Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Bandage structure – Skin laceration or wound cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-09-04
Lewis, Kim M. (Department: 3761)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Bandage structure
Skin laceration or wound cover
C602S041000, C602S042000, C602S043000, C602S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06284941
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the treatment of dermal scars, keloids, wounds and abrasions and, more particularly, to the application of silicone sheeting or silicone gel to dermal scars, keloids, wounds and abrasions for treatment thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the medical field to use silicone elastomer materials (hereinafter referred to as “silicone”) for the treatment of dermal scars and keloids. Silicone is known to soften scar tissue and improve the cosmetic as well as functional aspects of dermal scars and keloids. In addition, recent research indicates that certain silicone compounds promote wound healing and decrease scarring. Although the biological mechanism for the therapeutic aspects of silicone when applied to the skin is not completely understood, it is known in the art that the therapeutic benefits are derived independently of the pressure applied to the scar surface.
One prior art device that has made use of the beneficial aspects of silicone when applied to the skin is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,560 to Dillon. The Dillon patent discloses silicone thermoplastic sheeting for scar treatment. In particular, the Dillon patent discloses a composite structure that includes a surface layer of silicone elastomeric material applied to one side of a thermoplastic splinting material. The splinting material is shaped to fit the geometric form of the skin of the patient so that the surface layer of silicone is in uniform contact with the skin of the patient. The resulting silicone thermoplastic sheeting is in the form of a hard thermoplastic splint having the surface layer of silicone on one side and is intended to be repeatedly applied to the skin of the patient. The silicone thermoplastic sheeting material disclosed by the Dillon patent is not very user-friendly because of its hard form. The silicone thermoplastic sheeting material cannot be worn, typically, when the patient engages in ordinary daily activities because of its immobilizing nature.
Other scar management products are known to exist in the marketplace. These devices use various applications to affix silicone sheets and silicone gels to the skin of the patient to treat relatively large surface areas where scarring may be present. Typically, these devices use netting or “Ace” type elastic bandages/harnesses to hold the silicone sheet or gel in place. Consequently, these commercially available devices are not suitable for treating small cuts and are not very user-friendly. The present invention makes use of the beneficial aspects of silicone when applied to the skin but in a user-friendly form that can remain on the skin of the patient while the patient engages in ordinary daily activities. The present invention is particularly suitable for use by children and other active persons.
Consequently, the object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly adhesive bandage for the treatment of small or localized dermal scars or keloids that can be worn by a patient while engaging in ordinary daily activities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an adhesive bandage for the treatment of dermal scars or keloids by contacting the skin of the patient or user. The bandage includes a flexible member having a first side and a second side and further having adhesive located on the first side. A scar treatment pad, preferably in the form of a layer of silicone elastomer such as silicone sheeting or silicone gel, or a like scar treatment substance, is attached to the first side of the flexible member. The first side of the flexible member is placed in contact with the skin of the user such that the scar treatment pad comprising the layer of silicone elastomer substantially contacts a scarred area of the skin. The adhesive on the first side of the flexible member removably attaches the first side substantially in contact with an unscarred area of the skin of the user. The flexible member preferably is slightly wider than the silicone sheet or gel scar treatment pad so as to provide an adhesive border on opposed lateral edges of the scar treatment pad. In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the layer of silicone elastomer is secured to a center area of the first side of the flexible member so that when the first side is in contact with the skin of the user, the first side, including the aforesaid adhesive border, is adhered to the skin around the entire perimeter of the layer of silicone elastomer, thereby preventing contaminants from entering the scar or wound area.
Preferably, the flexible member is nonocclusive and may define a plurality of ventilation holes extending from the first side to the second side of the flexible member so that the skin of the user remains exposed to the atmosphere. The flexible member may be made of polyolefin, polyurethane, nylon, polyester, vinyl or acetate taffeta or any other similar pliable material. Additionally, the flexible member may be an elastomeric woven fabric or nonwoven fabric or film. The flexible member is shaped and sized much like standard adhesive bandages which are adapted to cover healed cuts, wounds and lacerations of small to moderate size.
Preferably, the adhesive is a medical grade pressure sensitive polyisobutene (PIB) adhesive, natural rubber adhesive, acrylate and methacrylate adhesive or silicone adhesive. Preferably, the layer of silicone elastomer is a medical grade silicone.
The present invention is also directed to a method of treating dermal scars or keloids on the skin of the user using the bandage disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of providing the above described bandage and placing the first side of the flexible member in contact with the skin of the user such that the layer of silicone elastomer substantially contacts a scarred area of the skin and the first side of the flexible member substantially contacts an unscarred area of the skin of the user; and leaving the silicone elastomer in contact with the scarred area for a period of time. The adhesive removably attaches the first side of the flexible member to the skin of the user.
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Cox Christopher D.
Cox Craig M.
Isenberg Perry A.
Lewis Kim M.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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