Bandage with transverse slits

An elongate bandage that is predominantly stretchable in the longitudinal direction enables readily applied development of an elastic surgical limb sleeve that can be rendered locally inextensible. The bandage features multiple longitudinally spaced rows of transverse slits which are in staggered offsetting interlace, from one to the next-adjacent row, such that when a circumferential wrap of the bandage completes a sleeve, the multiple slits are arrayed parallel to the axis of the limb. The limb sleeve gently conforms to the shape of an affected or injured joint or other body part, and the gentle conformance is operative to convert slits into ventilation openings. One or more strips of relatively inelastic hook material applied to the outer surface of a developed sleeve not only complete the sleeve but, when desired by the surgeon, can exert localized pressure to the injured area either directly or indirectly as in the treatment of swelling or in the control of bleeding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to bandages. In particular, it relates to a bandage 
which provides flexibility of use and extended scope of application over 
bandages presently available. 
Existing bandages are typically in the form of a strip which is stored in a 
roll, or in the form of a tube. The tube may be shaped to conform to the 
particular location at which it is to be used, for example at the ankle 
joint. A tube, or sleeve, is generally a more convenient form than a strip 
since it is quick and relatively easy to apply, although its shape and 
size limit the scope of application. 
Depending on the circumstances of use, a sleeve, in particular, may suffer 
the following disadvantages: 
(i) it may be unduly restrictive to movement in a certain direction in 
which free movement is preferable; 
(ii) it may not provide sufficient support, allowing too much movement in a 
certain direction or directions in which restricted movement is 
preferable; 
(iii) it may be uncomfortable and, in particular, may not fit adequately; 
(iv) it may tend to kink when the joint is flexed; or 
(v) it may cover an area which needs to remain open or accessible, such as 
a wound or bed sore. 
According to the invention, there is provided a bandage having a first 
member comprising an elastic layer covered on at least one surface by a 
woven material, and a second member comprising a base material with 
upstanding hooked elements, the hooked elements of the second member 
engaging the woven material of the first member; wherein the first member 
has lines or areas of weakness and the base material of the second member 
is less elastic than the first member. 
The first member may be easily extensible and the lines or areas of 
weakness may be local in extent. Such lines or areas of weakness provide 
means for controlling the stretching of the first member in diverse local 
areas and in specific directions according to the requirements of a 
particular application. Lines or areas of weakness are preferably slits or 
cuts only partially through the first member, but may be made through the 
entire thickness of the first member. The lines or areas of weakness may 
be introduced in situ and/or during manufacture. Lines of weakness are 
preferably generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the limb to be 
bandaged. The bandage may thus be adapted to allow easy movement in 
specific areas and in specific directions since the first member will 
stretch in a direction generally normal to each slit. The use of a series 
of lines of weakness in the form of a lattice allows stretching in all 
directions. 
In a preferred embodiment, the areas of weakness may be apertures which 
allow access to a wound site, for example, or which prevent wrinkling of 
the bandage during flexing of a joint. 
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Preferably, the second member provides means for fastening the bandage when 
the hooked elements engage with the woven material of the first member. 
More preferably, one or more pieces of the second member may be used to 
strengthen the bandage by limiting or preventing stretching of the first 
member. One or more pieces of the second member may also be used to seal 
unwanted lines or areas of weakness in the first member. 
The elastic layer is preferably of neoprene or similar material. The woven 
material is preferably attached to the elastic layer by adhesive, although 
alternative methods, such as heat sealing for example, may be used. 
Still more preferably, means for holding inserts in position may be 
provided. The means may be pockets in the woven material which can hold 
inserts such as protective pads and plates, or inflatable pads for use 
with impulse-compression pads for local treatment of joints or tissues or 
activation of physiological venous pumps, e.g. of the hand, foot, calf, 
knee or thigh. 
Alternatively, inserts may be located by positioning the inserts next to 
the first member and fixing in place by one or more pieces of the second 
member. In this manner inserts may be located on either side of the first 
member as required. 
The bandage is suitably manufactured in the form of a sheet, but preferably 
it is in the form of a tubular bandage of a particular joint shape. Strips 
of bandage may be obtained by cutting a sheet into the required length 
and/or width. Tubular bandages may also be made in situ by sealing the 
ends of a sheet of the first member with one or more strips of the second 
member. A sheet may thus be closed by the one or more strips of the second 
member so as to form a cylinder. In this tubular configuration, the first 
member has a plurality of rows of slits which extend axially and wherein 
the rows are spaced circumferentially. The slits in each row correspond in 
axial length and in axial spacing. 
The bandage may have an adhesive layer on part or all of at least one 
surface of the first member. Such an adhesive layer would improve 
protection of damaged ligaments or structural tissue by adhering to the 
skin surface. 
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method 
of manufacturing a bandage comprising: manufacturing a first member by 
providing a layer of elastic material, attaching a layer of woven material 
on at least one surface of the layer of elastic material, and cutting 
slits through part or all of the first member thus formed; providing one 
or more pieces of a second member which is less elastic than the first 
member; and fastening the one or more pieces of the second member to the 
first member by engaging hooked elements on the second member with the 
woven material of the first member. 
Applications of the bandage the subject of the invention include: 
(i) Circumstances where support is required, such as in the protection of 
damaged ligaments, where appropriately positioned inhibition means can be 
used; 
(ii) to hold impulse-compression pads inside a tubular bandage for local 
treatment of joints and tissues; 
(iii) where rapid and unskilled placement of dressings with localised 
pressure is required, such as for preventing the bleeding of a wound in an 
emergency; 
(iv) where ventilation of pressure sores or relief of pressure is required; 
and 
(v) in the construction of an immobilisation cast for body or limb, with 
the addition of a quick-setting material such as an alginate or plaster of 
Paris. 
The thickness of the bandage is not critical to the invention since it 
should be suited to the particular material used and the specific 
application envisaged. A typical useful thickness is from 1.5 mm to 8 mm. 
The numbers, sizes, shapes, locations, orientations and degrees of the 
areas of elastic inhibition and assistance govern the shape and 
characteristics of the bandage so that the bandage can be tailor-made for 
a specific application. Thus a bandage can be manufactured for 
application, not only for a particular site, but also for a particular 
purpose, and applied with speed and ease even by an unskilled person. 
Likewise, a bandage can be altered or adjusted before or during fitting to 
suit a special requirement. The bandage should conform to the particular 
application in that it must not compromise circulation. 
The bandage and/or inhibition means may be colour-coded to indicate the 
degree to which they are elastic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In FIG. 1, there is shown a bandage 10 comprising a first member 20 and a 
second member 30. The first member 20 has a layer 40 with a covering layer 
on each side. The covering layer on one side provides a comfort layer 55 
for contact with the body and may also be used for location of inflation 
pads by a further second member. The covering layer 50 on the other side 
is engaged by hooked elements 70 extending from layer 60 of the second 
member 30. Layer 40 is an elastic material such as neoprene with covering 
layers 50 and 55 being woven material. In use the woven material 50, 55 is 
attached to the elastic material 40 during manufacture, by adhesive for 
example, so that the first member 20 can be stretched around the part of 
the body to be bandaged. 
Layer 60 is less elastic than the first member or may be inelastic, being a 
moulded plastics material for example. In use, the hooked elements 70 
engage the woven material 50, preventing stretching of first member 20 at 
the points of attachment. 
FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment in which a bandage 100 has slits 180, 185 
cut in its first member 120, and an aperture 190. Slits 180 are partial 
thickness, being cut through the woven material 150 only. Slits 185 are 
full thickness, being cut through both layers of the first member 120, 
comprising woven material 150 and elastic material 140 only in this 
embodiment. 
Strips of inelastic material 165 are provided for securing the bandage and 
pieces of inelastic material 160 are placed around the aperture 190 so as 
to provide a local inelastic region which prevents unwanted deformation of 
the bandage. 
Second member pieces 160, 165 may be Velcro (registered trade mark) or 
other similar inelastic material having hooked elements. The first member 
is, for example, wetsuit material, which may be 3 mm neoprene lined with a 
0.5 mm thick woven material. It will be appreciated that other materials 
could be used. In particular woven material 150 could be a piled fabric, 
such as plush, or could have looped elements which engage with the hooked 
elements 170. 
In use, sheets of bandage 100 are placed around the part of the body to be 
bandaged and are secured in place by strips of inelastic material 165. 
Slits 180 in the sheet provide lines of weakening, so that the sheet 
stretches generally normal to these lines. Instead of being manufactured 
as a sheet, the bandage may be manufactured in the form of a tube. In this 
case, slits are provided around arcs of the circumference of inelastic 
material. Unwanted slits may be sealed by strips of pieces of inelastic 
material. Further strips of inelastic material may be positioned where 
extra support or strengthening is required, such as along damaged 
ligaments or across incompletely healed fractures. 
This example uses inelastic material for securing or strengthening, but it 
is possible to use material which is less elastic than that of the first 
member. 
In practice, the more preferred form of the bandage 200 would have multiple 
slits 280 in a "bricked" layout, as shown in FIG. 4. These slits 280 
deform when stretched around a limb during application as shown in FIG. 5. 
The multiple slits become a lattice of diamond shapes 285 when stretched 
as indicated by the arrows. The use of this form enables stretching in all 
directions. Improved stretching is thereby achieved over the whole of the 
lattice region, the slits in each row corresponding in length and in 
transverse spacing, and the slits of one row being in staggered offsetting 
interlace with the slits of an adjacent row. The bandage 200 may be closed 
by a longitudinal strip of the second member 265 to form a tubular 
bandage. 
The slits are generally closely spaced along the longitudinal axis of the 
limb to be supported. This weakens the force exerted by the first member 
so that by itself it exerts only minor constricting force to the limb. 
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the bandage has been manufactured in 
the form of a tubular support bandage 300 and shaped to conform to a knee 
joint. Slits 380 have been cut in the region where stretching of the 
bandage is required and have deformed to a diamond lattice. Further 
support to ligaments, for instance, is provided in the form of inelastic 
or less elastic regions obtained by the addition of strips of the second 
member 330. If necessary, an aperture 390 can prevent wrinkling of the 
bandage, the aperture being maintained in shape by a piece of the second 
member 360. The strips 330 may also be used to close a slit 380 if it is 
not required. 
A versatile bandage and method of manufacturing a bandage have thus been 
provided which provide quick and easy application without the requirement 
of a large range of custom-fit bandages. It will of course be understood 
that the present invention has been described purely by way of example, 
and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.