Patent Application
20120226213
The invention relates to bandages, such as pressure bandages, and devices for use therewith.
A pressure (or compression) bandage may be in the form of an elongate strip (or “web”) of material (such as cloth, gauze or other material) for wrapping or binding an injured patient's body part, such as the patient's arm, leg, head or torso.
The purpose of bandages is to protect exposed wounds and, in relation to certain types of wounds, to prevent loss of blood. Bandages may be packaged to be carried and used by military personnel, police, ambulances, hikers and campers, for example, and may also be part of first-aid kits, for use in factories, offices, homes and on the road.
As described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,723 ('723 patent), bandages include a sterile dressing which includes one or more soft, absorbent portions, typically made of cotton, sandwiched between a (sterile) non-adherent pad and a structural layer. The pad is adapted to be placed on an open wound. The bandages also include a pressure enhancement member disposed on a non-wound side of the bandage, opposite the dressing. When the bandage is placed on the wounded body part, the pressure enhancement member should be guided to cover the wound such that a user (person applying the bandage, caregiver and/or victim/wounded person) can apply direct pressure to the wound. The subsequent wrappings of the web portion on the pressure enhancement member increases the direct pressure applied to the wound.
A variety of configurations for a pressure enhancement member, and using a bandage incorporating a pressure enhancement member are shown in the '723 patent.
For example,
The pressure enhancement member (106) may be made of a flexible, resilient material, such as a structural plastic, and includes a bow-shaped portion (120) fixedly attached to a base (122) and generally perpendicular thereto.
Stainless steel and other metals and alloys, as well as tough generally inflexible plastics, are described as being suitable for the pressure enhancement member.
The frame member may have an internal space, and may include a gap in the continuity thereof, to enhance the ease with which the web is threaded into the internal space. During wrapping of the bandage onto a wounded body part, the web of the bandage may be passed though the gap in the frame of the pressure enhancement member into an interior space of the pressure enhancement member. The user should then go back, wrapping the bandage in the opposite direction. For the wrapping action, particularly for wrapping in the opposite direction, the user may take advantage of the elasticity of the web which facilitates the tight stretching of the web around the wounded body part. Wrapping the web in the opposite direction forces the pressure enhancement member down against the dressing and the pressure enhancement member thus applying pressure to the wounded area.
The '723 patent also shows and describes a hooking dowel (140) which is attached to an end (142) of the web portion (104). The hooking dowel (140) comprises a pair of opposing hooks (144). An end (146) of each hook (144) may be made of a material such as plastic or rubber. The hooking dowel (140) may include one or more prongs (147) to help prevent bunching and sliding of the web portion (104). In use, the hooking dowel (140) may be hooked into one of more folds (160) formed in the wrapping of web portion (104), thereby securing the bandage (100) around a wounded limb (150), and may facilitate the bandage (100) being used as a tourniquet.
In cases of emergency there is often an urgent need to stop a bleeding by applying weight on the wound and/or by applying a mechanical pressure. Only after a few seconds or minutes (generally when applying pressure becomes hard, the hand need to be released or attention should be drawn to other issues, such as attending other victims) the user wraps the bandage onto the wounded body part for the purpose of sustaining the applied pressure.
One of the difficulties with prior art pressure enhancement members relates to the limited area of the pressure enhancement member that actually applies a direct pressure on a wound. For example, as seen in
Another difficulty of prior art bandages relates to the grasping of the pressure enhancement member. As mentioned above, the user often stops the bleeding by applying weight (pressure) on the wound prior to wrapping the bandage. Existing structures of pressure enhancement members do not allow steady grasping by a user's hand. As a result the pressure applied against the wound may not the optimal pressure the user can apply.
Yet another difficulty of prior art bandages having pressure enhancement members relates to the difficulty in packing such bandages. Due to the bulkiness and stiffness of the pressure enhancement members the bandage packages are too big and occupy too much volume. This may cause difficulties particularly in military applications, where medics and other soldiers are required to carry a large amount of equipment and still maintain their mobility.
There is thus a need in the art for more efficient pressure enhancement members and more compact bandages that will facilitate urgent medical treatments.
This summary section of the patent application is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter disclosed herein, in a form lengthier than an “abstract”, and should not be construed as limiting the invention to any features described in this summary section.
It is a general object of the invention to provide improved bandages and improved techniques for using the bandages, such as for applying (direct) pressure to a wound.
According to some embodiments of the invention, generally, a device is provided, usable with a bandage, and the device may be sized and shaped to serve as a “pressure enhancement member” (or “handle”) for allowing a caregiver (user) to insert his hand into the device for applying pressure to a wound.
According to additional or alternative embodiments of the invention, generally, a device is provided usable with a bandage, the device may be adapted to serve as a “fold-retaining” device (or “holder”) for retaining a folded-up (or a rolled) bandage. The device may be adapted to serve as a packaging tool on the folded (or rolled) bandage and form a protective shell frame.
According to some embodiments of the invention, generally, a device is provided, usable with a bandage, the device may be adapted to serve as a “pressure enhancement member” (or “handle”) for allowing a user to insert his hand into the device for applying pressure to a wound and to serve as a “fold-retaining” device (or “holder”) for retaining a folded-up (or a rolled) bandage. Such configuration device may be referred to as a “combination holder/handle”.
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for applying pressure to a wound, the apparatus comprising: a main body portion having a top panel and two sides, the apparatus is adapted to be positioned on a dressing opposing a wound, such that the top panel is essentially parallel to a surface of a dressing. The apparatus of may be adapted to be directly or indirectly positioned on the dressing. The main body portion may generally be U-shaped in cross-section. The apparatus may be adapted to apply pressure to a wound, by a caregiver pressing against the wound on the top panel of the apparatus. The apparatus may be adapted to apply pressure to a wound, by a caregiver inserting his/her fingers to the apparatus and pressing against the wound on a bottom panel of the apparatus.
The top panel of the apparatus may generally be in the form of a rectangle. According to some embodiments, at least one of the two sides comprises an opening of sufficient size that a caregiver can insert fingers of a hand into the openings and apply pressure on the top panel by at least a portion of a palm of the hand.
According to some embodiments, the top panel comprises four corners: a first of the two sides comprises: a first elongated leg element extending from a first of the four corners of the top panel, a second elongated leg element extending from a second of the four corners of the top panel, a first elongated foot element extending between bottom ends of the first and the second leg elements and a first opening in the first of the two sides which is defined by the first and the second leg elements, the first foot element, and a first side edge of the top panel; a second of the two sides comprises: a third elongated leg element extending from a third of the four corners of the top panel, a fourth elongated leg element extending from a fourth of the four corners of the top panel, a second elongated foot element extending between bottom ends of the third and the fourth leg elements and a second opening in the second of the two sides which is defined by the third and the fourth leg elements, the second foot element, and a second side edge of the top panel. The top panel may be substantially rectangular. The foot elements may be substantially parallel with one another. The first, second, third and/or forth elongated leg elements may be substantially perpendicular to the top panel. The first elongated foot elements may extend substantially perpendicularly between bottom ends of the first and the second leg elements; and/or the second elongated foot element may extend substantially perpendicularly between bottom ends of the third and the fourth leg elements. The leg elements may extend substantially perpendicularly from an inner surface of the top panel, from the respective four thereof, for a portion of their length, then the leg elements angle inwardly. The first and the second leg elements may angle towards each other; and the third and the fourth leg elements may angle towards each other. The foot elements may be adapted to contact a bottom panel affixed to a bandage, opposite the dressing, wherein, in use, when a caregiver presses down on the top panel, the foot elements press down on the bottom panel, for distributing pressure to a larger area of the wound than would otherwise be applied by the foot elements alone. The apparatus may further comprise a bottom panel movably attached to the first foot element. The bottom panel may be integrally attached to the apparatus or movably attached to the first foot element by a living hinge.
According to some embodiments, in an open position the bottom panel extends up the first side of the apparatus, in an interior space between the two sides of the apparatus; and in a closed position, the bottom panel extends between the two foot elements at a bottom surface of the apparatus.
According to some embodiments, the apparatus, in use, when a caregiver presses down on the top panel, the foot elements press down on the bottom panel, for distributing pressure to a larger area of the wound than would otherwise be applied by the foot elements alone.
According to some embodiments, the top panel may generally be in the form of a rectangle having a left side edge, a right side edge, a front edge and a back edge, has a width dimension (W) which is a distance between the left side edge and right side edge, and has a length dimension (L) which is a distance between the front edge and the back edge; and may have the bottom panel may have a length dimension which is at least as great as the length dimension (L) of the apparatus, and may have a width dimension which is slightly less than the width (W) the apparatus.
According to some embodiments, the bottom portions of the third and the fourth leg elements may angle slightly inward, so that as the bottom panel swings open, the second foot element deflects outward, resiliently springing back into place so that the second foot is positioned on a top surface of the bottom panel. According to some embodiments, an inside surface of the second foot element is provided with a region of increased thickness.
According to some embodiments, a space between the two sides defines an interior space of the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus is sized and shaped so that a folded-up bandage may be at least partially inserted into the interior space of the apparatus.
According to some embodiments, the apparatus may be formed of a resilient material, and in use the two sides exert a resilient, retaining force on the folded-up bandage which is inserted into the interior space of the apparatus, and the folded-up bandage may be easily removed from the apparatus. The top panel may include a gap, wherein, in use, during wrapping of a bandage onto a wounded body part, a web of the bandage may be passed though the gap into an interior space which is defined between the two sides of the apparatus.
According to some embodiments, there is provided a bandage comprising an elongated web, adapted to be folded upon itself, a dressing disposed on a wound surface of the web and a pressure enhancement member adapted to be directly or indirectly the dressing opposite the wound, wherein the pressure enhancement member comprises a main body portion having a top panel and two sides, the top panel is essentially parallel to the dressing. The pressure enhancement member may be affixed to the elongated web, opposite the dressing. The main body portion may be generally U-shaped in cross-section. According to some embodiments, in use, the pressure enhancement member may be adapted to apply pressure to a wound, by a caregiver pressing against the wound on the top panel of the pressure enhancement member. According to alternative embodiments, in use, the pressure enhancement member may be adapted to apply pressure to a wound, by a caregiver pressing against the wound on a bottom panel of the pressure enhancement member. The top panel may generally be in the form of a rectangle. According to some embodiments, at least one of the two sides may include an opening of sufficient size that a caregiver can insert fingers of a hand into the openings and apply pressure on the top panel by at least a portion of a palm of the hand.
According to some embodiments, the top panel may include four corners; a first of the two sides may include: a first elongated leg element extending from a first of the four corners of the top panel, a second elongated leg element extending from a second of the four corners of the top panel, a first elongated foot element extending between bottom ends of the first and the second leg elements and a first opening in the first of the two sides which is defined by the first and the second leg elements, the first foot element, and a first side edge of the top panel; a second of the two sides may include: a third elongated leg element extending from a third of the four corners of the top panel; a fourth elongated leg element extending from a fourth of the four corners of the top panel; a second elongated foot element extending between bottom ends of the third and the fourth leg elements; and a second opening in the second of the two sides which is defined by the third and the fourth leg elements, the second foot element, and a second side edge of the top panel. According to some embodiments, the top panel may be substantially rectangular in form. According to some embodiments, the foot elements may be substantially parallel with one another. According to some embodiments, the first, second, third and/or forth elongated leg elements may be substantially perpendicular to the top panel. According to some embodiments, the first elongated foot elements may extend substantially perpendicularly between bottom ends of the first and the second leg elements; and/or wherein the second elongated foot element extends substantially perpendicularly between bottom ends of the third and the fourth leg elements. According to some embodiments, the leg elements may extend substantially perpendicularly from an inner surface of the top panel, from the respective four thereof, for a portion of their length, then the leg elements angle inwardly. According to some embodiments, the first and the second leg elements may angle towards each other; and the third and the fourth leg elements may angle towards each other. The foot elements may be adapted to contact a bottom panel affixed to the bandage, opposite a dressing, wherein, in use, when a caregiver presses down on the top panel, the foot elements press down on the bottom panel, for distributing pressure to a larger area of the wound than would otherwise be applied by the foot elements alone. According to some embodiments, the bandage may further include a bottom panel movably attached to the first foot element. The bottom panel may be movably attached to the first foot element by a living hinge. According to some embodiments, in an open position the bottom panel extends up the first side of the pressure enhancement member, in an interior space between the two sides of the pressure enhancement member and in a closed position, the bottom panel extends between the two foot elements at a bottom surface of the pressure enhancement member. According to some embodiments, in use, when a caregiver presses down on the top panel, the foot elements may press down on the bottom panel, for distributing pressure to a larger area of the wound than would otherwise be applied by the foot elements alone. According to some embodiments, the top panel may generally be in the form of a rectangle having a left side edge, a right side edge, a front edge and a back edge, has a width dimension (W) which is a distance between the left side edge and right side edge, and has a length dimension (L) which is a distance between the front edge and the back edge; and the bottom panel has a length dimension which is at least as great as the length dimension (L) of the pressure enhancement member, and has a width dimension which is slightly less than the width (W) the pressure enhancement member. According to some embodiments, bottom portions of the third and the fourth leg elements may angle slightly inward, so that as the bottom panel swings open, the second foot element deflects outward, resiliently springing back into place so that the second foot is positioned on a top surface of the bottom panel. According to some embodiments, an inside surface of the second foot element may be provided with a region of increased thickness. According to some embodiments, a space between the two sides may define an interior space of the pressure enhancement member, and wherein the pressure enhancement member is sized and shaped so that a folded-up bandage may be at least partially inserted into the interior space of the pressure enhancement member. The pressure enhancement member is may be formed of a resilient material, and in use the two sides exert a resilient, retaining force on the folded-up bandage which is inserted into the interior space of the pressure enhancement member, and the folded-up bandage may be easily removed from the pressure enhancement member. The top panel may include a gap, wherein, in use, during wrapping of the bandage onto a wounded body part, a web of the bandage may be passed though the gap into an interior space which is defined between the two sides of the pressure enhancement member.
Examples illustrative of embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to figures attached hereto. In the figures, identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generally labeled with a same numeral in all the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. The figures (FIGS.) are listed below.
In the following description, various aspects of techniques for applying pressure to a wound and/or packaging bandages will be described. For the purpose of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the techniques. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the techniques may be practiced without specific details being presented herein. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description(s) of the techniques.
After manufacture, the bandage (either with or without integral dressing) may be rolled up and packaged for sale and distribution. An alternative to rolling up the bandage is to fold it. Folding a material once (n=1) will result in there being two (n+1) “panels”, each of which may (or may not) be the same size as each other. The resulting panels are generally parallel with one another, and substantially abutting one another (like an accordion or a concertina).
A material may be folded with “zigzag” folds, will have two or more (n>=2) parallel folds, each folding the material in opposite directions, resulting in a number (n+1) of panels, each of which may (or may not) be the same size as each other. The resulting panels are generally parallel with one another, and substantially abutting one another. Seen from above, zig-zag folds resemble a Z, W or M. Zigzag folds are also known as “accordion folds” or “z folds”. A typical pressure bandage may be zig-zag folded, with several (such as n=5-10) folds, resulting in several (n+1) panels.
The panel 102a is an “end panel”. A dressing 108 may be disposed on a surface of the end panel 102a. A pressure enhancement member 110, such as described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,723, may be disposed on a surface of the end panel 102a opposite the dressing 108.
It may be noted that the end panel 102a has been drawn slightly longer than the rest of panels 102b-g. This is indicative of an “additional” web portion 106, which typically extends about 5 cm from the dressing 108 and which may be grasped by a user when applying the bandage 100 on a wound (not shown).
In
Typical dimensions for a pressure bandage (namely, the web) may be 10-15 cm wide, and at least one meter long. Typical dimensions for the dressing 108 may be 10-15 cm square. The web material may be 0.25-1.5 mm thick. When folded-up, the bandage 100 has an overall thickness “T”, exclusive of the pressure enhancement member 110. The thickness “T” may, for example, be approximately 3 cm (30 mm). In this example, the overall thickness “T” is approximately equal to seven times the thickness (approximately 4 mm) of each panel (102a-102f), plus the thickness of the dressing 108, taking into consideration that the web and dressing are formed of “soft” materials (such as cotton, gauze, elasticized fabric, and the like) which may be compressed when packaged.
As illustrated in
When the bandage 100 is removed from its package (not shown), the user (person applying the bandage) may hold (grasp) it in their hand(s), thereby maintaining the bandage 100 in its zig-zag folded configuration. But in the likely stressful and chaotic conditions surrounding use of the bandage, the user may lose their grip on or otherwise fumble the folded bandage 100, resulting for example in the bandage 100 unfolding and dropping or extending to the ground. This is generally undesirable since not only can the bandage become contaminated, but it can also become unwieldy, or snagged on something. This “unfolded” condition of the bandage 100 is illustrated in
According to some embodiments, the web may not be folded in a zigzag manner. Rather, the web portions may be rolled up, for example in a flattened spiral manner. This can also be considered to be a type of “folding”.
There will now be described embodiments of method and apparatus for maintaining the panels of a folded, such as zig-zag folded bandage abutting one another, and applying pressure to a wound while applying the bandage thereto. The devices described herein may be referred to herein as “fold-retaining” devices and/or “pressure enhancement members”, depending generally on whether the device/member is being used to retain the bandage in its folded configuration, to apply pressure to a wound or both.
A main body portion of the device 200 may be generally U-shaped in cross-section, having a top panel 202 generally in the form of a rectangle having a width “W” dimension and a length dimension “H”. The width dimension “W” is a distance between a left side edge 202a and a right side edge 202b of the top panel 202, and the length dimension is a distance between a front edge 202c and a back edge 202d of the top panel 202. The left side edge 204a is opposite the right side edge 204b, and the front side edge 204c is opposite the back side edge 204d. The top panel 202 has four corners, as follows:
A first (left) side 204 of the device 200 comprises:
An opening 218 in the left side 204 of the device 200 is defined by the leg elements 212 and 214, the foot element 216 and the left side edge 202a of the top panel 202.
A second (right) side 206 of the device 200 comprises:
An opening 228 in the right side 204 of the device 200 is defined by the leg elements 222 and 224, the foot element 226 and the right side edge 202b of the top panel 202.
All four leg elements 212, 214, 222 and 224 may be substantially parallel with one another, and the two foot elements 216 and 226 may be substantially parallel with one another.
The leg elements 212, 214, 222, 224 may each have a length dimension which is substantially equal to the height “H” of the device 200.
The foot elements 216 and 226 may each have a length dimension which is substantially equal to the length “L” of the device 200.
A space between the two sides 204 and 206 may be referred to as the “interior space” of the device 200, and may have a width dimension which is the dimension “W” (less the thickness of the leg elements 212, 214, 222, 224). The openings 218 and 228 extend from an exterior of the device 200 to the interior space of the device 200.
A gap 203 may be situated (disposed) approximately halfway along the length “L” of the top panel 202, entirely across the width “W” of the top panel 202, and into the left side opening 218 and the right side opening 228. The gap 203 may have a width dimension “G”. The gap 203 leads into the interior space of the device 200.
In geometric terms, the device 200 is a six-sided rectangular prism, having for example:
Although not shown, an alternative to a substantially “closed” top panel 202 would be to form the top panel 202 in a manner similar to the side panels 204 and 206, but with two openings separated by a gap.
The device may be made of a resilient material, such as plastic, so that the left and right sides 204 and 206 can exert a resilient, retaining force on the folded-up bandage 250, as indicated by the arrows “a” and “b”. In use, the folded-up bandage 250 is easily removed from the holder 200.
The device 200, as holder, is sized and shaped, to fit at least partially around the folded bandage 250 in a manner that does not substantially increase the total volume of a package (not shown, compare 120) for the bandage 250, and does not substantially detract from the otherwise regular, rectangular prismatic shape of the packaged bandage, so that it can still be space-efficiently packed with other similar (such as identical) items.
A caregiver (user) may take-out the folded-up bandage 250 from holder 200 (or, conversely, remove the holder from the bandage), unfold it, and apply it to a patient's wound. In the case of hemorrhaging, it is recommended to provide direct pressure to the wound to assist in the homeostasis process.
In
Detents, pins or the like (not shown) may be provided on the panel 210 and/or the foot elements 216 and 226 to help properly locate the foot elements 216 and 226 on the panel 210.
A feature of this embodiment is that the device 200 is configured (sized and shaped) so that a caregiver can insert his hand (fingers of his hand) via one of the openings (318 or 228), into the interior space of the device, and out the other opening (328 or 218), securely grasping the device 200, while applying direct pressure to the wound.
After removing the folded-up bandage 250 from the device 200, the device 200 may be used as a pressure-enhancement member for applying pressure, via the bandage 250, to a wound. Notice that the gap 203 is comparable to the gap in the frame member of the pressure enhancement member of the '723 patent. And, in a manner comparable to what was described therein:
During wrapping of the bandage onto a wounded body part, the web of the bandage may be passed though the gap in the frame of the pressure enhancement member into an interior space of the pressure enhancement member. The user then goes back, wrapping the bandage in the opposite direction. Wrapping the web in the opposite direction forces the pressure device 200 down (tilting it essentially 90° to the right or to the left) against the dressing such that the pressure enhancement member applies pressure to the wounded area. Panel 210 now extends generally perpendicularly away from the wound area. When device 200 is forced to the left, the long edge of panel 210 in proximity to “foot” element 216) and left side edge 202a apply pressure on the wound while “leg” elements 212 and 214 lie essentially flat on surfaces 252a (indirectly on dressing 258). The user may continue wrapping the bandage, such that the web covers the tilted device 200, thus applying more pressure on the long edge of panel 210 (“foot” element 216 or both, depending on the geometry) and left side edge 202a, which apply pressure on the wound. As opposed to prior art bandages, pressure is being applied essentially along two lines, namely the long edge of panel 210 (“foot” element 216 or both, depending on the geometry) and left side edge 202a. This may be advantageous to simultaneously stop a bleeding from two separated ends of a torn blood vessel (such as a vein or an artery).
A “problem” with the device 200 is that upon removing the folded-up bandage 250 from the device 200, the caregiver could drop the device 200, and could then be distracted by retrieving it. Therefore, in the next embodiment, a device 300 is described which includes an additional pressure-spreading element (compare 210) which is attached to the device, as well as being affixed to the bandage. As will be seen, upon removing the bandage from the device (as “holder”) the device will reposition itself to be useful as a pressure enhancement member (“handle”), appropriately positioned opposite the dressing.
A feature of this embodiment is that the handle is configured (sized and shaped) so that a caregiver can insert his hand through the device, securely grasping it, while applying direct pressure to the wound.
Another feature of this embodiment is that the device may be permanently attached to a web of a bandage, such as on an opposite side of the web from a dressing which also may be permanently attached to the web of the bandage. Alternatively, the device may be releasably attached to a web of a bandage, such as using a hook and loop system.
A main body portion of the device 300 may be generally U-shaped in cross-section, having a top panel 302 (compare 202) generally in the form of a rectangle having a width “W” dimension and a length dimension “L”. The width dimension “W” is a distance between a left side edge 302a and a right side edge 302b of the top panel 302, and the length dimension “L” is a distance between a front edge 302c and a back edge 302d of the top panel 302. The left side edge 304a is opposite the right side edge 304b, and the front side edge 304c is opposite the back side edge 304d. The top panel 302 has four corners, as follows:
A first (left) side 304 (compare 204) of the device comprises:
An opening 318 in the left side 304 of the device 300 is defined by the leg elements 312 and 314, the foot element 316 and the left side edge 302a of the top panel 302.
A second (right) side 306 (compare 206) of the device comprises:
An opening 328 in the left side 304 of the device 300 is defined by the leg elements 322 and 324, the foot element 326 and the right side edge 302b of the top panel 302.
All four leg elements 312, 314, 322 and 324 may be generally parallel with one another, and the two foot elements 316 and 326 may be substantially parallel with one another.
The leg elements 312, 314, 322, 324 may each have a length dimension which is substantially equal to the height “H” of the device 300.
The foot elements 316 and 326 may each have a length dimension which is substantially equal to the length “L” of the device 200.
A space between the two sides 304 and 306 may be referred to as the “interior space” of the device 300, and has a width dimension which is the dimension “W” (less the thickness of the leg elements 312, 314, 322, 324). The openings 318 and 328 extend from an exterior of the device 300 to the interior space of the device 300.
A gap 303 may be situated approximately halfway along the length “L” of the top panel 302, entirely across the entire width “W” of the top panel 302, and into the left side opening 318 and the right side opening 328. The gap 303 may have a width dimension “G”. The gap 303 leads into the interior space of the device 300.
In geometric terms, the device 300 is a six-sided prism, having for example:
Up to here, the description of the device 300 is substantially the same as the description of the device 200. Some differences will now be discussed, generally involving the legs being angled (rather than straight), and a pressure-spreading element which is hingedly attached to the device, as well as being affixed to the bandage. And, as mentioned above, the top panel may be formed with two openings separated by a gap.
Rather than the legs 312, 314, 324, 326 being straight, they may be bent (bowed, rounded or angled), as follows. The legs 312 and 314, and the legs 322 and 324 extend substantially perpendicularly from an inner (towards the “interior space”) surface of the top surface panel 302, from the respective four corners LF and LB, RF and RB thereof, for a portion of their length. Then, the legs 312, 314, 322 and 324 may angle inwardly, as follows.
Since bottom portions of the legs 312 and 322 may angle towards bottom portions of the legs 314 and 324, respectively, a length dimension “L2” at the bottom of the device 300 may be less than the length dimension “L” at the top of the device.
A generally rectangular panel 310 (compare 210) is disposed at the bottom end of the device 300, and may be movable between two positions—an “open” position (see also
The panel 310, which may be referred to as a “bottom” panel or a “bottom” surface (although, in the open position it is along the side of the device) may be movably attached (hinged) to the bottom left foot 316, such as with a “living hinge”. (A living hinge is a thin flexible hinge (flexure bearing) made from plastic (rather than cloth, leather, or some other substance) that joins two rigid plastic parts together, allowing them to bend along the line of the hinge. It is typically manufactured in an injection molding operation that creates all three parts at one time as a single part, and if correctly designed and constructed, it can remain functional over the life of the part. Polyethylene and polypropylene are considered to be the best resins for living hinges, due to their excellent fatigue resistance.) The panel 310 may have a length dimension which is at least as great as the length “L” of the device 300, and a width dimension which is slightly less than the width “W” of the device 300.
The view of
The view of
In a manner similar to the previous embodiment (300), in this embodiment 300 the foot elements 316 and 326 may apply pressure via the panel 310 to the wound. The panel 310 may be located on the web surface 352a, opposite the dressing 358, and affixed to the bandage 350. (The x's indicate that the panel 310 is attached to the web surface 352a.) In use, when a caregiver presses down on the device 300 (as indicated by the arrow “c”), the foot elements 316 and 326 may press down, such as on the panel 310, and the pressure is distributed to a larger area than would otherwise be applied by foot elements 316 and 318 alone. The panel 310 may be referred to as a “pressure-spreading” element.
Unlike the previous embodiment (300), in this embodiment 300 the panel 310 is part of the device 300, and is also affixed to the bandage 352. Therefore, no detents, pins or the like need to be provided to help properly locate the foot elements 216 and 226 on the panel 210. Rather, this is done “automatically” as described in greater detail hereinbelow.
Recall that the panel 310 is hinged (attached) to the foot 316. However, it may be noticed, in
In a manner similar to that of the previous embodiment (300), a feature of this embodiment is that the handle 300 is configured (sized and shaped) so that a caregiver can insert his hand (fingers of his hand) through the openings 318 and 328 in the left and right sides of the device, securely grasping it, while applying pressure to the wound.
After removing the folded-up bandage 350 from the device 300, the device 300 may be used as a pressure-enhancement member for applying pressure, via the bandage 350, to a wound. Notice (
During wrapping of the bandage onto a wounded body part, the web of the bandage may be passed though the gap in the frame of the pressure enhancement member into an interior space of the pressure enhancement member. The user then goes back, wrapping the bandage in the opposite direction. The action of wrapping the web in the opposite direction may, according to some embodiments, lock (for example “click in”) panel 310 in a closed position (such as the closed position shown in
Wrapping the web in the opposite direction forces the pressure device 300 down (tilting it essentially 90° to the right or to the left) against the dressing such that the pressure enhancement member applies pressure to the wounded area. Panel 310 now extends generally perpendicularly away from the wound area. When device 300 is forced to the right, (right) foot 326 and right side edge 302b apply pressure on the wound while “leg” elements 322 and 324 lie essentially flat on surfaces 352a (indirectly, on dressing 358). The user may continue wrapping the bandage, such that the web covers the tilted device 300, thus applying more pressure on (right) foot 326 and right side edge 302b, which apply pressure on the wound. As opposed to prior art bandages, pressure is being applied essentially along two lines, namely (right) foot 326 and right side edge 302b. This may be advantageous to simultaneously stop a bleeding from two separated ends of a torn blood vessel (such as a vein or an artery).
There have thus been described a number of embodiments of a device which is sized and shaped to function as a holder for packaging the folded-up bandage, and to also function as a handle for applying pressure, via the bandage, to a wound.
The bandage 400 comprises an elongated web 402. The web 402 is folded upon itself, such as zig-zag folded, with six (n=6) folds 404a-404f, resulting in seven (n+1) panels 402a-402g. The number of folds may be greater than six (such as seven or eight), or may be less than six.
The panel 402a is an “end panel”. A dressing 408 may be disposed on a “wound” surface of the end panel 402a and an adjacent panel 402b. The dressing 408 may have substantially the same width as the web 402. The dressing 408 may be disposed on the wound surface of the two panels 402a and 402b of the web 402. Thus, when the bandage 400 is folded, the dressing 408 may also consequently be folded, as shown, between the end panel 402a and an adjacent panel 402b.
An additional web portion 406 (compare 106) extends from the end panel 402a. The additional web portion 406 may be grasped by a caregiver when applying the bandage 400 on a wound (not shown). The portion 406 may be approximately the size (length and width) of a panel, such as the panel 402a.
With the bandage 400 in its folded configuration, the additional web portion 406 may be “folded-in”, so that it is disposed within the folded bandage 400, as shown, between the panels 402a and 402b, and within the folded dressing 408.
The panel 310 of the device 300 may be located on the surface of the end panel 402a of the web 402, opposite the dressing 408, and affixed thereto (as indicated by the x′s).
When folded-up, the bandage 400 may have an overall thickness “T”, exclusive of the panel 310. The thickness “T” may, for example, be approximately 3 cm (30 mm). In this example, the overall thickness “T” is approximately equal to seven times the thickness (approximately 4 mm) of each panel (402a-402f), plus twice the thickness of the folded dressing 408, plus a thickness of the additional web portion 406, taking into consideration that the web and dressing are formed of “soft” materials (such as cotton, gauze, elasticized fabric, and the like) which may be compressed when packaged.
As the bandage 400 is withdrawn from the holder 300, the holder 300 “automatically” moves (pivots) into place, as indicated by the arrow “i”, until it is substantially perpendicular to the web of the bandage, as was shown (for example) in
In a manner similar to that described in the '723 patent, the when bandaging a wound with the bandage 500, the dressing 508 may be placed on a wounded limb (see 460,
According to some embodiments, the bandage may further include a retaining device adapted to maintain said elongate wrapping portion in a rolled or folded configuration, allowing a user to gradually unroll or unfold the web, without the remaining elongate wrapping portion unrolling or unfolding itself entirely.
The retaining devices may include an elongated element, a top end element (for example, having a V shape or a ball shape) and a bottom end element (also having for example, a V shape or a ball shape) opposing to top end element, wherein retaining device is adapted to extend through two or more panels of rolled or folded web portion, and releasably retain the web portion in a rolled or folded configuration. The device may be further adapted to allow a user of the bandage to gradually unroll or unfold without removing the device by pulling one or more panels of web portion over top end element, while other panels remain retained. The retaining device may be made of cotton, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, plastic, nylon, silicon or any other appropriate material. More details about potential retaining devices may be found in Israeli Patent Application No. 197854, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
In the description and claims of the application, each of the words “comprise” “include” and “have”, and forms thereof, are not necessarily limited to members in a list with which the words may be associated.
The invention has been described using various detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodiments may comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the invention utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of the invention that are described and embodiments of the invention comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments will occur to persons with skill in the art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the claims and that the claims be interpreted to include all such variations and combinations.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200508 | Aug 2009 | IL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IL10/00678 | 8/19/2010 | WO | 00 | 5/7/2012 |
