Patent Publication Number: US-2011060296-A1

Title: Wound covering and method for treating a wound

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a wound covering, and method for treating a wound, and more specifically to a wound covering which includes a pressure pad region; and an absorbent wound covering portion which can be observed by a care giver when the wound covering portion is being utilized on a patient. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art is replete with numerous examples of various wound coverings, including hemostats of various designs, and which have been utilized through the years to aid clinicians in the treatment of various maladies. For example, with respect to various wound dressings, various designs have been marketed which allow a clinician, or other health care provider to monitor the site of a wound following a surgical intervention. For example, the Office&#39;s attention is directed to the hemostatic bandage marketed by a company identified as Vascular Solutions under the trademark D-STAT DRY CLEAR and which provides a clear bandage which allows for the clear visualization of a wound site. This product has reinforced borders which reportedly provide for more precise placement of the bandage in comparison to other clear bandages. Further, other pressure assisted dressings are marketed currently for various clinical applications. For example, the Office&#39;s attention is directed to the pressure assisted dressing marketed under the trademark SAFEGUARD and which is provided by a company named DataScope. The SAFEGUARD pressure assisted dressing provides an adhesive portion which is attached to the skin of a patient, and an inflatable balloon which can apply an adjustable amount of pressure in order to assist in the closure of a wound site. Still further, the SAFEGUARD product allows a clinician to continue to visualize the wound site while pressure is being applied. 
     In addition to the foregoing products that are currently available for purchase, it has long been known to provide various hemostat arrangements which provide a means by which a flowable substance may be provided to the hemostat while it is being utilized. In this regard, the Office&#39;s attention is directed again to the commercial product provided by the company Vascular Solutions, and which is identified by the trademark, “D-STAT Flowable Hemostat”. 
     While the prior art devices and methodologies used heretofore have been widely embraced and are generally successful for their intended purposes, clinicians have continued to search for a convenient wound covering which provides a means by which pressure can be selectively applied, and thereafter the wound site can be monitored while also providing a convenient means whereby selected medicaments may be provided to the wound site without removing the wound covering. 
     A wound covering and method for treating a wound is the subject matter of the present application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the present invention relates to a wound covering which includes a flexible substrate having first and second portions which are affixed together, and moveable one relative to the other, and wherein the second portion is at least, in part, optically transparent, and permits the viewing of a wound site on a patient; and an at least partially rigid member mounted on the first portion, and extending outwardly relative to the first portion. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a wound covering, which includes a flexible substrate having an inwardly facing surface which is coated, at least in part, by an adhesive, and an outwardly facing surface, and wherein the flexible substrate has a first portion, and a second portion, and wherein the second portion is, at least in part, optically transparent, and is operable to cover a site of a wound on a patient&#39;s body; a pressure pad mounted on the inwardly facing surface of the first portion of the flexible substrate, and which is oriented in rested relation on a patient&#39;s body, and wherein a clinician applies force to the pressure pad to achieve a desired medical outcome; and an absorbent wound covering portion which is oriented in covering relation relative to the site of the wound on the patient&#39;s body, and which is secured in place by the second portion of the flexible substrate. 
     Still further, the present invention relates to a method for treating a wound, which includes the steps of providing a flexible substrate having opposite inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces and which defines a first portion, and a second portion which are moveably coupled together; applying an adhesive to at least a portion of the inside facing surface of the flexible substrate; mounting a pressure pad on the inside facing surface of the first portion of the flexible substrate; positioning the pressure pad in an anatomically correct position on a patient&#39;s body and adhesively affixing the first portion of the flexible substrate to the patients body; after the step of positioning the pressure pad, orienting the second portion of flexible substrate in spaced relation relative to the patient&#39;s body; after the step of orienting the second portion of the flexible substrate in spaced relation relative to the patient&#39;s body, implementing a medical procedure which creates a wound site in the patient&#39;s body which is located in spaced relation relative to the pressure pad; moving the second portion of the flexible substrate into covering relation relative to the wound site, and adhesively affixing it to the patient&#39;s body; and positioning an absorbent wound covering portion over the wound site, and in sandwiched relation therebetween the patient&#39;s body, and the inside facing surface of the second portion of the flexible substrate prior to adhesively affixing the second portion of the flexible substrate to the patient&#39;s body. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a partial, top plan view of a first form of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial, top plan view of a second form of the present invention with some underlying structures shown in phantom lines. 
         FIG. 4  is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the present invention being employed in a medical procedure. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial, top plan view of a third possible form of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the first form of the present invention with some underlying structures shown in phantom lines. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the first form of the present invention with some underlying structures shown in phantom lines. 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of another form of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8). 
     The present invention as noted above relates to a wound covering and a method for treating a wound. The present invention is generally indicated by the numeral  10  in  FIG. 1 , and following. As should be understood, the wound covering is operable to be placed on the skin surface of a patient&#39;s body  11 . This is seen most clearly by reference to  FIG. 5 . As seen in that drawing, it will be understood that in various medical procedures, a clinician will need to gain access to a blood vessel or other body cavity, or region  12  located below the surface of the patient&#39;s body  11 . As will be understood from that view, often the clinician will employ a medical instrument which is generally indicated by the numeral  13 , and which has a needle  14  extending therefrom and which is utilized to puncture the skin surface of the patient&#39;s body  11  to gain access to, for example, a blood vessel  12  positioned therebelow to remove body fluids, or to inject medicaments or other treatment substances. As should be understood, the location where the needle  14  crosses the skin surface of the patient&#39;s body  11  creates a wound site  15  which needs to be treated once the medical instrument  13  is removed to prevent bleeding, bacterial infection and to further promote healing. It has long been known that providing pressure at a given distance which is spaced from the wound site  15  often facilitates certain medical procedures, and facilitates the proper formation of the wound site  15  for the procedure as shown in  FIG. 5 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , this pressure is being applied by a clinician&#39;s finger which is generally indicated by the numeral  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , which shows one of form of the invention, the wound covering  10  is fabricated from a flexible substrate which is indicated by the numeral  20 . The flexible substrate  20  has a first, inwardly facing surface  21  ( FIG. 2 ), and an a second, outwardly facing surface generally indicated by the numeral  22 . The flexible substrate is defined by a peripheral edge  23 . Further, the inwardly facing surface  21  is covered, at least in part, by an adhesive layer  24  which is effective in securing the flexible substrate to the body surface  11  of the patient&#39;s body as indicated in  FIG. 5 . In addition, the flexible substrate  20  is defined by a first portion  31 , and a second portion  32 , which are moveably affixed together at a crease, joint or hinge  25 , and are further moveable, one relative to the other, as seen in  FIG. 5 . Still further, as will be appreciated by a study of  FIG. 1 , and following, the second portion  32  has an optically transparent portion as will be described below. This permits the viewing of a wound site  15  on a patient when the wound covering is employed following a medical procedure which creates a wound site  15 . 
     In the form of the invention as seen in  FIG. 2 , the wound covering  10  includes an at least partially rigid member, or pressure pad  40  which is mounted on the first portion  31 , and which extends outwardly relative to the first inwardly facing surface  21 . As seen in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 , the rigid member or pressure pad  40  has a main body  41  which includes an uppermost portion  42  which may, in this form of the invention, extend slightly above the second outwardly facing surface  22  so as to provide a convenient tactile orientation point for a clinician&#39;s hand or finger  16  ( FIG. 5 ). Further, the pressure pad  40  has a protruding, lowermost portion  43  which is positioned in contact with the surface of the patient&#39;s body  11  as seen in  FIG. 5 . As discussed above, and as seen in  FIG. 5 , a clinician&#39;s finger  16  may press upon the uppermost portion  42  in order to transmit force through the rigid member or pressure pad  40  to the underlying skin surface of the patient&#39;s body  11  for various medical purposes including to aid in the formation of an appropriate wound site  15 , by the medical instrument  13 , as illustrated in that view. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , it will be seen that in a second possible form of the invention  10 , as illustrated, the rigid member or pressure pad  40  may have an internal cavity  44  formed therein. The internal cavity  44  defines a storage space to receive a flowable medicament  45  which might include, for example, a bactericidal solution, or pain control substance, or other suitable clinical solution which may be useful in the treatment of the wound site  15 . As should be understood, a fluid passageway or conduit  46  is formed in the pressure pad  40 , and the flexible substrate  20 , and couples the internal cavity  45 , with the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20 , and more specifically the first inwardly facing surface  21  thereof. As best imagined by reference to  FIG. 4 , it will be understood that a given amount of pressure applied by a clinician&#39;s finger  16 , for example, on the pressure pad  40  is effective to force or cause the medicament  45  to flow through the fluid passageway  46 , and specifically, the upper portion thereof  42 , so as to deform same and cause the flowable medicament  45  to be forced out of the cavity  44 , and be delivered to the skin surface of the patient&#39;s body  11  which underlies, or is covered by, the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20 . Therefore, in at least one form of the invention, the rigid member or pressure pad  40  operates to firstly, transmit force from a clinician&#39;s finger to the underlying surface of the patient&#39;s body  11  to achieve some desired medical benefit; and secondly, is effective to cause a medicament or other flowable substance that has been delivered into the internal cavity  44 , to thereafter be squeezed or otherwise forced out of same and be delivered to the wound site  15  which is underlying the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20 . When a clinician is employing the wound covering as seen in  FIG. 5 , it will be appreciated that the bending or folding of the second portion  32 , relative to the first portion  31  would have the effect of temporarily blocking the passageway  96  which formed in the flexible substrate  20 , and which extends to the second portion  32  of the substrate  20 . 
     In another possible form of the invention as seen in  FIG. 6 , a conduit  50  is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the internal cavity  44  of the rigid member or pressure pad  40 . The conduit  50  is operable to be coupled to a source of the medicament  51  to be delivered to the internal cavity  44 . This arrangement permits the medicament or other flowable substance  45  to be changed; supplemented or resupplied based upon the condition of the patient or changing wound conditions. Moreover, this arrangement provides a convenient means for delivering a source of a medicament or plurality of medicaments or other flowable treatment substance to a wound site  15  without removing the second portion  32  from its covering relationship relative to the skin surface of the patient&#39;s body  11 . This feature substantially prevents the bacterial contamination or other disturbance of the wound site  15 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and following, it will be understood that the wound covering  10  includes an optically transparent window or region  60  which permits the viewing of the wound site  15  on a patient. In this regard, the transparent window  60  is made integral with the second portion  32 , and has an inside facing surface  61 , and an outside facing surface  62 . The inside facing surface  61  may, in one form of the invention, have an adhesive coating applied thereto. The transparent window  60  is defined by a peripheral edge  63 . As best seen by reference to  FIG. 2  and following, it will be understood that an absorbent wound covering portion  70  is provided and positioned in juxtaposed relation relative to the transparent window  60  and is held in a sandwiched relationship therebetween the surface of the patient&#39;s body  11 , and the first inwardly facing surface  21  of the second portion  32 . The absorbent would covering portion has a main body  71 , with an inwardly facing surface  72 , and an outwardly facing surface  73 . Because the first inwardly facing surface  21  has an adhesive coating  24  applied thereto, the absorbent wound covering portion  70  is secured to the second portion  32  and is further held in place over the top of the wound site  15 . In one possible form of the invention  10 , the absorbent wound covering portion  70  may be first supplied or coated with a medicament or other solution for treating the wound site  15 , and then may be placed into covering relation relative to the wound site  15  prior to moving the second portion  32  into covering relation relative to the wound site  15 . In another possible form of the invention, the absorbent wound covering  70  may be adhesively affixed by its outside facing surface  73  to the inside facing surface  61  of the transparent window  60  ( FIG. 5 ). Still further, the main body  71  of the absorbent wound covering portion may be supplied with a medicament, such as a bactericidal solution, pain reliever, or other kind of flowable treatment solution prior to being brought into contact with the wound site. Additionally, the flowable treatment solution may be provided from the reservoir  44  as seen in  FIG. 4  and which is defined by the structure  40 . Any solution carried by the main body of the absorbent wound covering portion  71  would be dispensed by way of its inside facing surface  72  directly to the wound site  15  to achieve the medical benefits desired. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  and following, it will be seen that the wound covering  10 , and more specifically the flexible substrate thereof  20  has a multitude of removable cover portions  80  mounted thereon, and which maintains portions of the inwardly or outwardly facing surfaces  21  and  22  in a substantially sterile condition prior to use. Further, it will be understood by a study of  FIG. 2 , and following, that the removable cover portions  80  are selectively removed prior to placing the flexible substrate  30  in resting relation on the body surface  11  of the patient as seen in  FIG. 5 . As seen in the drawings, the removable cover portions  80  include individual covers here labeled  81 ,  82  and  83 , respectively, and which can be independently, and separately removed while the remaining portions of the removable cover  80  remain in covering relation relative to the inwardly and/or outwardly facing surfaces  21  and  22  of the flexible substrate  20 . As best understood by a study of  FIG. 5 , the portion of the removable cover, here indicated by the numeral  81 , is removed prior to placing the first portion  31  of the flexible substrate in resting relation on the body surface  11  of the patient, and more specifically at a location which is spaced from the wound site  15 . The respective removable covers  80 , are typically moveable along an arcuately shaped path of travel  84  out of contact with the underlying surface of the flexible substrate  20  that it protects. Each removable cover  80  has an outside facing surface  85 , and an opposite inside facing surface  86  which is coated so as to easily release from the underlying layer of adhesive  24  which is applied to the flexible substrate  20  as earlier discussed. Each cover may be easily detached at a weakened connection point from the flexible substrate  20 , and then discarded. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , another possible form of the invention is shown, and designated by the numeral  100 . In this form of the invention, a flexible substrate  101  is provided which again has inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces  102  and  103 , respectively. Again the flexible substrate has a first portion  104 , and a second portion  105  which are joined together at a flexible joint or hinge  106 . Similar to the earlier forms of the invention, an optically transparent window  110  is provided which allows a clinician to visually observe an underlying wound site  15 . Further, a coating of adhesive  111  is applied to the inwardly facing surface  102 . As with the other forms of the invention, a wound covering  112  is provided and placed over a wound site  15  and is located so as to be seen through the optically transparent window  110 . Further, and similar to the other forms of the invention, a plurality of releasable covers  113  are provided, and which can be removed from the flexible substrate  101  so as to expose the underlying surface(s). In this form of the invention, however, the first portion  104  has a moveable tab  114  which has affixed thereto a rigid member or pressure pad  115 . As seen in  FIG. 10  the tab may be moved downwardly along an arcuately shaped path of travel  120 . Again, as in one of the earlier forms of the invention, the pressure pad  115  may be formed so as to have a cavity  121  and which contains a given flowable treatment solution  122  which is to be applied, or otherwise supplied to the wound covering  112  by means of the passageway or conduit  123  which is formed in, or mounted on the flexible substrate  101 . This form of the invention provides some advantages over the other forms of the invention because pressure may be supplied by a clinicians finger, for example, to the tab  114 , and to the patients body, but the same pressure will not tend to cause the adjacent first portion  104  of the flexible substrate to pull needlessly on the adjacent skin areas of the patient as the pressure is being applied. This will provide increased comfort to the patient as the wound site  15  is being created. 
     Operation 
     The operation of the described embodiments of the present invention are believed to be readily apparent and are briefly summarized at this point. 
     The several forms of the present invention in its broadest aspect relates to a wound covering  10  which includes a flexible substrate  20  having first and second portions  31  and  32 , and which are affixed together, and which are further moveable one relative to the other, and wherein the second portion  32  is, at least in part, optically transparent  60 , and permits the viewing of a wound site  15  on a patient  11 ; and an at least partially rigid member  40  is mounted on the first portion  31 , and extends outwardly relative to the first portion  31 , and which is operable to engage a patient for various medical purposes as seen most clearly by reference to  FIG. 5 . Still further, the partially rigid member  40  may be employed to carry a source of a flowable substance which may be dispensed to the wound site  15 . 
     Moreover, in its broadest aspect the wound covering  10 , and more specifically the flexible substrate  20  thereof has an outwardly facing surface, and an inwardly facing surface  22  and  21 , respectively, and which rest on a body surface of a patient  11 , and further, the at least partially rigid member  40  is mounted on the flexible substrate  20 , and extends outwardly relative to the inwardly facing surface  21  of the first portion  31 . Still further, the inwardly facing surface  21  is covered, at least in part, by an adhesive  24  which is effective in securing the flexible substrate  20  to the body surface of the patient  11 . In addition to the foregoing, the wound covering  10  includes a multiplicity of removable covers  80  which are mounted thereon, and which maintain the inwardly and/or outwardly facing surfaces  21  and  22  in a substantially sterile condition. As earlier discussed, the removable covers  80  are individually removed prior to placing the flexible substrate  20  in resting relation on the body surface  11  of the patient. In one form of the invention, the respective removable covers  80  include a plurality of portions  81 - 83  which can be individually separately removed while the remaining portions of the removable cover  80  remain in covering relation relative to the inwardly and/or outwardly facing surfaces  21  and  22  of the flexible substrate  20 . In the form of the invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the at least partially rigid member  40  is a pressure pad which rests on a body surface of a patient  11 , and wherein a clinician  16  applies force to the pressure pad  40  to achieve a desired medical outcome. 
     In addition to the foregoing, the present invention  10  includes an absorbent wound covering portion  70  for contacting a surface of a patient&#39;s body  11  and which is secured in covering relation relative to the patient&#39;s body  11  by the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20 . In one form of the invention, the absorbent wound covering portion  70  carries a medicament  45  for treating a wound site  15  which is present on the surface of the patient&#39;s body. Still further, in another form of the invention, the absorbent wound covering portion  70  is affixed to, and carried by the inwardly facing surface  21  of the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20 . In another form of the invention as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the at least partially rigid member is a pressure pad  40  which rests on a surface of a patient&#39;s body  11 , and which further defines an internal cavity  44  which encloses a medicament or other treatment solution or emollient  45  for application to a wound site  15  which is formed on the surface of the patient&#39;s body  11 . In this arrangement, the internal cavity  44  of the pressure pad  40  is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20 . Still further, when a clinician  16  applies force to the pressure pad  40  it causes the medicament or other flowable substance  45  to flow from the internal cavity  44  of the pressure pad  40  to the surface of the patient&#39;s body  11  underlying the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20 . Further, in this arrangement, the medicament or other treatment solution  45  may be partially absorbed by the absorbent wound covering portion  70 , or otherwise may be delivered directly to the wound site  15 . In the arrangement as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a conduit or passageway  50  is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the cavity  44  of the pressure pad  40 , and provides a convenient means whereby a source of medicament or other flowable treatment fluid  51  is supplied by way of the conduit  50  to refill the cavity  44  of the pressure pad  40  with additional medicament  45 . 
     The present invention also relates to a method for treating a wound site  15  which includes a first step of providing a flexible substrate  20  having opposite inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces  21  and  22 , respectively, and which defines a first portion  31 , and a second portion  32  which are moveably coupled together. The method includes another step of applying an adhesive  24  to at least a portion of the inside facing surface  21  of the flexible substrate  20 . Still further, the method includes another step of mounting a pressure pad  40 , on the inside facing surface  21  of the first portion  31  of the flexible substrate  20 . The method further includes another step of positioning the pressure pad  40  in an anatomically correct position on a patient&#39;s body  11 , and adhesively affixing the first portion of the flexible substrate  20  to the patients body  11  as seen in  FIG. 5 . Still further, after the step of positioning the pressure pad  40 , the method includes another step of orienting the second portion of flexible substrate  20  in spaced relation relative to the patient&#39;s body  11  as seen in  FIG. 5 . After the step of orienting the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20  in spaced relation relative to the patient&#39;s body  11 , the method includes another step of implementing a medical procedure which creates a wound site  15  in the patient&#39;s body  11  which is located in spaced relation relative to the pressure pad  40 . Still further, the method includes another step of moving the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20  into covering relation relative to the wound site  15 , and adhesively affixing it to the patient&#39;s body  11 . Still further, the method includes a final step of positioning an absorbent wound covering portion  70  over the wound site  15 , and in sandwiched relation therebetween the patient&#39;s body  11 , and the inside facing surface  25  of the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20  prior to adhesively affixing the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20  to the patient&#39;s body  11 . 
     In the present methodology, the method includes another step of providing individual releasable covers  80  which are located in covering relation relative to the inside facing surfaces  21  of the first and second portions  31  and  32  of the flexible substrate  20 ; and removing the respective releasable covers  80  prior to adhesively affixing the respective inside facing surfaces  21 , of the first and second portions  31  and  32 , to the patient&#39;s body  11 . In the methodology of the present invention, the step of positioning an absorbent wound covering  70  over the wound site  15  further comprises attaching the absorbent wound covering  70  onto the inside facing surface  21  of the second portion  32  prior to the step of moving of the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20  into covering relation relative to the wound site  15 . Additionally, in the present methodology the step of positioning an absorbent wound covering  70  over the wound site  15  further comprises a step of applying a medicament  45  to the absorbent wound covering  70  prior to covering the wound site  15  with the absorbent wound covering  70 . In one form of the invention, the methodology comprises a step of applying a medicament  45  to the absorbent wound covering  70  after covering the wound site  15  with the absorbent wound covering  70 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the method of the present invention includes a further step of coupling the pressure pad  40  in fluid flowing relation relative to the inside facing surface  21  of the second portion  32  of the flexible substrate  20 ; and providing a source of a medicament  45  to be dispensed to the pressure pad  40 . Still further, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the method includes a step of coupling the pressure pad  40  to a source of the medicament  51  to be dispensed. 
     Therefore, it will be seen that the present invention provides a convenient means for treating a wound in a manner not possible, heretofore. A wound covering  10  is described herein which permits a medical procedure to be instituted on a patient in a convenient manner and thereafter a wound treated and then monitored through an optically transparent window in a manner not possible using the earlier prior art teachings. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.