid from the wound into the aperture wherein lies absorbent material. Drawing fluid from the wound aids in the clotting process without the use of any chemicals.
In an embodiment, and in reference to
In an embodiment, the pad 28 is a resilient acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, however other polymers known in the art may be used. In an embodiment, the durometer, as measured by Shore hardness, of the ABS plastic can be adjusted to yield a more or less flexible final product. The flexibility of the pad permits the device to be positioned over a wound and conform to the body's natural curvature. The flexibility of the pad directs force in a substantially axial direction to the wound, maintaining adequate arterial pressure. Varying the dimensions of the pad 28 increases or decreases the ability of the pad 28 to bend about the perimeter of the button. In reference to
In an embodiment, the structural rigidity of the device is defined by the infill density percentage of a 3D printer. The infill density ranges from 10% to 90% with 10% yielding a soft and malleably material and 90% yielding a hard and highly resilient material. In an embodiment wherein 3D printing is not used, a Shore hardness test may be used to determine the hardness and resilience of the pad, button, and other polymer materials.
In an embodiment, Shore Hardness defines the hardness of the material used for device. A range of 10A to 95A Shore Hardness may be used. In a preferred embodiment, a shore hardness of 85A is used to apply the appropriate pressure onto the wound and allow for adequate flexibility of the material and the device in its entirety.
In reference to
Referring now to
In reference to
In reference to
In an embodiment, the panel 12 may have an adhesive component coupled to the top side 16. The adhesive component may be coupled to the entire panel, or specific areas such as the protrusions to ensure consistent and secure contact with the skin of the user.
Referring now to
The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/494,794, which was filed on Apr. 24, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/287,367, filed on May 27, 2014, entitled “Bandage For Applying Arterial Pressure,” all of which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15494794 | Apr 2017 | US |
Child | 16951793 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14287367 | May 2014 | US |
Child | 15494794 | US |