Water resistant bandage

Abstract

A water resistant light compression and / or retention bandage for retaining an orthopaedic splint, padding or medical device against a body part, includes a knitted fabric formed of synthetic yarns having a moisture vapor transmission rate from an inner face of the bandage to an outer face of the bandage of at least 500 g / m2 per 24 hours.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention provides an elasticized water resistant bandage that may have light compression and / or retention characteristics for use in orthopaedic applications. More specifically, the bandage is used to hold a splint, wound dressing, padding or medical device in position against the limb or anatomy of the patient. The knitted retention bandage is water resistant so in combination with the splint, padding, or medical device that is regarded as water resistant, it can maintain the injury site in a dry and comfortable condition. The bandage may also provide a degree of compression to the surrounded body part, often a limb, that may improve circulation at and near the injury site.[0002]The knitted elasticized retention bandage of the present invention is highly breathable with a moisture vapor transmission rate of greater than 1400 g / m2 per 24 hours. The present knitted construction of the elasticized light compression wate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is another object of the invention to provide a bandage that efficiently moves moisture away from the skin and orthopaedic bandage.

[0010]It is another object of the invention to provide a bandage suitable for use over orthopaedic bandages such as splints that has an open construction that is lightweight and breathable.

[0011]It is another object of the invention to provide a bandage suitable for use over orthopaedic bandages such as splints that is lightweight, breathable with sufficient elasticity to comprise a light compression bandage.

[0021]According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, an elongate bandage is provided for overwrapping and retaining an underlying medical device in position on a body part, and comprises a warp-knitted fabric having a moisture vapor transmission rate from an inner face of the bandage to an outer face of the bandage of at least 500 g / m2 per 24 hours. The fabric includes nylon yarns formed into loops on the inner face that protrude through the thickness of the fabric to the outer face to promote moisture transmission through the thickness of the fabric.

[0023]According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bandage includes a plurality of fine elastic threads, knitted or laid in with the wales to improve the stretch characteristics of the fabric structure to improve conformability to the anatomy of the patient.

[0025]According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a water resistant light compression retention bandage is provided for retaining an orthopaedic splint, padding or medical device against a body part. The bandage comprises a fabric structure defining an inner face of relatively soft synthetic yarns suitable for contact with body part, and an outer face that comprises a plurality of wales constructed of hydrophobic monofilament yarns and a plurality of courses that are inserted in the knitted yarn that create windows that allow for breathability and conformability of the fabric to the body part and overlying splint, padding or medical device. A plurality of fine elastic threads are knitted or laid in with the wales to improve the stretch characteristics of the fabric structure and to aid and improve conformability to the anatomy of the patient.

Problems solved by technology

However, in practice, these conventional bandages can be overwhelmed by the amount of moisture wicked into their structure, particularly in ambient conditions of high humidity and / or low temperature where moisture transfer rates are compromised.

Increasing the density of the structure to allow it to absorb more moisture further reduces the ability of the moisture to be transferred as vapor into the surrounding air.

In general, the prior art has moved in a counterproductive direction in attempts to solve this problem.

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