Patent Publication Number: US-2018043043-A1

Title: Bandage having a compact led insert

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/374,027 filed Aug. 12, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a compact insert that can be placed inside a bandage for disinfecting the bandage while in use. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     Disposable bandages often can harbor bacteria while being worn, thus increasing the risk of infection. Often, the use of antibiotic ointments is not sufficient to kill the bacteria that can cause the infection. U.S. Pat. No. 8,372,128 has attempted to solve this problem by incorporating a UV light emitter into the bandage. However, this solution is expensive, as the entire bandage with the UV light source is discarded after use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a way to incorporate a UV light emitter into a bandage in a simple and economical manner. 
     This and other objects are accomplished by a portable capsule containing a battery and a UV light source, all contained in a small, flat housing. The capsule is then inserted into the bandage material and held within the bandage to kill any bacteria that enters the bandage. The capsule is kept away from any direct skin contact, so there is no risk of burns or skin damage from the UV light. The invention also consists of a bandage that is configured to receive the capsule via an opening in the side of the bandage. The capsule is then slid in between the layers of gauze or on tope of the gauze layer and can be held in place by a closure element, which can be separate or part of the bandage. When the bandage is removed from the patient, the capsule can be removed from the bandage, cleaned, and re-used in the next bandage. 
     The UV capsule consists of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit light in the UV spectrum, connected to a power source in the form of a disposable or reusable battery, all encased in a housing. The housing can be made of plastic or other suitable material that can be easily cleaned and/or sterilized between uses. The housing has a clear window that allows the UV light from the LEDs to shine through and sterilize the surrounding bandage area. 
     In another embodiment, the LED delivers infrared light, and the capsule is placed so that the light directly contacts the skin when the bandage is placed. This has the effect of promoting muscle healing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
       In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of the capsule according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the capsule; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the capsule inserted into a bandage; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of the bandage; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the capsule and bandage. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a capsule  10  according to the invention, which comprises a plastic housing  11  with a translucent window  12 . Housing  11  could also be made entirely translucent to eliminate the need to assemble a window. Inside housing  11  are a plurality of small LED bulbs  13  connected to a power source in the form of a battery  14 . LED bulbs  13  emit UV light. Housing  11  can be configured to be openable so that battery  14  can be replaced when it dies, or can be configured permanently sealed so that capsule  10  is discarded when the battery dies. Housing  11  can be made of rigid or flexible material and is configured to be watertight so that moisture does not reach the LEDs  13  or battery  14 . 
     Capsule  10  can be round, square or any desired shape. It is sized so that it can fit into a bandage  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Window  12  is arranged facing downward onto gauze  21 , so that the UV light from bulbs  13  passes through window  12  and can disinfect gauze  13  during use. Switch  15  can be used to disconnect battery  14  from LEDs  13  in order to turn the capsule on and off. The capsule  10  is generally turned on prior to insertion into bandage  20  and then is turned off after the capsule  10  is removed and bandage  20  is discarded. 
       FIG. 4  shows a top view of bandage  20 , which consists of a center portion containing gauze  21 , and two adhesive sections  23 . A flap  24  is located in the center portion and creates an opening to allow for insertion of capsule  10 . Flap  24  can have adhesive around its edges so as to seal capsule  10  in bandage  20  during use. After use, capsule  10  is removed from bandage  20 , bandage  20  is discarded, and capsule  10  is then cleaned and/or sterilized before being used again. 
     During use, UV light from LEDs  13  acts on gauze  21  and kills any bacteria that enter gauze  21 , thus keeping bandage  20  sterile during use and preventing wound infection. 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. Here, capsule  40  has LEDs that emit IR light (not shown) rather than UV light. In this embodiment, capsule  40  is placed in between a bottom translucent layer  32  and a top layer  31  of the bandage so that light from the IR source can travel through translucent layer  32  and into the skin and muscles below, in order to heal injured muscles. As with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , capsule  40  can be removed from bandage  30  after use, cleaned and then used again. 
     Capsule  40  can be used with disposable bandages, or can be affixed to the body using re-usable cloth bandages as well. 
     Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.