Patent Application
20230034064
The present invention is directed to medicated patches and, more particularly, to a medicated patching system for positioning a plurality of medicated patches around an orthopaedic device extending through a patient's skin.
After orthopaedic surgery, it is common for orthopaedic devices, e.g. pins, to be inserted into a patient's bones to hold the bones in a fixed position. The orthopaedic devices are inserted through the skin and into the respective bone so that a free end of each orthopaedic device extends from the body. A fixation device may be coupled to each of the orthopaedic devices to retain the orthopaedic devices in position. An area of the patient's body surrounding each orthopaedic device may be susceptible to infections while the orthopaedic device is inserted into the body. Accordingly, it is imperative to regularly clean the area with a medication, for example an antiseptic. The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for maintaining cleanliness of the area.
The present disclosure includes one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter.
According to a first aspect of the disclosed embodiments, a medicated patching system for positioning a plurality of medicated patches around an orthopaedic device extending through a patient's skin is provided. Each of the plurality of medicated patches includes an outer end and an opposite inner end. Each of the plurality of medicated patches also includes an upper layer and a bottom layer extending between the outer end and the inner end. A medication is positioned between the upper layer and the bottom layer. A recess extends from the inner end toward the outer end. A first side of a first medicated patch and a first side of a second medicated patch are configured to be positioned adjacent to and contacting each other on the patient's skin so that the recess in the first medicated patch and the recess in the second medicated patch form an opening. The orthopaedic device extends through the opening.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the upper layer may include an impermeable layer. The bottom layer may include an adhesive layer that adheres to the patient's skin. The adhesive layer may include a plurality of pores that enable the medication to seep through the adhesive layer to the patient's skin. The medication may include an antiseptic. The opening may be sized to the orthopaedic device. The orthopaedic device may be a pin that has been inserted into a bone of the patient. The opening may be circular. The recess may be centered along a length of the inner end of each of the plurality of medicated patches. An adhesive strip may be coupled to the outer end of each of the plurality of medicated patches.
According to a second aspect of the disclosed embodiments, a medicated patch for positioning around an orthopaedic device extending through a patient's skin is provided. The patch includes a pair of outer ends and a center line equally spaced from each of the pair of outer ends. An upper layer and a bottom layer extend between the pair of outer ends. A medication is positioned between the upper layer and the bottom layer. An opening is formed at the center line and extends through the upper layer and the bottom layer. The patch is configured to be positioned on the patient's skin so that the orthopaedic device extends through the opening.
In some embodiments of the second aspect, the upper layer may include an impermeable layer. The bottom layer may include an adhesive layer that adheres to the patient's skin. The adhesive layer may include a plurality of pores that enable the medication to seep through the adhesive layer to the patient's skin. The medication may include an antiseptic. The opening may be sized to the orthopaedic device. The orthopaedic device may be a pin that has been inserted into a bone of the patient. The opening may be circular. The opening may be centered along the center line. An adhesive strip may be coupled to each outer end of the pair of outer ends.
Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), such as those listed above and/or those listed in the claims, can comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the embodiments as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
An area 20 of the patient's foot 10 surrounding each orthopaedic device 12 may be susceptible to infections while the orthopaedic device 12 is inserted into the foot 10. Accordingly, it is imperative to regularly clean the area 20 with a medication, for example an antiseptic. The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for maintaining cleanliness of the area 20.
Referring now to
After an orthopaedic surgery wherein the orthopaedic device 12 is inserted, the medicated patching system 50 is positioned around the orthopaedic device 12 on the patient's skin. The inner end 56 of a first medicated patch 70 and the inner end 56 of a second medicated patch 72 are configured to be positioned adjacent to and contacting each other on the patient's skin, as shown in
An adhesive strip 76 is coupled to the outer end 54 of each of the first medicated patch 70 and the second medicated patch 72. In some embodiments, the sidewalls 58 may also include an adhesive strip 76. The adhesive strip 76 extends a length 78 that is greater than a length 80 of the outer end 54. In some embodiments, the length 78 of the adhesive strip 76 is equal to the length 80 of the outer end 54. It may be contemplated that the length 78 of the adhesive strip 76 is less than the length 80 of the outer end 54. The adhesive strip 76 includes any adhesive suitable for adhering the patches 52 to the patient's skin.
A medication 92 is positioned between the upper layer 82 and the bottom layer 84. The medication 92 may be an antiseptic or any other suitable medication for maintaining a sterile environment around the orthopaedic device 12. The pores 90 in the adhesive layer 88 enable the medication 92 to seep through the adhesive layer 88 to the patient's skin. As illustrated in
Referring now to
An adhesive strip 110 is coupled to each outer end 102. In some embodiments, the sidewalls 106 may also include an adhesive strip 110. The adhesive strip 110 extends a length 112 that is greater than a length 114 of the outer end 102. In some embodiments, the length 112 of the adhesive strip 110 is equal to the length 114 of the outer end 102. It may be contemplated that the length 112 of the adhesive strip 110 is less than the length 114 of the outer end 102. The adhesive strip 110 includes any adhesive suitable for adhering the patch 100 to the patient's skin.
The patch 100 includes each of the layers described in
Any theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding stated herein is meant to further enhance understanding of principles of the present disclosure and is not intended to make the present disclosure in any way dependent upon such theory, mechanism of operation, illustrative embodiment, proof, or finding. It should be understood that while the use of the word preferable, preferably or preferred in the description above indicates that the feature so described can be more desirable, it nonetheless cannot be necessary and embodiments lacking the same can be contemplated as within the scope of the disclosure, that scope being defined by the claims that follow.
In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.
It should be understood that only selected embodiments have been shown and described and that all possible alternatives, modifications, aspects, combinations, principles, variations, and equivalents that come within the spirit of the disclosure as defined herein or by any of the following claims are desired to be protected. While embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same are to be considered as illustrative and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Additional alternatives, modifications and variations can be apparent to those skilled in the art. Also, while multiple inventive aspects and principles can have been presented, they need not be utilized in combination, and many combinations of aspects and principles are possible in light of the various embodiments provided above.
