Surgery: splint – brace – or bandage – Bandage structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2003-08-05
Lewis, Kim M. (Department: 3761)
Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
Bandage structure
C602S052000, C602S054000, C606S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06603051
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to devices that may be used in the healing arts and arts generally related thereto. More specifically, the present invention relates to devices which may be used for a variety of purposes including but not limited to dressings for wounds, bandages, drug delivery systems, epidermal lifting mechanisms, and positioning mechanisms for positioning epidermal layers of skin on humans and/or animals in a predetermined manner. The present invention is thus believed to have application in the medical and veterinary sciences.
Several forms of the present invention relate to epidermal lifting mechanisms and methods for increasing the flow of gases into the human body and more specifically to an epidermal lifting mechanism and method for allowing more oxygen to pass through the nasal cavity thus increasing both the flow of oxygen into the lungs and the flow of air exhaled from the lungs. Consequently, embodiments of the present invention are also related to a group of devices which are sometimes called nasal dilators. The present invention provides a comfortable and effective device for allowing increased gas flow rates through the nasal passages and into the lungs.
Additionally, the present invention is an improvement in the field of bandages and suturing aids in that a person may use the present invention to hold the ends of a wound together or apart for the purposes of suturing or cleaning the wound and/or incision. Further, the device of the present invention may be used to apply medicine or anti-bacterial, agents to a wound or incision. Also, some embodiments of the present invention may be used isolate a wound or burn in a sterile environment while allowing access to the wound area for purposes such as irrigating the wound. Further, some embodiments of the present invention may be used to stabilize the wound or burn area so that the skin around the wound or burn does not stretch with the movement of an individual and thus prevents further damage to the wound during the healing process and allows for more effective healing of the wound or burn.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has many applications. The present invention may be generally described as a structure for aiding in the following activities: as an epidermal lifting mechanism for providing a lifting force to a predetermined area of the epidermis, such as the area located to either side of the bridge of a persons nose to provide an increased flow rate of gas through (inhaled and exhaled) the nasal passage, e.g., a nasal dilator; a structure for aiding in keeping an incision open; a structure for aiding in keeping a wound open for cleansing; a structure for aiding in keeping the ends or edges of an incision or wound in close, neat, even, alignment by the application of an even pressure across the wound, burn, or incision, so that the area requiring treatment may heal, or be sutured and closed, neatly and thus develop minimal scar tissue; or as an epidermal positioning mechanism as a device for applying medicine to a wound or other desired place on the epidermis of a human or animal.
With respect to the invention's applications as a dressing the invention may be generally described as comprising: a first section, a second section, and a third section. Of these three sections, the first section is coupled to the second section and the second section is coupled to the third section. The second section comprising an elastic material with the first section and the third section each having a first side; and a predetermined portion of the first side including an adhesive located thereon. The second section of the invention may include a plurality of openings of a predetermined size and predetermined shape.
It should be noted that the predetermined shape or shapes of the openings may be spatially organized in a predetermined manner respective to each other. This is because in one embodiment of the present invention the second section is located between the first and third sections and is preferably composed of an elastic material. By placing openings in the elastic material at predetermined locations the strength of the elastic material, when the elastic material is stretched, may be varied and the distribution of force across the elastic material may by varied. Also, the openings can be used to provide a visual reference to a user of the amount of stress being placed upon the second section and whether or not that section has been stretched sufficiently or been stretched too much since the shape of the openings will change in response to the degree to which the elastic material is stretched. Such a visual reference would be useful to medical personnel where, e.g., it is desirable for a predetermined amount of pressure to be applied to a wound.
Further, the second section includes a first margin (if the second section is round then there is structurally just one annular margin near at least a portion of the perimeter of the second section) a second margin. The first section may be integral or coupled to the second section at the first margin; and the third section may be integral or coupled to the second section at the second margin.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the first section and the third section are laminated materials comprising a first layer, a second intermediate layer, and a third layer; with the third layer including the first side coated with adhesive and protected prior to use by a silicone release liner. The second section includes a first margin and a second margin. The first section includes a first channel located between the first layer and the third layer of the first section for receiving the first margin. The second section includes a second channel located between the first layer and the third layer of the second section for receiving the second margin. The second intermediate layer comprising an adhesive material. The first margin and the second margin of the second section respectively including at least one opening and the first margin engaging the second intermediate layer in the first channel and the adhesive material extending through the opening of the first margin; and the second margin engaging the second intermediate layer in the second channel and the adhesive material extending through the opening of the second margin.
The first and third layer of the first section and the first and third layer of the third section preferably being an inelastic material in some embodiments. The inelastic material may be of any suitable material such as a TYVEC brand type of material.
Alternatively, the dressing mechanism may be described as comprising: a first section, a second section, and a third section such that the first section is coupled to the second section and the second section is coupled to the third section. The first section and the third section comprising an elastic material and the first section and the third section each having a first side; and a predetermined portion of the first side including an adhesive located thereon.
Further, the second section includes at least one opening of a predetermined size and the first section and the third section each include at least one opening comprising a predetermined shape. As previously noted the openings of predetermined shape are spatially organized in a predetermined manner respective to each other.
Also, the second section may include at least one margin and the first section and the third section each have a respective margin area. The first section margin is coupled to the second section at a first predetermined portion the margin of the second section. The third section margin being coupled to the second section at a second predetermined portion of the margin of the second section.
Preferably, the second section is a laminated material comprising at least a first layer, a second intermediate layer, and a third layer; the third layer including the first side. The first section and the third section including a first section margin and a third section margin. Bot
Lewis Kim M.
Ryan Kromholz & Manion S.C.
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