Patent Application
20210330511
This disclosure describes the integration of the necessary components of a previous disclosure (US2020-0008983) into a more compact and more easily applied bandage. The previous disclosure was shaped roughly like a 2 bladed paddle. In the previous disclosure the bandage surfaces touching the wound area were on two separate ends and could have unique materials and area distributions. This feature allowed a variety of overlays and configurations. It also required some dexterity to place the bandage pad, hold it in place while adjusting loop length and then applying the overwrap portion.
This disclosure combines the previous two separate ends into one and describes the bandage types that are claimed as novel ideas within that constraint. The bandage area (pad) now has two external surfaces reduced from previous four (the two on each end.) These are now called the bottom side pad skin-facing and the top side pad outer-facing surfaces. Additional Layers may be added as needed, e.g. as a stiffener or tear-resistant layer.
The previous disclosure made use of a digit or body part beyond a flexing joint as an adjustable anchoring point against peel and creep failures in the bandage adhesive. The anchoring digit loop material was selected to be strong, comfortable, stretchable and permanently deformable. This use is maintained in the present disclosure.
Previous Art—The main feature demonstrating novelty in this and the aforementioned disclosure is the use of a digit as an anchor point for the bandage described. The only disclosure found that mentions the purposeful use of digits is US003971374, and there digits are used in total for a palm bandage and as adhesive strings, which unwind and fail, rather than as continuous loops, as this disclosure presents. No other bandage was found to have the use of a single digit as an anchor point. All other disclosures, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,248,932 and 2,748,766 wrapped bandage arms around digits for anchors, but what can be wrapped can be unwrapped. This disclosure described an adjustable continuous loop as an anchor arm.
In this disclosure the basic shape of a bandage (similar to a bib), a flat area with a thin angled strap, is described. The basic bandage shape consists of the bandage pad and a stretchable, permanently deformable loop. The loop is not elastic, but rather deformable like the 6 pack beverage loops (low density polyethylene) that remains at the length it was stretched. No rebound, no length shrinking. For the rest of this document, this characteristic shall be abbreviated as ‘deformable.’ The loop connects to the bottom end of the bandage pad and is made thin for digit comfort and conformability. A dressing may be added in the central area. Layers between the inner and outer layers may be added for purpose and a sterile pad cover and handling tab may be added over the inner layer.
The drawings depict several views of an embodiment of the disclosed bandage. Together with the detailed description, these drawings will explain the various parts and functions of the disclosure. Refer to the following drawings to understand the applications, features and use of this bandage.
Various modifications and adaptations of the exemplary bandage described here are possible and expected, yet the fundamental embodiment of the disclosure will be depicted in the drawings and described here in detail. Modifications, additions and adaptations to this disclosure will be described in the submitted claims.
This disclosure collects the advantages of the previously mentioned disclosure while removing the awkwardness of its suggested application and use; namely holding the sterile bandage surface over an open wound while adjusting the digit loop length such that the adhesive over-pad surface adheres to the intended spot. This disclosure removes that awkwardness by pre-forming the loop into its final shape; namely, a rounded oval tab with a thin, angled, deformable loop for a digit anchor. The bandage disclosed may be made of any currently available materials suitable for this desired use; to be water or tear resistant, water proof, breathable, radio-opaque, pharmaceutically active, etc. in any utilized layers. This disclosure concentrates on the shape and utility of this bandage due to the use of a single digit as anchor rather than any claim to unique materials or processing.
The first embodiment is an anti-abrasion/grip/blister pad—used to lessen the effects of friction and rubbing. The top side pad 1 surface is scuff and tear resistant, the bottom side pad 2 surface is adhesive conformal and the digit loop 4 is a thin, deformable anchoring member.
The second embodiment is the traditional bandage, meant to cover, protect and help heal a wound. The top side pad 1 surface comprises suitable materials for the particular bandage and its features, the bottom side pad 2 surface of the bandage pad by necessity consists of at least two areas—an inner dressing area for the actual bandage material(s) and a perimeter adhesive circumference to seal and adhere the bottom side pad 2 surface to the skin. For any size bandage pad, the choice of side 2 materials and area are a balance between wound-covering material and sufficient adhesive(s). The digit loop 4 is a thin and narrow, deformable anchoring member.
The third embodiment emphasizes the structure, shape and adhesion of a reinforced, three-dimensional shield. In this embodiment, the shape of the bandage may vary and portions of all surfaces: the top side pad 1, the bottom side pad 2 and the digit loop 4 may contain unique qualities such as conformal and thermal shaping, shape memory, perforations, and optical patterns, medical components, antennas, sensors or x-ray/ultrasound/RFID components. The same loop is again used.
These and other embodiments require the same actions for use: a bandage of approximate digit loop size (the length from site, around digit, back to site) and sufficient pad surface area is placed over the digit, release layer still in place, to check where the dressing will touch. If over the wound, peel the release layer off and apply the bandage. If short, pull on the top of the bandage to stretch the loop enough to center the dressing over the intended wound site, then peel the release layer off and apply the bandage.
