Patent Application
20110319841
The invention which is the subject of this application is a device to alleviate the condition of pain and trauma caused by open wounds particularly the perineal area after childbirth.
Pernineal and rectal trauma causes a great deal of distress and pain in women after childbirth. Pain in this area may be increased if an episiotomy was performed. Also there is increased pain if forceps or a vacuum was used to remove the baby. Pernineal trauma occurs in approximately 70% of women after child birth. Many times there was an open wound that either tore or was cut and then stitched shut. In conjunction with the perineal trauma women experience significant bleeding for an average of 6 weeks after child birth. The complication of bleeding and an open wound cause great discomfort to many new mothers.
It is well know that perineal trauma is an issue after childbirth. In the past women have been offered anything from ice cubes, to ice packs but there was never a device to treat this specific condition. Ice cubes are very uncomfortable to sit on for women and are often too cold which has the effect of numbing the area but not being comfortable or long lasting. Ice packs have also been used but they are very hard, not shaped for the area, and uncomfortable to use.
Gel packs have also been used as a compress but they are often bulky and are used mostly for sports injuries. They are not designed in order to relieve perineal and rectal trauma after childbirth
EpiFoam is a substance that has also been used to treat this area. It is an anti inflammatory steroid which acts as a pain reliever but does not relieve the pressure or have a cooling effect.
In recent time Feme Pad was created which is a long gel pad specifically designed to relive perineal and rectal pain after childbirth. While the Feme Pad does relieve pressure and have a cooling effect to the area it is unable to collect blood and fluids that are expelled after child birth. Maternity pads are often used after child birth to collect blood and bodily fluids. The Feme Pad states that it is able to be used in conjunction with a maternity pad to collect blood but doing so is very bulky and uncomfortable. In addition the Feme Pad must be frozen after they warm up and reused which is unsanitary.
It is clear that there is a need for an effective device to not only absorb fluids but provide relief to the perineal trauma by cooling the area. This device is able to combine the cooling effects desired and the absorbency needed after child birth.
In the first aspect of the invention there is to provide relief to the perineal and rectal area after trauma. The said device is an instant cooling pack which is twisted until the ingredients mix and cooling effect results of the chemical reaction. The ice pack is then sealed in a maternity pad. The ice pack has a high thermal capacity and is applied directly to the perineal area to provide a cooling effect and an occluding effect on the open wound.
The ice pack is housed in a maternity pad. This allows the device not only to provide cooling relief but also the absorbent maternity pad needed in one easy and comfortable device.
This device will provide cooling relief to the area of trauma as without delaying the normal healing process. Also the device will inhibit swelling due to the cooling effect.
The ice pack portion of the device is comprised of a plastic bag that hosts urea granules and a small bag of water. When the device is twisted the small bag of water will pop allowing the urea granules and water to mix. This mixing creates an endothermic reaction and the by product is a drop in temperature.
To activate the device one must twist the pad until the water bag breaks and then shake the pad so that the urea granules and water are mixed completely. The pad will stay cold for approximately 45 minutes. The advantage is that the ice pack does not need to be refrigerated so that it can be used anywhere without waiting for the material to cool. In addition the pad is disposable so a clean sanitary one is used each time.
The pad housing is a standard maternity size of 380 mm with 10 cm of width. This shape is designed to cover the damaged perineal and rectal areas.
In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of treating person for the relief of perineal and or rectal trauma associated with child birth by application of said device. Said device is comprised of a standard maternity pad with an ice pack insert 6 cm wide and 380 mm long. Said ice pack is activated by twisting which breaks a water bag inside the ice pack and reacts with urea granules to create a cooling effect. The ice pack is laid in the middle of the standard maternity pad then sealed in when the liquid permeable top layer is sealed shut. The device once cooled is applied directly to the perineal area by removing pads adhesive strip cover and placing adhesive strip in crotch of underpants. This provides a cooling effect, occluding effect, and is absorbent at the same time.
This invention provides a method of treating a person with an open wound by the application of a device on the open wound. Said device is comprised of an absorbent pad which holds an instant ice pack. Once activated the device cools the area as well as absorb blood and other fluids. The device has a cooling and occluding effect as well as absorbency.
Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
