Patent GB-1150294-A (GB)
Title: Surgical Treatment Device for Fluid Treatment of Wounds.
IPC: A61F13/00
Filed: 1966-08-19
Abstract: 1,150,294. Surgical treatment device. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. 19 Aug., 1966 [27 Aug., 1965], No. 37156/66. Heading ASR. A surgical treatment device, adapted for application to the skin of a patient to overlie an area of body surface larger than and including a selected area of body surface (e,g. a wound or 'burn) and to contact an endless peripheral portion of skin ibondering the selected area thereby to determine a sterile treatment zone which extends over the selected area, comprises (a) a non,porous cover in the form of a thin imperforate membrane which is selectively permeable to gases and vapours but impermeable to liquids and infectious organisms, (b) an adhesive sealing material (impermeable to liquids and infectiouis organisms) applied to the periphery of one side of the membrane and (c) means associated with the membrane which (when the membrane is adhered by the sealing material to the skin of a patient) enables controlled access for the admission of a fluid or an instrument to the enclosed space between the centrally-located unadliered area of the membrane and the underlying area of body surface. The fluid-introducing means is preferably such as to enable a hypodermic needle to be introduced into the sealed enclosed space and subsequently, if desired, to penetrate into the patient's body; the point of penetration is preferably observable through the membrane, for example by using a transparent membrane. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the peripheral edge of membrane 5 is secured by adhesive 6 to the skin 12 of a patient to form an enclosed space 7, the fluid-introducing means comprising flexible tubing 8 adapted to pass between the edge of the membrane and the skin of the patient. The tubing is adapted to be attached to the edge of the membrane and to the skin by adhesive 9 which maintains the sealing of the enclosed space. As illustrated, an adhesive strip patch 11 may be used to help maintain the correct position of the tubing. Fluid may be inserted into or withdrawn from the sealed enclosed space by hypodermic needle 10. The fluid-introducing means may alternatively comprise either a self-sealing patch or a flexible tube having a flanged end portion and optionally being provided with a clamp to control flow of liquid therethrough. The patch is illustrated in Fig. 3 (not shown), or the flanged end of the tube as,illustrated in Fig. 4 (not shown), is sealed to the second side of the membrane at an area thereof in communication with the .sealed enclosed space, fluid being inserted thereinto or withdrawn therefrom by means of a hypodermic needle inserted either through the patch or via the tube and subsequently through the membrane. The surgical device may further include means for circulating the selected fluid through the enclosed space; as illustrated in Fig. 2 (not shown), such means may comprise two tubes each adapted to pass between the edge of the membrane and the skin of the patient, the two tubes being peripherally spaced apart with respect to the edge of the membrane. Alternatively, the second side of the membrane may have, sealed thereto two selt-sealing patches or two flexible tubes each having an attached flanged portion. Electrodes and/ or one or 'more carnuiae may he inserted through the fluid-introducing means (and the membrane; if necessary) into the enclosed space so as to obtain electrical signals (e.g. electrocardiograph signals) from the body and/ or to allow fluid entry into or flow through the enclosed space. The fluid may be for sterilization and/or treatment purposes or may be associated with parenteral fluid treatment, for example heart-lung or kidney machines or blood transfusion means. A porous backing material may be bonded to the membrane, preferably to the second side thereof, for strengthening purposes.