Two-part bandage with replaceable wound covering portion

A two-piece bandage is useful for treating wound on a patient. The bandage includes a boundary portion including a bottom surface comprising adhesive for attaching the boundary portion to skin of a patient, an open window in the middle of the boundary portion permitting one to view a wound through the open window, and a top surface. The top surface includes a first portion of the top surface surrounding the open window including a flat surface and a second portion of the top surface including an uneven surface. The bandage further includes a plurality of replaceable wound covering portions, each replaceable wound covering portion comprising a padded section comprising a material to dress the wound.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is related to a bandage used in medical care. In particular, the disclosure is related to a two-part bandage including a first boundary portion adhered to the skin of the patient and including a window and a second wound covering portion covering the window and adhering to the boundary portion.

BACKGROUND

Adhesive bandages are used to cover a wound on a patient. A known adhesive bandage includes a portion of the bandage with an adhesive safe for contact with human skin applied thereto. The bandage also includes a portion of the bandage with a fabric or other material intended to rest upon or proximate to a wound on the patient's skin.

Removal of the bandage or checking or cleaning the wound requires one to peel the adhered bandage off the skin of the patient. Some bandages include relatively strong adhesives and are firmly affixed to the skin of the patient. Removing such bandages can be painful or can irritate the skin of the patient. Repeated application and removal of such bandages can damage the skin over time. Other bandages include relatively weak adhesives, reducing pain and irritation caused by removing the bandage, but also increasing a likelihood that the bandage will accidentally fall off or adhere poorly and fail to adequately protect the wound.

SUMMARY

A two-piece bandage is useful for treating wound on a patient. The bandage includes a boundary portion including a bottom surface comprising adhesive for attaching the boundary portion to skin of a patient, an open window in the middle of the boundary portion permitting one to view a wound through the open window, and a top surface. The top surface includes a first portion of the top surface surrounding the open window including a flat surface and a second portion of the top surface including an uneven surface. The bandage further includes a plurality of replaceable wound covering portions, each replaceable wound covering portion comprising a padded section comprising a material to dress the wound. Each replaceable wound covering portion can be sequentially positioned with the padded section proximate to the wound and adhered to the boundary portion. The uneven surface of the second portion is configured to ease removal of each replaceable wound covering portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A two-part bandage is disclosed including a first boundary portion adhered to the skin of the patient and including an open window and a second wound covering portion covering the window and adhering to the boundary portion. A removable, replaceable wound covering portion permits one to dress or treat a wound repeatedly during the healing of the wound without repeatedly pulling the bandage off of the skin of the patient. Further, by using a new wound covering portion each time the portion is removed, sterility of the dressing is improved over a dressing that is simply reapplied to the wound.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary two-part bandage including a first boundary portion and a second replaceable wound covering portion. Two-part bandage5is illustrated including a first boundary portion10and a replaceable wound covering portion20a. Boundary portion10includes a polymerized or cloth based bandage material configured to be adhered to the skin of a patient. Boundary portion10has a top surface16and a bottom surface18. Bottom surface18includes adhesive configured to temporarily stick to the skin of the patient. The adhesive can include any adhesive used in medical devices known in the art. Boundary portion10is configured to be adhered once to the skin of the patient and remain there as long as the patient needs a bandage. Boundary portion10includes open window12, illustrated inFIG. 1by a dotted line. Open window12can be situated over a wound, such that the bottom surface18of boundary portion10does not come into contact with the wound. Different two-part bandages with different shapes and sizes of open windows can be provided for different wounds. In one exemplary embodiment, the size of the window can be described or printed as an outline upon packaging of the bandages to aid a person providing medical care or first aid to select a correct bandage for a particular wound.

Replaceable wound covering portion20ais illustrated adhered to top surface16of boundary portion10. Replaceable wound covering portion20aincludes top surface29and bottom surface28. A corner26of replaceable wound covering portion20ais illustrated peeled back from boundary portion10to reveal a patch of bottom surface28. An adhesive is used upon one of bottom surface28or patch14of top surface16to adhere replaceable wound covering portion20ato boundary portion10. While such adhesive can be used on either surface, adhesive on bottom surface28is advantageous because any fresh replaceable wound covering portion used upon the bandage would have new adhesive that would be unlikely to have been contaminated or made less effective through previous use of the bandage. Exemplary replaceable wound covering portion20aofFIG. 1includes a racetrack shaped adhesive coating24around a perimeter of bottom surface28. Coating24is shaped such that none of the adhesive or only an incidental amount of adhesive contacts the skin of the patient through window12. Replaceable wound covering portion20aincludes a padded section22located upon bottom surface28including gauze or a similar substance known in the art to be placed upon or proximate to or to dress the wound itself. Padded section22can be sized to be similar in size to open window12, such that any skin visible within window12will be covered with the gauze material once replaceable wound covering portion20ais attached to boundary portion10.

Additionally, a second replaceable wound covering portion20bis illustrated initially adhered to backing paper30. Backing paper30is known in the art and can include any surface with a coating configured to temporarily hold an object with an adhesive layer and later release that object with the adhesive layer for subsequent adhesion to another object. At any point through the treatment of the patient, replaceable wound covering portion20acan be removed from bandage5and replaced with replaceable wound covering portion20b. Because replaceable wound covering portion20ais only adhered to boundary portion10or is only slightly adhered to the patient's skin through incidental contact through window12, removal of replaceable wound covering portion20adoes not irritate the skin of the patient, and a fresh gauze section can be repeatedly provided to the wound without the discomfort of having to pull the adhesive away from the skin of the patient. Boundary portion10is removed only at the end of the treatment period. Because boundary portion10is only removed once and is not removed and reapplied a number of times, a more aggressive adhesive could be used to keep boundary portion10in place throughout the treatment and the skin only has to endure one removal of the adhesive.

FIG. 2illustrates a sheet of bandage components that can be supplied or manufactured to include a boundary portion of a two-part bandage and a plurality of replacement wound covering portions. Sheet100is illustrated including backing paper130, boundary portion110and replaceable wound covering portions120a,120b, and120c. Sheet100can be provided as a single unit, for example, within a sterile plastic or paper bag. Upon intended use, a person can rip open the package and remove boundary portion110from backing paper130. Boundary portion110can be situated to the skin of the patient such that all of a wound on the patient is within open window112, with adhesive attaching boundary portion110to the skin. The person can then place wound covering portion120aupon boundary portion110, with adhesive attaching the wound covering portion120ato the boundary portion. In another embodiment, boundary portion110can be provided with one of the replaceable wound covering portions initially already attached to boundary portion110. Sheet100can be retained with the remaining replaceable wound covering portions120band120cstill adhered to backing paper130for later use when wound covering portion120aneeds to be replaced. In one embodiment, sheet100can be perforated in at least one location to permit a portion of backing paper130to be removed from the sheet once a portion of the bandage components are removed for use. Exemplary perforation140is illustrated.

FIG. 3illustrates exemplary packaging of a two-part bandage providing for individual sterile packaging of each of the components of the bandage and for retention of the packaging close to the patient. Two-part bandage unit200is illustrated including two-part bandage packaging240. Two-part bandage packaging240includes a paper, plastic, or other material envelope, box, or other container that can initially hold individually wrapped bandage components. In the example ofFIG. 3, packaging240has been torn open with removed top248discarded. Component packaging250aand250bhave been removed and include paper or other similar packaging initially holding boundary portion210and replaceable wound covering portion220, respectively. Packaging250aand250bhave both been removed from packaging240and opened to remove boundary portion210and replaceable wound covering portion220, respectively, from cavities252aand252b, respectively. Boundary portion210can subsequently be removed from backing paper230aand situated to a wound by locating the wound to open window212. Replaceable wound covering portion220can then be adhered to boundary portion210. In another embodiment, replaceable wound covering portion220could be provided already attached to boundary portion210. Component packaging250cand250dremain within cavity242of packaging240still retained in an unopened state and each can contain one or more replaceable wound covering portions. As the patient needs a replaceable wound covering portion replaced, one of the component packaging250cor250dcan be removed and opened.

Packaging240is provided with optional adhesive section244and tether246for attaching packaging240to a patient's hospital bed, end table, or any other convenient location such that the packaging250cand250dcan be accessed as needed. Adhesive section244can come with backing paper initially attached. Tether246can include adhesive, a pair of snap features, or any other mechanism known in the art for temporarily attaching a tether to an object.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, the outer perimeter of a replaceable wound covering portion can be smaller than the outer perimeter of the matching boundary portion. In the example ofFIG. 3, replaceable wound covering portion220is illustrated to include the same size outer perimeter as boundary portion210. This can aid in easily aligning the portions and ensuring that any gauze attached to wound covering portion220is properly aligned to window212.

FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary two-part bandage configured to be applied to a long narrow wound such as a surgical incision. Two-part bandage300is illustrated and includes boundary portion310and replaceable wound covering portion320. Boundary portion310includes a long narrow open window to permit one to view a long incision, possibly including stitches or other medical applications to close the wound. Raised padding portion322is visible upon wound covering portion320. Depending upon the thickness and rigidity of the material used for wound covering portion320and the thickness of the padding material used, such as gauze, the raised padding portion322may or may not be evident on a bandage.

FIG. 5illustrates an exemplary two-part bandage configured to be applied around a patient's eye. Two-part bandage400includes boundary portion410and wound covering portion420applied thereto. Boundary portion410includes an open window sized to permit one to view the eye within the window. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 5, no raised padded section is evident due to a thicker material being used for portion420, a thinner gauze material being used for the padding, or both. A number of different shapes and sizes of two-piece bandages are envisioned, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples provided herein.

FIG. 6illustrates an exemplary bottom side of a replaceable wound covering portion. Replaceable wound covering portion520includes a square-shaped perimeter526, a padded portion524to be placed proximate to a wound, and an adhesive portion522configured to attach the wound covering portion to a matching boundary portion. In some embodiments, because the adhesive used on adhesive portion522is going to be attached to a boundary portion and not to the skin of the patient, a more aggressive adhesive can be used than would be used on a directly applied bandage. In this way, adhesive portion522in some embodiments can be smaller or have less surface area than a typical directly applied bandage.

FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary replaceable wound covering portion in profile. Replaceable wound covering portion620includes raised padding portion622and padded section624. Padded section624can include any number of wound covering materials known in the art and can include an absorbent material, a coating or membrane configured to prevent clotted blood from sticking to the padding, medication or a treated coating, and any other materials or substances known in the art for use upon a bandage applied to a wound.FIG. 8illustrates another exemplary replaceable wound covering portion in profile. Replaceable wound covering portion720includes raised padding portion722and padded section724. Padded section724is thicker and can be more absorbent, for example, so that a medicated liquid can be applied to the bandage. In this way, timed or scheduled replacement of the wound covering portions can be used according to a treatment plan to periodically apply a medicated liquid, powder, or ointment to the wound.

FIG. 9illustrates and exemplary two-part bandage including a plurality of replaceable wound covering portions, each of the wound covering portions including different graphic patterns upon a top surface. Boundary portion810is illustrated including open window812. Replaceable wound covering portions820a,820b,820c, and820dare illustrated, each including a respective graphic pattern822a,822b,822c, and822dimprinted thereupon. A number of exemplary graphic patterns are envisioned. For example, three different colors can be used, for example, indicating a shift in a hospital in which the wound covering portion was last replaced. In this way, a medical professional could easily audit a floor to make sure that all bandages had been updated for a particular shift. In another example, a doctor could have a range of wound covering portions to select from, each of a set of patterns, for example, including a letter designation, indicating an evaluation of how well the wound was healing or if there was any sign of infection. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 9, graphic patterns822a,822b,822c, and822dinclude a progression of facial expressions, which could be used, for example, to encourage a younger patient through a healing time, first, to sympathize with the patient after an injury or procedure, and, later, to remind the patient that happier times are on the way as the wound heals. A number of exemplary graphic patterns are envisioned, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples provided herein.

A wide variety of bandages can include boundary portions and wound covering portions as disclosed herein.FIG. 10illustrates an exemplary bandage for use on a knee or elbow including the disclosed wound covering portion. Bandage900is illustrated including boundary portion910and wound covering portion920adhered thereto. Boundary portion910includes treatment window912and four wing panels914. Wing panels914increase adhesive contact between boundary portion910and the skin of the patient, thereby increasing a likelihood that the bandage will remain in place on a articulating body part such as a knee or elbow.

FIG. 11illustrates an exemplary boundary portion of a bandage for use on a intravenous injection site or mole removal site. Round boundary portion1010includes a round window1012.

FIG. 12illustrates an exemplary boundary portion of a bandage for use on a knuckle, elbow, or knee. H-shaped boundary portion1110includes window1112and leg portions1114.

FIG. 13illustrates an additional exemplary boundary portion of a bandage for use on a a knuckle, elbow, or knee. X-shaped boundary portion1210includes window1212and leg portions1214.

FIG. 14illustrates an exemplary boundary portion of a bandage for use on a fingertip. Four-lobe boundary portion1310includes window1312and four lobe portions1314.

FIG. 15illustrates an exemplary boundary portion of a bandage for use on a knuckle. Double-taper boundary portion1410includes window1412and widening end portions1414.

FIG. 16illustrates an exemplary boundary portion of a bandage for use on a shoulder, arm pit, or knee. Relief-cut round boundary portion1510includes window1512, round cut extending portions1514, and relief cuts1516.

FIG. 17illustrates an exemplary bandage configured to be applied to an incision wound, for example, a surgical site. Bandage1600is illustrated including boundary portion1610and wound covering portion1620. Boundary portion1610includes wound treatment window1612. In order to cover a long, thin incision wound site, the boundary portion and the corresponding window can each have high aspect ratios, with thin widths and long lengths. Non-limiting examples of boundary portions can have aspect ratios of 5:1, 10:1, or 20:1. The provided boundary portion shapes and proportions, window shapes and proportions, and wound covering portion shapes and proportions are provide as non-limiting examples, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular examples provided.

FIG. 18illustrates an exemplary bandage including a boundary portion similar to the boundary portion ofFIG. 1, the boundary portion ofFIG. 18including a top surface including a first smooth surface portion of the top surface surrounding an open window for attachment of a replaceable wound covering portion, the first portion enabling sterile encapsulation of the open window, and a second uneven surface portion of the top surface making removal of the replaceable wound covering portion easier than if the second portion were a smooth surface. Boundary portion1710includes a polymerized or cloth based bandage material configured to be adhered to the skin of a patient. Boundary portion1710has a top surface1716and a bottom surface1718. Bottom surface1718includes adhesive configured to temporarily stick to the skin of the patient. The adhesive can include any adhesive used in medical devices known in the art. Boundary portion1710is configured to be adhered once to the skin of the patient and remain there as long as the patient needs a bandage. Boundary portion1710includes open window1712. Open window1712can be situated over a wound, such that the bottom surface1718of boundary portion1710does not come into contact with the wound. A replaceable wound covering portion is separately provided to be adhered to top surface1716of boundary portion1710. An adhesive is used upon one of a bottom surface of the replaceable wound covering portion or upon top surface1716to adhere the replaceable wound covering portion to boundary portion1710. While such adhesive can be used on either surface, adhesive on the bottom surface of the replaceable wound covering portion is advantageous because any fresh replaceable wound covering portion used upon the bandage would have new adhesive that would be unlikely to have been contaminated or made less effective through previous use of the bandage.

Skin with a wound upon it can be sensitive. Removing one item adhered to another item includes forces applied to both items to cause separation of the adhesive. Skin of the patient benefits from a bandage encapsulating a wound in a sterile environment, while the skin of the patient also benefits from being held as still as possible without being stretched or strained by removal of bandages and the required separation forces involved in breaking the adhesive seal. An improved bandage is provided, including a boundary portion ofFIG. 18including top surface1716including first smooth surface portion1720of the top surface surrounding open window1712for attachment of a replaceable wound covering portion, first portion1720enabling sterile encapsulation of the open window1712, and second uneven surface portion1730of the top surface making removal of the replaceable wound covering portion easier than if the second portion were a smooth surface.

When replaceable wound covering portion20aofFIG. 1is adhered to top surface1716ofFIG. 18, the replaceable wound covering portion adheres firmly to first portion1720and adheres loosely to second portion1730. A person removing the replaceable wound covering portion from boundary portion1710can easily remove an outer portion of the replaceable wound covering portion adhered to portion1730, with only the portion of the replaceable wound covering portion adhered to first portion1720requiring significant force to remove.

FIG. 19illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the bandage ofFIG. 18, wherein the second portion comprises at least one area of the top surface proximate to one of distal end of the open window. Boundary portion1710is illustrated, including first portion1720of top surface1716including a flat surface surrounding open window1712. Additionally, two second portions1730including uneven surfaces are illustrated. The uneven surface of portions1730is configured to make adhesion of a replaceable wound covering portion to portion1730less effective, thereby making removal of the replaceable wound covering portion easier than it would be if portion1730were flat. In the embodiment ofFIG. 19, the two second portions1730do not cover an entirety of the top surface of the bandage outside of first portion1720.

FIG. 20illustrates an alternative embodiment of the bandage ofFIG. 18, wherein the first portion and the second portion together cover an entirety of the top surface. Boundary portion1810includes open window1812surround by a first portion1820of top surface1816including a flat surface. Boundary portion1810is similar to boundary portion1710ofFIG. 19, except that second portion1830including an uneven surface includes all of top surface1816not including first portion1820.

FIG. 21illustrates in perspective view in magnified detail for clarity an exemplary uneven surface of the second portion ofFIG. 18, with spaced raised bumps causing the surface to be uneven. A small section of second portion1730is illustrated, including a plurality of exemplary raised bumps1732configured to made adhesion of a replaceable wound covering portion less effective than if the surface were flat.FIG. 22illustrates in side sectional view an exemplary cross-section of the uneven surface ofFIG. 21, with the bumps comprising solid material rising above a generally flat surface of the bandage. Second portion1730is illustrated, including two exemplary raised bumps1732. An exemplary replaceable wound covering portion1750is illustrated with dotted lines, the replaceable wound covering portion1750connecting and adhering to the tops of bumps1732without connecting with the surface of second portion1730between bumps1732. By reducing the surface area that replaceable wound covering portion1750is connected to second portion1730, the force necessary to remove replaceable wound covering portion1750from second portion1730is smaller than if an entirety of the two surfaces were connected to each other.

FIG. 23illustrates in side sectional view an alternative exemplary cross-section of the uneven surface ofFIG. 21, with a bump comprising substantially uniform thickness material in the bandage and with an exemplary through hole formed in the bump. Bump1932is illustrated, wherein the material of the boundary portion is deformed or formed with an upward bend, such that the bump1932is elevated above surrounding material. Additionally, an optional hole1934is illustrated, providing for air to pass through the material and promote skin health beneath the bandage.

FIG. 24illustrates a bandage similar to the bandages ofFIGS. 18 and 21, with an alternative second uneven surface portion including a series of raised ridges on the surface of the bandage. Boundary portion2010is illustrated, including open window2012, first portion2020of top surface2016including a flat surface, and second portions2030A and2030B of top surface2016including a plurality of exemplary raised concentric rings being formed upon top surface2016, with a lower portion2040between the rings causing the surface to be uneven. For the same reasons as described in relation toFIGS. 21-23, the uneven surface of second portions2030A and2030B cause an attached replaceable wound covering portion to adhere to top surface2016less strongly than if the surface were flat.

FIG. 25illustrates the bandage ofFIG. 24in side sectional view, illustrating the first portion, the second portion, and the open window. Boundary portion2010is illustrated, including open window2012, first portion2020, second portion2030A and2030B comprising a plurality of raised rings, and lower portion2040between the raised rings. Additionally, replaceable wound covering portion2050including a pad covering the open window2012is illustrated with dotted lines. The raised ridges including rings ofFIGS. 24 and 25can be replaced with exemplary parallel ridges to a similar effect.

Bumps, raised ridges formed in concentric rings or parallel lines, or other similar structures can all be used as described herein to cause a portion of the top surface of a boundary portion of a bandage as disclosed herein to adhere weakly to a neighboring replaceable wound covering portion. Non-limiting examples of such structures are provided herein, while other similar structures are envisioned.

The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications of those embodiments. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.