Abstract:
A wrapping apparatus for wrapping a sheet of a covering material from a roll onto an outer surface of a surgical site. The wrapping apparatus includes a handle and a body portion having a housing, a first end, and a second end. The housing and the first and second ends generally defining an interior region that is configured to receive the placement of the roll. The wrapping apparatus further includes first and second spindles that are configured to allow rotation of the roll relative to the handle for the dispensing of the sheet of covering material from the roll. The wrapping apparatus may also include a cap that is operably connected to the second end, and which secures the roll to the wrapping apparatus. Additionally, the wrapping apparatus may include a cutting apparatus that cuts or tears dispensed covering material away from the roll of covering material.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    During the recovery process following surgery, at least a portion of a surgical site on a patient may, or should be, generally protected from exposure to moisture. For example, a patient may undergo a medical procedure and/or treatment at a location on a patient&#39;s body that requires the opening, removal, and/or closing of at least a portion of the patient&#39;s outer tissue or skin, also referred to as a surgical site. Moreover, such surgical procedures may involve an incision or cut into at least a portion of the outer tissue area, with the resulting open wound being treated in a manner intended to facilitate the healing of the affected tissue. For example, an open wound at the surgical site may be closed through the use of stitches, staples, and/or adhesive strips, among others. 
         [0002]    However, the time needed for the surgical site to heal may not match other needs of the patient, such as, for example, the need to maintain at least certain aspects of hygiene, such as, for example, cleansing the patient&#39;s body. Yet, partaking in such cleansing activities before the surgical site has sufficiently healed may present a variety of health concerns, such as, for example, water, and associated materials therein or being carried by the water, from the cleansing activity entering into the surgical site through the healing wound. The ingress of such items into the surgical site may not only delay the healing of the wound, but may also increase the potential for the development of an infection in or around the not-yet-healed wound, among other potential health concerns. 
         [0003]    To address such concerns, patients may be instructed to protect the wound from the ingress of moisture and other materials during certain activities by covering the surgical site in a covering material, such as, for example, plastic. However, to retain the plastic at a desired location relative to the surgical site, and/or to prevent the formation of gaps between the covering material and the patient&#39;s body, the covering material may need to be wrapped in a manner around a portion of the patient&#39;s body that allows for the covering material to sufficiently be engaged with, and/or compress against, the patient&#39;s body. For example, if the patient underwent knee surgery, the surgical site may include at least the exterior portion of the patient&#39;s knee area. Therefore, in an attempt to protect the surgical site and/or outer tissue from water, the covering material may be wrapped around the patient&#39;s knee area. Further, in order to prevent the wrapped covering material from slipping out of place or unwrapping, at least a portion of the covering material may secured to another portion of the covering material, the patient, and/or a garment worn by the patient, such as, for example, through the use of an adhesive material, such as, for example, tape. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An aspect of the invention is a wrapping apparatus for wrapping a sheet of a covering material from a roll onto an outer surface of a surgical site. The wrapping apparatus includes a handle and a body portion. The body portion includes a housing, a first end, and a second end. The housing and the first and second ends generally defining an interior region that is configured to receive the placement of the roll. The wrapping apparatus further includes a first spindle that is operably connected to the first end. At least a portion of the first spindle is configured to be received in an inner portion of a tube of the roll. The wrapping apparatus also includes a second spindle that is operably connected to the second end. At least a portion of the second spindle is configured to be received in the inner portion of the tube. The first spindle and the second spindle are configured to allow rotation of the roll relative to the handle for the dispensing of the sheet of covering material from the roll. 
         [0005]    Another aspect of the present invention is a wrapping apparatus for wrapping a sheet of a covering material from a roll onto an outer surface of a surgical site. The wrapping apparatus includes a handle and a body portion having a housing, a first end, and a second end. The housing and the first and second ends generally define an interior region that is configured to receive the placement of the roll. The wrapping apparatus also includes a first spindle that is operably connected to the first end. At least a portion of the first spindle is configured to be received in an inner portion of a tube of the roll. Additionally, the wrapping apparatus includes a cap having a second spindle. The cap is configured to be operably secured in an aperture in the second end. At least a portion of the second spindle is configured to be received in the inner portion of the tube. The first spindle and the second spindle are configured to allow for rotation of the roll relative to the handle for the dispensing of the sheet of covering material from the roll. 
         [0006]    A further aspect of the present invention is a wrapping apparatus for wrapping a sheet of a covering material from a roll onto an outer surface of a surgical site. The wrapping apparatus includes a handle and a body portion having a housing, a first end, a second end, and a cutting apparatus. The housing and the first and second ends generally define an interior region that is configured to receive the placement of the roll. The cutting apparatus is configured to cut or tear at least a portion of the sheet of covering material. The wrapping apparatus also includes a first spindle that is operably connected to the first end, at least a portion of the first spindle being configured to be received in an inner portion of a tube of the roll. Additionally, the wrapping apparatus includes a cap having a second spindle, the cap being configured to be operably secured in an aperture in the second end. At least a portion of the second spindle is configured to be received in the inner portion of the tube. The first spindle and the second spindle are configured to allow for rotation of the roll relative to the handle for the dispensing of the sheet of covering material from the roll. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a wrapping apparatus containing a roll of covering material according to an illustrated embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the wrapping apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the wrapping apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a wrapping apparatus according to an illustrated embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cutting apparatus having a blade according to an illustrated embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cutting apparatus having a plurality of serrations according to an illustrated embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a wrapping apparatus according to an illustrated embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of wrapping apparatus having a roll of covering material according to an illustrated embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective and partial exploded view of the wrapping apparatus shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth here. Rather, these embodiments are examples of the invention, which has the full scope indicated by the language of the claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a wrapping apparatus  10  according to an illustrated embodiment. The wrapping apparatus  10  includes a handle  12  and a body portion  14 . According to certain embodiments, the handle  12  and the body portion  14  may be a single integral unit, such as, for example, molded to form a single unit. However, according to other embodiments, the handle  12  may be operably connected to the body portion  14 , such as, for example, through the use of adhesive, a plastic weld, press fit, or mechanical connectors, such as, for example, pins or screws, among other connections. 
         [0018]    According to certain embodiments, the handle  12  may include a one or more indentations or contours  13  that may facilitate the gripping, or comfort of gripping, the handle  12  by a user. The handle  12  may terminate at a first end  16  of the body portion  14 . In addition to a first end  16 , the body portion  14  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  may also include a housing  18  and a second end  20 . The first end  16 , housing  18 , and second end  20  may generally define an interior region  22  of the body portion  14 . The interior region  22  may be sized to house a roll  24  of covering material  26 , such as, for example, a continuous sheet of plastic that is wrapped around a tube  28  or spindle. For example, the covering material  24  may be wrapped around a tube  28 , such as, for example, a tube  28  made of cardboard. For purposes of illustration, a tube  28  for the roll  24  of covering material  26  is illustrated by dashed lines in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]    The housing  18  may have a variety of different shapes and configurations. For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates the housing  18  as have one or more arms  17   a,    17   b  that connect the first and second ends  16 ,  20  while extending over a relatively small portion of the roll  24 . According to certain embodiments, the arms  17   a,    17   b  may be molded from a plastic material, such as, for example, a high impact polypropylene, and have a thickness of approximately ½ inch to ⅝ inch. However, according to other embodiments, the housing  18  may have a generally cutaway cylindrical portion that encompasses, and to an extent generally follows the shape of, at least a portion of the roll  24 . Such an embodiment may shield the covering material  28  from debris during, or between, uses of the wrapping apparatus  10 . 
         [0020]    According to certain embodiments, the wrapping apparatus  10  may include first and second spindles  30 ,  32  that are operably connected to the first and second ends  16 ,  20 , respectively. The first and second spindles  30 ,  32  may be configured to mate with the tube  28  in a manner that allows the tube  28  to be rotated relative to the handle  12  so that covering material  26  may be dispensed from the roll  24  during use of the wrapping apparatus  10 . According to certain embodiments, the first spindle  30  may be an inward projection that extends from the first end  16  and into the interior region  22 . Further, during use, at least portion of the first spindle  30  is configured to extend into an interior portion  27  of the tube  28 . The first and second spindles may or may not be configured to rotate with the roll  24  as a sheet of the covering material  26  is dispensed from the roll  24 . 
         [0021]    According to certain embodiments, the second spindle  32  may extend from a cap  34  that is used to secure the roll  24  to the wrapping apparatus  10 . More specifically, according to certain embodiments, when a roll  24  is to be secured in the interior region  22  of the wrapping apparatus  10 , the cap  34  may be removed from the wrapping apparatus  10 , thereby preventing the second spindle  32  from interfering with the placement of the roll  24  into the interior region  22  and into operable engagement with the first spindle  30 . When the roll  24  is positioned in the interior region  22  such that at least a portion of the first spindle  32  extends into the tube  28 , a portion of the cap  34  may be received in an aperture  36  in the second end  20 . 
         [0022]    According to certain embodiments, the cap  34 , which may be constructed from plastic, may include a hub portion  38  that is configured to engage the aperture  36  that retains the cap  34  on the second end  20 . For example, the hub portion  38  may have an external thread that mates an internal thread of the aperture  36 . Alternatively, the hub portion  38  may be sized for a press fit in the aperture  36  to retain the cap  34  on the second end  20 . The hub portion  38  may have the same or different size and shape than at least a portion of the second spindle  32 . For example, according to certain embodiments, the second spindle  32  may be an extension or continuation of the hub portion  38 . When the roll  24  is to be secured to the wrapping apparatus  10 , the cap  34  and roll  24  may be positioned for at least a portion of the second spindle  32  to be received by the tube  28 . Before dispensing covering material  26  from the roll  24 , the cap  34  may be secured to the second end  20  so as to secure the roll  24  to the wrapping apparatus  10 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a wrapping apparatus  10 ′ in which the housing  40  of the body portion  42  includes a first arm  43  and a second arm  44  that extend between the first end  16  and the second end  20 . The first arm  43  may be configured to provide stability and/or strength to the wrapping apparatus  10 ′. Further, the first and second arms  43 ,  44  may have a variety of different configurations, including, for example, having a straight or curved profile, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Further according to certain embodiments, the shape and/or configuration of the first arm  43  and second arm  44  may be generally the same or different. 
         [0024]    Similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the wrapping apparatus  10 ′ may include a first spindle  30  and a second spindle  32  that are configured to engage the tube  28  of the roll  24 . Optionally, according to certain embodiments, a guide tube  46  may extend between the first and second spindles  30 ,  32 . The guide tube  46  may be configured to provide stability to the wrapping apparatus  10 ,  10 ′. 
         [0025]    The wrapping apparatus  10 ′ may also include a cutting apparatus  48  that is configured to tear, cut, or otherwise separate covering material  48  that has been dispensed from the roll  24  from covering material  48  that remains wrapped or otherwise bound to the roll  24 . Referencing  FIGS. 4 and 5 , according to certain embodiments, the cutting apparatus  48  may include a cutter  50  having one or more blades  52 . Further, according to certain embodiments, the cutter  50  may include at least one upper leg  54 , a body  56  and at least one lower leg  58 . The cutter  50  may be configured to be slid or otherwise displaced along a track  60  that is positioned in the housing  40 . For example, according to certain embodiments, the track  60  may be positioned along at least a portion of the second arm  44 . The upper and lower legs  54 ,  58  may be positioned on, and extend along, opposing surfaces of the second arm  44  so as to retain the body  56  in the track  60 . For example, the upper leg  54  may be positioned along an upper surface of the second arm  44  and the lower leg  56  positioned along a bottom surface  64 . When a portion of the sheet of covering material  26  is to be cut, the covering material  26  may be extended over the track at a location where the cut is to occur. The cutting apparatus  48  may then be slid or displaced along the track  60 , with at least one blade  52  cutting the covering material  26  that is in the path of the blade  52 . The use of two or more blades  50 , or a single blade  50  having at least two opposing cutting surfaces, may provide the ability for the cutter  50  to cut covering material  26  in either direction as the cutter is displaced along the track  60 . 
         [0026]    Alternatively, referencing  FIG. 6 , the cutting apparatus  48  may be a plurality of serrations  66  or cutters that extend from the surface of the housing  40 . For example, according to certain embodiments, an edge of the housing  40 , such as an edge of the second arm  44 , may be molded or formed with serrations  66  that may be used to tear or cut the covering material  26 . Alternatively, the serrations may be operably attached to the housing  40 , such as, for example, by an adhesive, pin, or other mechanical fastener. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  illustrates a wrapping apparatus  10 ″ according to an illustrated embodiment in which one or more arms  43 ′ extends from the handle  12 ′. The arm(s)  43 ′ may have a variety of similar or dissimilar different configurations, such as, for example, being curved (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) or non-curved. Such a configuration may improve the stability of the apparatus  10 ″. Additionally, such a configuration may allow for the handle  12 ′ to include and/or terminate at, the first end  16  of the body portion  14 . Further, according to certain embodiments, the one or more arms  43 ′ may also include a cutting apparatus  48 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate another wrapping apparatus  10 ′″ according to an illustrated embodiment in which two arms  43 ′,  44 ′ extend from the handle  12 ″. As shown, a first spindle  30  extends from the handle  12 ″ and into the interior region  22 ′. According to certain embodiments, a second spindle  32 ′ may be provided by a hub portion  38 ′ of the cap  34 ′. According to such an embodiment, the second end  20 ′ may include an orifice  21  that is sized to allow for the removable insertion of the roll  24  containing covering material into the interior region  22  of the wrapping apparatus  10 ′″. Additionally, the orifice  21  may also be sized to allow at least a portion of the hub portion  38 ′ to be positioned in the interior portion  22 ′, particularly if a portion of the hub portion  38 ′ is providing the second spindle  32 ′. 
         [0029]    According to certain embodiments, the hub portion  38 ′ may include an external thread that mates with an internal thread that is positioned about the orifice  21  on the second end  20 ′. Further, according to certain embodiments, the cap  34 ′ may include a threaded aperture  37  that mates an external thread  47  on the guide tube  46 ′. Alternatively, at least a portion of the hub portion  38 ′ may have an external thread that mates an internal thread of an aperture in the guide tube  46 ′. Additionally, although the top portion  39  of the cap  34 ′ is illustrated as extending beyond the second end  20 ′, according to certain embodiments, the second end  20 ′ and/or the cap  34 ′ may be configured for the cap  38 ′ to be recessed in the second end  20 ′ when attached to the wrapping apparatus  10 ″.