Surgery – Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
Patent
1993-11-23
1996-03-05
Brown, Michael A.
Surgery
Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
604263, 604307, 604361, A61F 537, A61M 500
Patent
active
054958563
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
In a general way, my invention relates to moisture proof barriers. In a more specific sense, my invention relates to barriers that serve to cover and protect areas of the human body where exposure to moisture poses the risk of infection, such as around surgically implanted, indwelling catheters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Today, many people rely upon surgically implanted, indwelling catheters for their health and well being. For example, many diabetic patients use indwelling subclavian catheters for delivering insulin. Patients undergoing long term chemotherapy also may have an indwelling catheter. All peritoneal dialysis patients use an indwelling peritoneal catheter for delivering dialysis fluid.
Protection of the catheter exit site is a significant daily task for these people. Infection of the catheter exit site must be avoided to prevent unintended removal and replacement of the catheter.
People with indwelling catheters often face restrictions on everyday activities that expose the catheter exit site to moisture, such as bathing and swimming. They must take steps to prevent exposing the exit site to moisture. Moisture can support the growth of harmful or infectious bacteria in and around the exit site.
Some people try to protect the catheter exit site against moisture when bathing or swimming by using makeshift plastic covers taped over the exposed end of the catheter. These makeshift covers often fail to work, allowing moisture to enter the catheter exit site. They are not designed to affirmatively repel or divert moisture away from the exit site. Usually, the person does not even know whether leakage has occurred until it is too late. These makeshift covers are simply inadequate to protect the exit site against moisture and the risk of serious infection.
I believe a real need exists for a moisture proof barrier for use by people who must use indwelling catheters or who are otherwise required to take positive steps to protect areas of their bodies against infection due to exposure to moisture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention meets this and other needs. It provides a moisture barrier that affirmatively keeps moisture away from body areas that must be protected against infection. My invention also provides a moisture barrier that immediately notifies the user when unwanted invasion of moisture threatens the protected area.
One aspect of my invention provides a moisture barrier that is attached to the skin by a seal having an exterior region and an interior region separated by a small gap. The gap provides an alternative fluid path to moisture invading the exterior region of the seal. The gap diverts the unwanted moisture away from the interior region of the seal, thereby keeping the critical area the barrier serves to protect free of moisture.
In one embodiment, this aspect of my invention provides a barrier that includes an inner moisture resistant layer that covers the area to be protected. An outer moisture resistant layer overlies the inner layer, forming an open region between them. A moisture absorbing material occupies this open region.
The peripheral edges of the inner and outer layers adhere to the region surrounding the protected area. The adhered edge of the outer layer is spaced away from the adhered edge of the inner layer, forming a gap between them. The intermediate gap communicates with the open region that contains the moisture absorbing material.
Together, the two adhered edges form a seal that impedes the passage of moisture to the protected area. The intermediate gap interrupts this seal. The gap presents an alternative fluid path to moisture that breaches the outer region of the seal. The gap leads the unwanted moisture to the moisture absorbing material, diverting it away from the inner region of the seal next to the critical area that barrier serves to protect. In this way, the interior protected region is kept free of moisture, even if unintended peripheral leakage of moisture occurs.
Another aspect of my invention provides a moisture barrier
REFERENCES:
patent: 4659329 (1987-04-01), Annis
Brown Michael A.
Fentress Susan
Tabex Industries, Inc.
LandOfFree
Moisture barrier for indwelling catheters and the like does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Moisture barrier for indwelling catheters and the like, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Moisture barrier for indwelling catheters and the like will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1406549