Wound covering apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to apparatus for covering a burn or other wound in ways that prevent or limit touching the wound. The present disclosure describes Burn Bandages that may include domes or structures that bridge over a wide range of a burn or wound size. In certain instances these structures may expand in one or more directions as they are adjusted to fit to a particular burn or wound size. Such bridging structures may include airways, openings, or voids that promote air / oxygen flow to the wound as the Burn Bandage sits upon surfaces or pads that contact healthy surrounding tissue while they cover a wound site. The apparatus may be any shape including, yet not limited to, a circle, a rectangle, a square, a hexagon, an octagon, an oval, a cone, a cylinder, have a semi-cylindrical shape, or that have any another geometric shape.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0001]The present invention is generally directed to bandages. More specifically, the present invention relates to bandages that protect a wound by minimizing physical contact of the wound.Description of the Related Art[0002]Bandages available for purchase today come in a few basic configurations that have been available for years. One of these basic configurations include bandages that are predominantly flat that include a portion of gauze and one or more adhesive portions. For example, the original Band-AidrM brand bandages are flat and include two adhesive strips separated by a piece of gauze. Other basic bandage configurations include flat pieces of gauze and gauze bandage rolls. Each of these basic bandage types have similar limitations, they have no structure to hold them away from a wound, as such after they are applied they can and will easily touch and potentially damage a wound that they cover. For example a burn on a person...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]This invention allows a person with a burn wound to apply an ointment to the burned area and determine the size of the Burn Bandage necessary based upon the size of the burned area. This invention creates a covering that may come into direct contact solely with the surrounding area of the burn, i.e. with non-burned tissue. The area of the Burn Bandage that would cover the burned area would be raised. In example, a dome shape or any other raised symmetrical or asymmetrical shape placed above the injured tissue and have holes or airways that would allow oxygen to come in contact with and naturally flow to the burned tissue. The apparatus may be a dome structure manufactured from a clear or transparent plastic like material to allow the patient to physically see the wound through the dome covering. The dome covering may also be constructed from any and all transparent materials that are used for their transparency in optics and in the decorative arts such as but not limited to: borosilicate glass, germanium dioxide, polycarbonate, any form of polyethylene, so-gel and any other appropriate transparent material know in the art. The dome covering may also be manufactured from any material that protects the wound from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun that may increase further injury to the wound. Such as, ultraviolet A (UVA) which are long waves that puncture deep into the dermis, or ultraviolet B (UVB) which are short waves that burn the superficial layers of the skin. The dome covering may also be printed with any decorative art, characters, symbols, writings and the like. This apparatus may have a fastener that could wrap around a body part in order to hold it in place or the edges may have a type of adhesive to attach to the surrounding healthy tissue. This would allow a person to safely remove and reapply ointment as needed without disrupting the healing process, increase the speed of the healing process and reduce the possibility of producing a scar.

Problems solved by technology

Each of these basic bandage types have similar limitations, they have no structure to hold them away from a wound, as such after they are applied they can and will easily touch and potentially damage a wound that they cover.

Furthermore, gauze wrapped around an appendage may constrict that appendage and constrict the wound, potentially causing even more damage.

A current issue for burn victims is the lack of oxygenation available to the burn / wound while at the same time covering the wound but not reopening or aggravating the burn wound through removing and replacing the bandage(s).

Current bandages hurt the wound by touching the burned area and also disturbs the scabs that are formed.

Because of these reasons, current bandages often hurt the wound by touching the wound and by disturbing scabs that form on a patient's skin as a burn or wound is healing.

Furthermore, current bandages don't stop inadvertent pressure on the wound area.

Inadvertent pressure often causes current types of bandages to press against the sensitive area of a wound.

When the wound is a burn, the touching of the wound area may damage the patient's skin more than the touching of a scratch or a cut.

Furthermore, a current issue for burn victims is the lack of oxygenation available to the burn / wound while at the same time covering the wound without reopening or aggravating the burn wound when a bandage is worn, removed, and then replaced.

Disturbance of blisters increases infection and complexity of healing.

When it is time to replace the bandage and gauze, as well as reapply more ointment, the healing process is disrupted by disturbing newly produced blisters and or scabs and increases the probability of infection, complications and scarring.

There is also an increase of infection to the burn area if the gauze or bandage(s) is (are) not sterile or if it / they are not regularly replaced.

Also, the standard bandage wrap cannot and does not protect against inadvertent pressure that can both cause pain and disrupt the wound and healing process.

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