Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claim priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/360,873 by DiGrazia, entitled “Bandage”, filed Jul. 1, 2010, and is hereby incorporated by reference into the current application for all purposes. The application is also a continuation-in-part and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/826,644 by DiGrazia, entitled “Wound and Bandage Protection System”, filed Jun. 29, 2010, and is hereby incorporated by reference into the current application for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention generally relates to bandages, more specifically to a bandage protection system that is primarily focused on covering wounds on joints and other areas of the body where it is difficult to maintain proper and comfortable coverage of wounds. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Throughout the history of bandage making, a common problem has plagued the adhesive bandage industry. In order to properly protect a wound, it should be covered and insulated from outside infectants. However, most adhesive bandages do not adequately protect a wound when applied. Makers of older bandages tried to size the gauze pad to allow for a thin strip of adhesive around the gauze pad to adhere to the skin around the wound. However, the strip of adhesive around the gauze pad would often buckle or come loose altogether, and not keep the wound properly sealed, and possibly cause discomfort. Recently companies have tried other solutions. Band-Aid® brand has given up on sealing the wound and has extended the gauze to the edge of the adhesive to maximize the amount of gauze available to cover the wound. Nexcare® has created bandages with extremely small gauze in relation to the bandage, allowing for a better seal, but providing less gauze in the exchange. Furthermore, these bandages tend not to perform well on joints, where the areas of adhesive do not conform to the bending of the limbs without causing a large amount of buckling of the gauze. Therefore, there is a need for a bandaging system to prevent buckling and loosening of the adhesive around the gauze pad of an adhesive bandage, particularly with regard to application of bandages to joints, while at the same time maximizing the amount of gauze available to cover the wound. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect, the present invention features a bandage that includes a body portion and a gauze pad with four primary corners, in which at least two of the primary corners are oriented towards tangent lines of the body portion. In another aspect, the present invention features a bandage that includes a body portion and a gauze pad with four primary corners, in which sides of the gauze pad defined by the primary corners are not parallel to tangent lines of the body portion. 
         [0005]    Embodiments of these two aspects may include one or more of the following. Embodiments may have a gauze pad shaped as a square, rhombus, kite or parallelogram. Embodiments may have a gauze pad that is positioned on a wound-facing side of the body portion in such manner that each of the corners of the gauze pad is oriented towards a different length tangent or width tangent of the body portion. Embodiments may have the gauze pad sized and positioned so as to define or substantially define four equal quadrants on a non-gauze portion of a wound facing side of the body portion. Embodiments may have a gauze pad with four sides where the gauze pad is sized and positioned so as to define or substantially define two equal quadrants on a non-gauze portion of the wound facing side of the body portion, with two sides of the four sides of the gauze pad defining an edge of a first quadrant of the two equal quadrants and another two sides of the four sides of the gauze pad defining an edge of a second quadrant of the two equal quadrants. Embodiments may have two opposing primary corners, each oriented toward a mid-section of a tangent line of the body portion. Embodiments may have all four primary corners oriented toward a mid-section of a tangent line of the body portion. Embodiments may have a center point of the gauze pad coinciding with a center point of the body portion. Embodiments may have one primary corner, two primary corners, two opposing primary corners, three primary corners or all four primary corners extend to the edges of the body portion. Embodiments may have the gauze pad oriented in such manner that a ray from each of the gauze pad&#39;s primary corners intersects a tangent of the body portion at an angle of 55°, 65°, or 90° or at any angle within the range of 55°-90° or preferably between 65°-90°. Embodiments may have adhesive on at least a portion of a wound facing side of the body portion. Embodiments may have a body portion that includes self adherent material. 
         [0006]    Embodiments of these two aspects may also include one or more of the following. Embodiments may have the body portion configured with a central portion and two legs that extend in a lengthwise direction from the central portion toward the same width tangent. In such embodiments, the shape of the body portion may be defined by two parallel arcs or parabolas that are connected to each other at respective proximate ends that are distal to the central portion. Embodiments may have the body portion configured with a central portion that has a uniform or substantially uniform width defined by flattened top and bottom edges and two side regions extending from opposing sides of the central portion to opposing ends of the body portion with the width of the side regions narrowing as the side regions extend from the central portion to the ends of the body portion. Embodiments may have a body portion shape that has a central almond or oval shaped portion and bulbous side portions extending from opposing sides of the central almond or oval shaped portion. Embodiments may have the body portion configured in a square or rectangular, almond or oval shape. Embodiments may have the body portion configured with rounded corners. Embodiments may have the body portion configured with a head portion and a tail portion. In such embodiments, the head portion may be configured as a truncated oval, diamond, or almond shape with the tail portion flaring out with an increasing width as it extends lengthwise from a first side of the head portion forming, in conjunction with the head portion, a concavity along top and bottom edges of the body portion. Embodiments may have the body portion configured with a first end region that extends to a first end of the body portion and a second end region with a smaller width than the first end region that extends to a second end of the body portion. In such embodiments, the body portion width may taper or remain the same as the body portion extends from the first end region to the second end region. In such embodiments, the second side region may have a greater length than the first side region and a top edge and a bottom edge of the body portion may each be configured as a continuous convex curve. Embodiments may have the body portion configured with a central portion and oval shaped side regions that extend from opposing sides of the central portion. In such embodiments, the central portion may have a uniform or substantially uniform width defined by flattened top and bottom edges. In such embodiments, the body portion may have narrow portions that connect the central portion to each of the oval shaped side regions. In such embodiments, the central portion may have concave top and bottom edges, resulting in a widening width from the middle of the central portion to the oval shaped end portions. 
         [0007]    Embodiments of these two aspects may also have the body portion configured as a bowtie with a central narrow portion that has a narrowed width and two side regions. The two side regions, in the bowtie configured body portion, may each have a first side and a second side with the first sides of the two side regions on opposing adjacent sides of the central narrow portion and the second sides of the two side regions on opposing ends of the body portion. Each of the side regions may have a first side region portion that extends from the first side of the side region toward the second side of the side region, where a width of the first side region portion of each of the side regions widens with respect to the width of the central narrow portion as it extends from the first side of the side regions toward the second side of the side regions. Such embodiments may also have a second side region portion for each of the side regions that extends from the first side region portion to the second side of the side regions where the width of the second side region portion narrows as it extends from the first side region portion to the second side of the side region. Such embodiments with a bowtie configured body portion may also have the primary corners of the gauze pad that are oriented toward length tangents of the body portion positioned within the central narrow portion. Such embodiments with a bowtie configured body portion may also be configured so that midpoint of the central narrow portion does not correspond with a midpoint of the length tangents of the body portion. Such embodiments with a bowtie configured body portion may also be configured so that the edges at opposing ends of the body portion taper the length of the body portion as the edges extend from corners of the body portion toward an inflection point. Such embodiments with a bowtie configured body portion may also have the body portion edge of each of the side regions defined by a single circular or elliptical arc. Such embodiments with a bowtie configured body portion may, alternatively, have an edge of each of the side regions defined by two circular or elliptical arcs that extend from opposing sides of the central narrow portion and meet at an inflection point. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the present invention features a bandage that includes a body portion and a gauze pad with four primary corners, in which sides of the gauze pad defined by the primary corners are parallel to tangent lines of the body portion. Embodiments may have the body portion configured with a head portion and a tail portion. In such embodiments, the head portion may be configured as a truncated oval, diamond, or almond shape with the tail portion flaring out with an increasing width as it extends lengthwise from a first side of the head portion forming, in conjunction with the head portion, a concavity along top and bottom edges of the body portion. Embodiments may have a square or rectangular gauze pad. Embodiments may have the body portion configured in a bowtie shape. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the present invention features a bandage that includes a body portion and a gauze pad with three primary corners. Embodiments may include a body portion that is triangular with each of the primary corners oriented toward a different edge of the body portion. Such embodiments may have the gauze pad oriented on the wound-facing side of the body portion in such manner that each of the primary corners of the gauze pad is oriented toward a mid-point or a mid-section of a different edge of the body portion. Embodiments may also include a body portion that is circular shaped. Embodiments may have adhesive on at least a portion of a wound facing side of the body portion. 
         [0010]    In one exemplary embodiment of a bandage according to the present invention, the bandage has a body portion and a gauze pad on a wound-facing side of the body portion. The gauze pad is shaped and positioned on the body portion in such manner that the bandage is configured as a “diamond gauze” bandage. The body portion has adhesive on at least a portion of a wound facing side or, alternatively, the body portion is comprised of self adherent material. 
         [0011]    In another exemplary embodiment of a bandage according to the present invention, the bandage is a “diamond gauze” bandage that has a body portion and a gauze pad. The body portion has adhesive on at least a portion of a wound facing side or, alternatively, the body portion is comprised of self adherent material. The gauze pad is shaped as a square, rhombus or parallelogram and oriented on the wound-facing side of the body portion in such manner that each of the corners of the gauze pad are oriented towards a different length tangent or width tangent of the body portion. 
         [0012]    In another exemplary embodiment of a bandage according to the present invention, the bandage is a “triangular gauze” bandage that has a triangular shaped body portion and a triangular shaped gauze pad. The triangular shaped body portion has adhesive on at least a portion of a wound facing side. The triangular shaped gauze pad is oriented on the wound-facing side of the body portion in such manner that each of the corners of the gauze pad is oriented toward a different edge of the body portion. The triangular shaped gauze pad may be oriented on the wound-facing side of the body portion in such manner that each of the corners of the gauze pad is oriented toward a mid-point or a mid-section of a different edge of the body portion. 
         [0013]    In another exemplary embodiment of a bandage according to the present invention, the bandage is a “triangular gauze” bandage that has a circular shaped body portion and a triangular shaped gauze pad. The circular shaped body portion has adhesive on at least a portion of a wound facing side. The triangular shaped gauze pad is provided on the wound-facing side of the body portion. 
         [0014]    In addition, the invention also relates to a kit that includes all or a subset of the bandages disclosed herein. These and other embodiments may have one or more of the following advantages. These embodiments may resolve one or more issues of durability, comfort and ease of application that are not adequately resolved by current bandages. 
         [0015]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 12(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 12(   a ); 
           [0018]      FIG. 12(   c ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 12(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0019]      FIG. 12(   d ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 12(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0020]      FIG. 12(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 12(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0021]      FIG. 12(   f ) shows a second perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 12(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0022]      FIG. 13(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 13(   a ); 
           [0024]      FIG. 13(   c ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 13(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0025]      FIG. 13(   d ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 13(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0026]      FIG. 13(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 13(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0027]      FIG. 13(   f ) shows a second perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 13(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0028]      FIG. 14(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 14(   a ); 
           [0030]      FIG. 14(   c ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 14(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0031]      FIG. 14(   d ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 14(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0032]      FIG. 14(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 14(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0033]      FIG. 15(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 15(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 15(   a ); 
           [0035]      FIG. 15(   c ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 15(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0036]      FIG. 15(   d ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 15(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0037]      FIG. 15(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 15(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0038]      FIG. 16(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 16(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 16(   a ); 
           [0040]      FIG. 16(   c ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 16(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0041]      FIG. 16(   d ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 16(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0042]      FIG. 16(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 16(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0043]      FIG. 17(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 17(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 17(   a ); 
           [0045]      FIG. 17(   c ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 17(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0046]      FIG. 17(   d ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 17(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0047]      FIG. 17(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 17(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0048]      FIG. 18(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 18(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 18(   a ); 
           [0050]      FIG. 18(   c ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 18(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0051]      FIG. 18(   d ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 18(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0052]      FIG. 18(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 18(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0053]      FIG. 19(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 19(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 19(   a ); 
           [0055]      FIG. 19(   c ) shows a first side view along a width tangent  199 D of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 19(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0056]      FIG. 19(   d ) shows a second side view along a length tangent  199 C of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 19(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0057]      FIG. 19(   e ) shows a third side view along a width tangent  199 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 19(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0058]      FIG. 19(   f ) shows a fourth side view along a length tangent  199 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 19(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0059]      FIG. 19(   g ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 19(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0060]      FIG. 20(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0061]      FIG. 20(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 20(   a ); 
           [0062]      FIG. 20(   c ) shows a first side view along a length tangent  209 C of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 20(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0063]      FIG. 20(   d ) shows a second side view along a width tangent  209 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 20(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0064]      FIG. 20(   e ) shows a third side view along a length tangent  209 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 20(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0065]      FIG. 20(   f ) shows a fourth side view along a width tangent  209 D of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 20(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0066]      FIG. 20(   g ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 20(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0067]      FIG. 21(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0068]      FIG. 21(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 21(   a ); 
           [0069]      FIG. 21(   c ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 21(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0070]      FIG. 21(   d ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 21(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0071]      FIG. 21(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 21(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0072]      FIG. 22(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “triangular gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0073]      FIG. 22(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 22(   a ); 
           [0074]      FIG. 22(   c ) shows a first side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 22(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0075]      FIG. 22(   d ) shows a second side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 22(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0076]      FIG. 22(   e ) shows a third side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 22(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0077]      FIG. 22(   f ) shows a fourth side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 22(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0078]      FIG. 22(   g ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 22(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0079]      FIG. 23(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “triangular gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0080]      FIG. 23(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 23(   a ); 
           [0081]      FIG. 23(   c ) shows a first side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 23(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0082]      FIG. 23(   d ) shows a second side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 23(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0083]      FIG. 23(   e ) shows a third side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 23(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0084]      FIG. 23(   f ) shows a fourth side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 23(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0085]      FIG. 23(   g ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “triangular gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 23(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0086]      FIG. 24(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0087]      FIG. 24(   b ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 24(   a ) and ( c ); 
           [0088]      FIG. 24(   c ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 24(   a ); 
           [0089]      FIG. 24(   d ) shows a side view along a length tangent  249 C of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 24(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  249 A is a mirror image); 
           [0090]      FIG. 24(   e ) shows a side view along a width tangent  249 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 24(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0091]      FIG. 24(   f ) shows a side view along a width tangent  249 D of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 24(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0092]      FIG. 25(   a ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with concave sides for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0093]      FIG. 25(   b ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with convex sides for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0094]      FIG. 25(   c ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with undulating sides for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0095]      FIG. 25(   d ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with rounded corners for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0096]      FIG. 25(   e ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with a square shape for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0097]      FIG. 25(   f ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with an offset diamond shape for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0098]      FIG. 25(   g ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with a diamond or rhombus shape for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0099]      FIG. 25(   h ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with a kite shape for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0100]      FIG. 25(   i ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with a rectangular shape for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0101]      FIG. 25(   j ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with two opposing corners cut off for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0102]      FIG. 25(   k ) shows a top view of an exemplary gauze pad configuration with four cut off corners for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0103]      FIG. 25(   l ) shows a definition of length and width in terms of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0104]      FIG. 25(   m ) illustrates an exemplary preferred range of gauze pad orientation for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0105]      FIG. 26(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0106]      FIG. 26(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 26(   a ); 
           [0107]      FIG. 26(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  269 C of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 26(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  269 A is a mirror image); 
           [0108]      FIG. 26(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  269 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 26(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0109]      FIG. 26(   e ) shows a side view along a width tangent  269 D of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 26(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0110]      FIG. 26(   f ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 26(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0111]      FIG. 27(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0112]      FIG. 27(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 27(   a ); 
           [0113]      FIG. 27(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  279 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 27(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  279 C is a minor image); 
           [0114]      FIG. 27(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent line  279 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 27(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  279 D is a mirror image); 
           [0115]      FIG. 27(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 27(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0116]      FIG. 28(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0117]      FIG. 28(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 28(   a ); 
           [0118]      FIG. 28(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  289 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 28(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  289 C is a minor image); 
           [0119]      FIG. 28(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  289 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 28(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  289 D is a mirror image); 
           [0120]      FIG. 28(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 28(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0121]      FIG. 29(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0122]      FIG. 29(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 29(   a ); 
           [0123]      FIG. 29(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  299 C of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 29(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  299 A is a minor image); 
           [0124]      FIG. 29(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  299 D of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 29(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0125]      FIG. 29(   e ) shows a side view along a width tangent line  299 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 29(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0126]      FIG. 29(   f ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 29(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0127]      FIG. 30(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0128]      FIG. 30(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 30(   a ); 
           [0129]      FIG. 30(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  309 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 30(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing tangent  309 C is a mirror image); 
           [0130]      FIG. 30(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  309 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 30(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  309 D is a mirror image); 
           [0131]      FIG. 30(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 30(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0132]      FIG. 31(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0133]      FIG. 31(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 31(   a ); 
           [0134]      FIG. 31(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  319 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 31(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  319 C is a minor image); 
           [0135]      FIG. 31(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  319 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 31(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  319 D is a mirror image); 
           [0136]      FIG. 31(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 31(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0137]      FIG. 32(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0138]      FIG. 32(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 32(   a ); 
           [0139]      FIG. 32(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  329 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 32(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  329 C is a minor image); 
           [0140]      FIG. 32(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  329 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 32(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  329 D is a mirror image); 
           [0141]      FIG. 32(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 32(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0142]      FIG. 33(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0143]      FIG. 33(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 33(   a ); 
           [0144]      FIG. 33(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  339 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 33(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  339 C is a minor image); 
           [0145]      FIG. 33(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  339 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 33(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  339 D is a mirror image); 
           [0146]      FIG. 33(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 33(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0147]      FIG. 34(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0148]      FIG. 34(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 34(   a ); 
           [0149]      FIG. 34(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  349 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 34(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  349 C is a minor image); 
           [0150]      FIG. 34(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  349 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 34(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing tangent  349 D is a minor image); 
           [0151]      FIG. 34(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 34(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0152]      FIG. 35(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0153]      FIG. 35(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 35(   a ); 
           [0154]      FIG. 35(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  359 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 35(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  359 C is a minor image); 
           [0155]      FIG. 35(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  359 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 35(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  359 D is a mirror image); 
           [0156]      FIG. 35(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 35(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0157]      FIG. 36(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0158]      FIG. 36(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 36(   a ); 
           [0159]      FIG. 36(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  369 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 36(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  369 C is a minor image); 
           [0160]      FIG. 36(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  369 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 36(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  369 D is a mirror image); 
           [0161]      FIG. 36(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 36(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0162]      FIG. 37(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0163]      FIG. 37(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 37(   a ); 
           [0164]      FIG. 37(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  379 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 37(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  379 C is a minor image); 
           [0165]      FIG. 37(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  379 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 37(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  379 D is a mirror image); 
           [0166]      FIG. 37(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 37(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0167]      FIG. 38(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0168]      FIG. 38(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 38(   a ); 
           [0169]      FIG. 38(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  389 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 38(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  389 C is a minor image); 
           [0170]      FIG. 38(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  389 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 38(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  389 D is a mirror image); 
           [0171]      FIG. 38(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 38(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0172]      FIG. 39(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0173]      FIG. 39(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 39(   a ); 
           [0174]      FIG. 39(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  399 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 39(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  399 C is a minor image); 
           [0175]      FIG. 39(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  399 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 39(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  399 D is a minor image); 
           [0176]      FIG. 39(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 39(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0177]      FIG. 40(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0178]      FIG. 40(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 40(   a ); 
           [0179]      FIG. 40(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  409 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 40(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  409 C is a minor image); 
           [0180]      FIG. 40(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  409 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 40(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  409 D is a mirror image); 
           [0181]      FIG. 40(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 40(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0182]      FIG. 41(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0183]      FIG. 41(   b ) shows an exploded bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0184]      FIG. 41(   c ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 41(   a ); 
           [0185]      FIG. 41(   d ) shows a side view along a length tangent  419 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 41(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  419 C is a minor image); 
           [0186]      FIG. 41(   e ) shows a side view along a width tangent  419 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 41(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  419 D is a mirror image); 
           [0187]      FIG. 41(   f ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 41(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0188]      FIG. 42(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0189]      FIG. 42(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 42(   a ); 
           [0190]      FIG. 42(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  429 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 42(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  429 C is a minor image); 
           [0191]      FIG. 42(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  429 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 42(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  429 D is a mirror image); 
           [0192]      FIG. 42(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 42(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0193]      FIG. 43(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0194]      FIG. 43(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 43(   a ); 
           [0195]      FIG. 43(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  439 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 43(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  439 C is a minor image); 
           [0196]      FIG. 43(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  439 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 43(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  439 D is a mirror image); 
           [0197]      FIG. 43(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 43(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0198]      FIG. 44(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0199]      FIG. 44(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 44(   a ); 
           [0200]      FIG. 44(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  449 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 44(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  449 C is a minor image); 
           [0201]      FIG. 44(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  449 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 44(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  449 D is a minor image); 
           [0202]      FIG. 44(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 44(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0203]      FIG. 45(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0204]      FIG. 45(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 45(   a ); 
           [0205]      FIG. 45(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  459 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 45(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  459 C is a minor image); 
           [0206]      FIG. 45(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  459 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 45(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  459 D is a mirror image); 
           [0207]      FIG. 45(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 45(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0208]      FIG. 46(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0209]      FIG. 46(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 46(   a ); 
           [0210]      FIG. 46(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  469 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 46(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  469 C, as well as from width tangents  469 B and  469 D are identical); 
           [0211]      FIG. 46(   d ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 46(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0212]      FIG. 47(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0213]      FIG. 47(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 47(   a ); 
           [0214]      FIG. 47(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  479 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 47(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  479 C is a minor image); 
           [0215]      FIG. 47(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  479 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 47(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  479 D is a mirror image); 
           [0216]      FIG. 47(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 47(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0217]      FIG. 48(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0218]      FIG. 48(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 48(   a ); 
           [0219]      FIG. 48(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  489 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 48(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  489 C is a minor image); 
           [0220]      FIG. 48(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  489 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 48(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width tangent  489 D is a mirror image); 
           [0221]      FIG. 48(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 48(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0222]      FIG. 49(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0223]      FIG. 49(   b ) shows an exploded bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0224]      FIG. 49(   c ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 49(   a ); 
           [0225]      FIG. 49(   d ) shows a side view along a length tangent  499 A of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 49(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the length tangent line  499 C, as well as the views from width tangents  499 B and  499 D are identical to the view from length tangent  499 A); 
           [0226]      FIG. 49(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 49(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0227]      FIG. 50(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0228]      FIG. 50(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 50(   a ); 
           [0229]      FIG. 50(   c ) shows a side view along a length of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 50(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length side is a mirror image); 
           [0230]      FIG. 50(   d ) shows a side view along a width of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 50(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing width side is a minor image); 
           [0231]      FIG. 50(   e ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 50(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0232]      FIG. 51(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0233]      FIG. 51(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 51(   a ); 
           [0234]      FIG. 51(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  519 C of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 51(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  519 A is a mirror image); 
           [0235]      FIG. 51(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  519 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 51(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0236]      FIG. 51(   e ) shows a side view along a width tangent  519 D of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 51(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0237]      FIG. 51(   f ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 51(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0238]      FIG. 52(   a ) shows a bottom wound-facing side of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention; 
           [0239]      FIG. 52(   b ) shows a top non-wound-facing side of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIG. 52(   a ); 
           [0240]      FIG. 52(   c ) shows a side view along a length tangent  529 C of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 52(   a ) and ( b ) (the view from the opposing length tangent  529 A is a mirror image); 
           [0241]      FIG. 52(   d ) shows a side view along a width tangent  529 B of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 52(   a ) and ( b ); 
           [0242]      FIG. 52(   e ) shows a side view along a width tangent  529 D of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 52(   a ) and ( b ); and 
           [0243]      FIG. 52(   f ) shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the “diamond gauze” bandage illustrated in  FIGS. 52(   a ) and ( b ). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0244]    In certain situations, it may be necessary to apply a bandage to a wound, particularly on joints, whose constant movement may cause a gauze pad to move or buckle. In those situations, according to the present invention, a “diamond gauze” or “triangle gauze” bandage, as discussed below, may be found to have advantages over other bandages known in the art. After much experimentation, while designing related bandages, inventor found that the “diamond gauze” and “triangle gauze” bandages may provide superior performance over existing bandages, particularly with regard to a more reliable and comfortable fit as well as easier application to the wound, among other advantages. Furthermore, due to the configurations of the “diamond gauze” and “triangle gauze” bandages, they may in some cases provide superior adherence and conformability to a wound area with a maximal area of gauze, particularly for wounds on joints. 
         [0245]      FIGS. 12(   a )- 12 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and two perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  120  according to the present invention. The “diamond gauze” bandage  120  has a body portion  121  in a square shape, preferably with rounded corners, which may be made of any suitable material, preferably a stretchable and breathable material, which is known in the art to be used for bandaging wounds. 
         [0246]    A gauze pad  122  is attached to the wound-facing side of the body portion  121 . In the context of this specification, gauze, or gauze pad, refers to any material or composite of material that may be therapeutically used as a pad over a wound. For example, the gauze pad may be made of cotton or a polyester blend fabric. The fabric may be covered with a plastic porous film such as Telfa® which prevents or minimizes wound adhesion. Furthermore, the gauze pad may be backed with a film that prevents body fluids from penetrating through the gauze pad and then through the body portion of the bandage. 
         [0247]      FIGS. 25(   a )-( k ) show several exemplary gauze pad configurations  250 A,  250 B,  250 C,  250 D,  250 E,  250 F,  250 G,  250 H,  250 I,  250 J,  250 K for “diamond gauze” bandages according to the present invention. The gauze pad  122 , as shown in  FIGS. 12(   a )- 12 ( f ), has a square shape equivalent to the gauze pad configuration  250 E. Alternatively, the gauze pad  122  may be configured in the shape of a diamond or rhombus as exemplified by the gauze pad configuration  250 G, in a “kite shape” (quadrilateral with two distinct pairs of equal adjacent sides) as exemplified by the gauze pad configuration  250 H, a rectangle as exemplified by the gauze pad configuration  250 I, or in the shape of an “offset diamond” (parallelogram with opposing sides of equal length, adjacent sides of unequal length and corner angles not equal to 90 degrees) as exemplified by the gauze pad configuration  250 F. One or more corners of the gauze pad  122  may be rounded, as exemplified by the corners of gauze pad configuration  250 D, or one or more corners of the gauze pad  122  may be cut off, as exemplified by corners of gauze pad configurations  250 J and  250 K. Furthermore, sides  124  of the gauze pad  122  need not be straight. For example, one or more of the sides  124  of the gauze pad  122  may be a convex or concave curve, as exemplified by the sides of gauze pad configurations  250 A and  250 B, respectively, or an undulating line, as exemplified by the sides of the gauze pad configuration  250 C. Any combination of side and corner configurations, such as the exemplary ones shown herein, may be applied to the gauze pad  122 . However, all possible shape configurations of a gauze pad in “diamond gauze” bandages should have four “primary corners”, i.e. the four corners of a quadrilateral or any four locations on a polygon where the polygon narrows and that would together approximate a quadrilateral with sides defined by sides of the gauze pad between the primary corners. In the exemplary gauze pad configurations  250 A,  250 B,  250 C,  250 D,  250 E,  250 F,  250 G,  250 H,  250 I,  250 J,  250 K, there are four primary corners  251 , identified by circles, and they are oriented as indicated by directional arrows associated with each of the primary corners  251 . 
         [0248]    The primary corners of the gauze pad  122  are offset from the corners of the body portion  121  such that the sides  124  of the gauze pad  122  are not parallel to edges  123  of the body portion  121 . Preferably, the gauze pad  122  is oriented so that each of the sides of the gauze pad  122  is parallel to a hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle formed with two adjacent edges  123  of the body portion  121 . 
         [0249]    In regard to the “diamond gauze” bandages disclosed herein, length and width tangents of a body portion may be defined by the edges of the body portion such as the edges  123  of the body portion  121 . Thus, where a body portion as illustrated herein is square or rectangular, the length and width tangents are not explicitly defined as they are the edges of the body portion itself. Similarly, in exemplary embodiments of “diamond gauze” bandages where the body portion has a different shape but one of the length or width tangents is completely or almost completely contiguous with the body portion, the tangent line is not explicitly defined, such as for the “diamond gauze” bandage  120 . Otherwise, the length and width tangents are a set of explicitly defined tangents that are tangential to the body portion edges and form a square or rectangular shape. For purposes of the discussion herein, length is defined along the horizontal axis and width is defined along the vertical axis, as shown in  FIG. 25(   l ). Each of the primary corners of the gauze pad  122  is oriented towards a different length or width tangent of the body portion  121 . Similarly, for other embodiments of a “diamond gauze” bandage, each of the primary corners is oriented towards a different length or width tangent of the body portion. 
         [0250]    The gauze pad  122  may have the same center point as the body portion  121 , and/or each of the primary corners of the gauze pad  122  may be oriented toward a mid-point or midsection of one of the edges  123 , which in this case are essentially equivalent to the length or width tangents of the body portion  121 . The midsection of a length or width tangent is a portion of the length or width tangent preferably equal to half of the length or width tangent and centered on the midpoint of the length or width tangent. More preferably, the midsection may be a third, a quarter, or an eighth, or another fraction of the length or width tangent that is less than half of the length or width tangent. 
         [0251]      FIG. 25(   m ) illustrates an exemplary preferred range of gauze pad orientation for a “diamond gauze” bandage according to the present invention. Preferably, all primary corners of a gauze pad in a “diamond gauze” bandage should be oriented towards the midpoints of the length and width tangents. Of course, this is not always practical, given the varied shapes, functions, and other limiting factors of the specific bandage configurations. Line  254  represents an exemplary length or width tangent that is divided into equal sub-lengths defined by tick-marks, and a preferable orientation range 257 is indicated by the thicker portion of the line  254 . A gauze pad  255  with four primary corners indicated by circles with orientations indicated by their associated arrows is positioned so that one of the primary corners is oriented towards an upper limit of the preferable orientation range 257, while a gauze pad  255 ′ is oriented so that one of the primary corners is oriented towards a lower limit of the preferable orientation range 257. The preferable orientation range 257 may represent the midsection of the line  254 , as discussed above. Alternatively, the preferable range of gauze pad orientation may be defined by a minimal angle formed by the intersection of a length or width tangent and a ray that extends in the direction that a primary corner is oriented, where the angle is on the side of the ray that is proximate to the point where the ray would form a right angle with the length or width tangent. In  FIG. 25(   m ), angles  258 ,  258 ′ are formed by the intersection of the line  254  and rays  256 ,  256 ′ that extend in the direction that the primary corner of gauze pads  255 ,  255 ′ are oriented. In this instance, the orientation range 257 of the line  254  is defined by a minimal value for the angles  258 ,  258 ′. The orientation range 257 in this instance is not necessarily centered on the midpoint of the line  254 . The angles  258 ,  258 ′ preferably have a range from a minimal value of 55° to a maximal value of 90° at the right angled intersection of the line  254  and the rays  256 ,  256 ′. More preferably, the angles  258 ,  258 ′ have a minimal value of 65°, 75°, or 85°. 
         [0252]    The size of the gauze pad  122  is such that the primary corners of the gauze pad  122  do not reach the edges  123  of the body portion  121 . Alternatively, the gauze pad  122  may be sized shaped and/or positioned in such manner that one or more of the primary corners of the gauze pad reach the edges  123  of the body portion  121 . The gauze pad  122  may be sized and positioned so as to substantially define four equal quadrants on the wound facing side of the body portion  121 , i.e. each side of the gauze pad  132  defines the majority of one edge of one of the quadrants, the quadrants being areas of the wound facing side of the body portion  121  that are not covered by the gauze pad  122 . The bottom wound-facing side of the body portion  121  may have adhesive as those used for bandages in the art, or alternatively, the body portion may include self adherent material, such as the nonwoven laminate used in 3M™ Coban™ Self-Adherent Wrap. The adhesive may be applied to all or part of the bottom wound-facing side of the body portion  121 . The gauze pad  122  may or may not be affixed to the body portion  121  via the same adhesive as that which is used to affix the “diamond gauze” bandage  120  to a patient. 
         [0253]      FIGS. 13(   a )- 13 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and two perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  130  according to the present invention. In contrast to “diamond gauze” bandage  120 , the size of gauze pad  132  in the “diamond gauze” bandage  130  is such that the primary corners of the gauze pad  132  reach edges  133  of a body portion  131  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  130 . The gauze pad  132  may be sized and positioned so as to define four equal quadrants on the wound facing side of the body portion  131 . In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the gauze pad  132  may be sized and positioned so as to substantially define four equal quadrants on the wound facing side of the body portion  131 . In all other respects, the configuration of the “diamond gauze” bandage  130  is comparable to the configuration of the “diamond gauze” bandage  120 . Thus, the discussion above by “diamond gauze” bandage  120  regarding issues such as gauze pad shape, positioning and orientation as well as body portion materials, adhesive type and placement are applicable to the “diamond gauze” bandage  130  as well to other “diamond gauze” bandages, including the exemplary embodiments of a “diamond gauze” bandage discussed below. 
         [0254]      FIGS. 14(   a ) through  14 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  140  according to the present invention. In the “diamond gauze” bandage  140 , a body portion  141  has a rectangular shape, preferably with rounded corners. A gauze pad  142  is configured in a square shape and is oriented with respect to the body portion  141  such that the sides of the gauze pad  142  are not parallel to the edges of the body portion  141 . The gauze pad  142  may be sized so that two opposing primary corners may touch two opposing edges of the body portion  141  while the remaining primary corners of the gauze pad  142  do not touch the remaining edges of the body portion  141 . Moreover, for any “diamond gauze” bandages, according to the present invention, the gauze pads may be sized so that two opposing primary corners may touch two opposing edges of the body portions. The gauze pad  142  may have the same center point as the body portion  141  and/or each of the primary corners of the gauze pad  142  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the edges of body portion  141 . 
         [0255]      FIGS. 18(   a ) through  18 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  180  according to the present invention. In the “diamond gauze” bandage  180 , a body portion  181  has a rectangular shape, preferably with rounded corners. A gauze pad  182  is configured in the shape of a diamond, with two opposing primary corners of the gauze pad  182  touching two opposing length edges of the body portion  181 . In all other respects, the configuration of the “diamond gauze” bandage  180  is comparable to the configuration of the “diamond gauze” bandage  140 . 
         [0256]      FIGS. 50(   a ) through  50 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  500  according to the present invention. In the “diamond gauze” bandage  500 , a body portion  501  has a rectangular shape, preferably with rounded corners. A gauze pad  502  is configured in the shape of a diamond, with all four primary corners of the gauze pad  502  touching all four edges of the body portion  501 . In all other respects, the configuration of the “diamond gauze” bandage  500  is comparable to the configuration of the “diamond gauze” bandage  180 . Moreover, for any of the “diamond gauze” bandages, according to the present invention, the gauze pad may be sized and positioned so that some or all of the gauze pad corners extend to the edges of the body portion. 
         [0257]      FIGS. 15(   a )- 15 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  150  according to the present invention. The body portion  151  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  150  is an “almond” shape which among other bandaging uses may be particularly useful for bandaging a finger tip or similar appendage. The gauze pad  152  is oriented with respect to the body portion  151  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  150  such that the sides of the gauze pad  152  are not parallel to length tangents  159 A,  159 C and width tangents  159 B,  159 D of the body portion  151 . The gauze pad  152  may have the same center point as the body portion  151  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  152  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  159 A,  159 C or width tangents  159 B,  159 D. 
         [0258]      FIGS. 16(   a )- 16 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  160  according to the present invention. The body portion  161  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  160  is an oval shape which among other bandaging uses may be particularly useful for bandaging a finger tip or similar appendage. The gauze pad  162  is oriented with respect to the body portion  161  such that the sides of the gauze pad  162  are not parallel to length tangents  169 A,  169 C and width tangents  169 B,  169 D of the body portion  161 . The gauze pad  162  may have the same center point as the body portion  161  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  162  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  169 A,  169 C or width tangents  169 B,  169 D. 
         [0259]      FIGS. 17(   a )- 17 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  170  according to the present invention. The body portion  171  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  170  is a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape which among other bandaging uses may be particularly useful for bandaging a finger tip or similar appendage. The gauze pad  172  is oriented with respect to the body portion  171  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  170  such that the sides of the gauze pad  172  are not parallel to the length tangents  179 A,  179 B and edges  179 C and  179 D of the body portion  171 , the edges  179 C and  179 D being essentially equivalent to width tangents in this exemplary embodiment. The gauze pad  172  may have the same center point as the body portion  171 , and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  172  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the tangents  179 A and  179 B and edges  179 C and  179 D of the body portion  171  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  170 . 
         [0260]      FIGS. 19(   a )- 19 ( g ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, four side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  190  according to the present invention. The body portion  191  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  190  has a “knuckle” shape which among other bandaging uses may be particularly useful for bandaging a knuckle as well as a finger tip, or similar appendage. The body portion  191  has a head portion  193  and a tail portion  194 . The head portion  193  may be a truncated oval, diamond, almond or similar shape that is possibly asymmetrically shortened on a first side of the head portion  193  where the head portion  193  connects to the tail portion  194 . The tail portion  194  flares out with a width that increases as the tail extends lengthwise from the first side of the head portion  193  forming concavities with the head portion  193  along a top edge  195  and bottom edge  196  of the body portion  191  that are preferably smooth curves. The gauze pad  192  is substantially positioned in the head portion  193 , and is oriented with respect to the body portion  191  such that the sides of the gauze pad  192  are not parallel to the length tangents  199 A,  199 C or width tangents  199 B,  199 D of the body portion  191 . 
         [0261]      FIGS. 24(   a )- 24 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, one perspective view, and three side views of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage. The body portion  241  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  240  has a “knuckle” shape similar to that of “diamond gauze” bandage  190 . The gauze pad  242  is oriented with respect to the “knuckle” shaped body portion  241  such that the sides of the gauze pad  242  are parallel to length tangents  249 A,  249 C and width tangents  249 B,  249 D. In all other respects, the “diamond gauze” bandage  240  may be configured in the same manner as “diamond gauze” bandage  190 . 
         [0262]      FIGS. 26(   a )- 26 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, three side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage. The body portion  261  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  260  has a “knuckle” shape similar to that of “diamond gauze” bandage  190 . The gauze pad  262  is positioned so that the center of the gauze pad  262  corresponds to a position along concavities formed by a head portion  263  and a tail portion  264 . In all other respects, the “diamond gauze” bandage  260  may be configured in the same manner as “diamond gauze” bandage  190 . 
         [0263]      FIGS. 20(   a )- 20 ( g ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, four side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  200  according to the present invention. The body portion  201  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  200  has a shape which among other bandaging uses may be particularly useful as a finger wrap. The body portion  201  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  200  may be comprised of self-adherent material, as discussed above by “diamond gauze” bandage  120 , so that when it is wrapped around a finger or other appendage, a wound facing side of the bandage that is distal to the gauze pad adheres to the non-wound facing side of the body portion  201  so as to secure the wrap in place. Similarly, all the other “diamond gauze” bandages, particularly when used to wrap around an appendage, may be made with such self-adherent material. The gauze pad  202  is oriented with respect to the body portion  201  such that the sides of the gauze pad  202  are not parallel to length tangents  209 A,  209 C and width tangents  209 B,  209 D. The gauze pad  202  is preferably positioned proximate to the width tangent  209 B. Alternatively, the “diamond gauze” bandage  200  may be used with the gauze pad  202  not oriented as a diamond shape, but rather in the standard rectangular or square orientation that parallels the length of the bandage, particularly when the “diamond gauze” bandage  200  is configured with self-adherent material or other material for the purpose of resealing the bandage. 
         [0264]      FIGS. 21(   a )- 21 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  210  according to the present invention. The body portion  211  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  210  is an elongated octagonal shape. The gauze pad  212  is oriented with respect to the body portion  211  such that the sides of the gauze pad  212  are not parallel to length tangents  219 A,  219 C and width tangents  219 B,  219 D. The gauze pad  212  may have the same center point as the body portion  211  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  212  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  219 A,  219 C or width tangents  219 B,  219 D. Alternatively, the body portion  211  may be an octagonal shape with eight equal sides. 
         [0265]      FIGS. 27(   a )- 27 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  270  according to the present invention. A body portion  271  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  270  has a central almond or oval shaped portion  273  similar to the configuration of the bandages in  FIG. 15  or  16  and bulbous side portions  274 ,  275 . The gauze pad  272  is oriented with respect to the body portion  271  such that the sides of the gauze pad  272  are not parallel to length tangents  279 A,  279 C, and width tangents  279 B,  279 D. The gauze pad  272  may have the same center point as the body portion  271  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  272  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  279 A,  279 C or width tangents  279 B,  279 D. Midpoints of the central portion  273  are preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  279 A,  279 C. 
         [0266]      FIGS. 28(   a )- 28 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  280  according to the present invention. A body portion  281  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  280  has a central narrow portion  283  and side regions  284  and  285  that initially widen, moving along the length from the central narrow portion  283 , and then narrowing again in straight or substantially straight lines to rounded ends, where the portions of the side regions  284  and  285  that widen are connected to the portions of the side regions  284  and  285  that narrow by rounded angles. The body portion  281  has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  282  is oriented with respect to the body portion  281  such that the sides of the gauze pad  282  are not parallel to the length tangents  289 A,  289 C and width tangents  289 B,  289 D. The gauze pad  282  may have the same center point as the body portion  281  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  282  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  289 A,  289 C or width tangents  289 B,  289 D. The central narrow portion  283  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  289 A,  289 C. 
         [0267]      FIGS. 29(   a )- 29 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, three side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  290  according to the present invention. A body portion  291  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  290  has a central portion  293  that lengthwise terminates on a first side with a rounded end, and on a second side has legs  294 ,  295  that extend from the body portion  291  substantially in the lengthwise direction, the legs  294 ,  295  terminating with rounded ends distal to the central portion  293 . The body portion  291  forms an “arch” shape defined by two parallel arcs or parabolas that are connected at each of their respective proximate ends distal to the central portion  293  by a third and fourth curve forming convexities on the terminating ends of the legs  294 ,  295 . Alternatively, the body portion  291  may be formed with straight or wavy sides rather than the parabolas and may include squared off ends rather than the convexities on the ends of the legs  294 ,  295  and the central portion  293 . The legs  294 ,  295  are spaced apart from each other at the central portion  293  and preferably extend out at diverging angles from the central portion  293 . The diverging angles should preferably allow the legs  294 ,  295  to extend around a limb to which the “diamond gauze” bandage  290  is being applied and to have the bottom wound-facing side of the legs  294 ,  295  slightly overlap on top of the top non-wound facing side of the central portion  295 . Thus, the body portion  291  has a shape which among other bandaging uses may be particularly useful as a finger wrap. The gauze pad  292  is oriented with respect to the body portion  291  such that the sides of the gauze pad  292  are not parallel to length tangents  299 A,  299 C and width tangents  299 B,  299 D. The gauze pad  292  may have the same center point as the central body portion  293  and/or corners of the gauze pad  292  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the width tangents  299 B,  299 D. 
         [0268]      FIGS. 30(   a )- 30 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  300  according to the present invention. A body portion  301  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  300  has a central portion  303  that has flattened top and bottom edges  306 A,  306 B, resulting in a uniform or substantially uniform width for the central portion  303 . The body portion  301  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  300  also has side regions  304  and  305  that, moving along the length from the central portion  303 , narrow in straight or substantially straight lines to rounded ends, where the central portion  303  transitions to the side regions  304  and  305  by rounded angles. The gauze pad  302  is oriented with respect to the body portion  301  such that the sides of the gauze pad  302  are not parallel to length tangents  309 A,  309 C and width tangents  309 B,  309 D. The gauze pad  302  may have the same center point as the body portion  301  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  302  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  309 A,  309 C or width tangents  309 B,  309 D. Midpoints of the central portion  303  are preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  309 A,  309 C. 
         [0269]      FIGS. 31(   a )- 31 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  310  according to the present invention. A body portion  311  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  310  has a central narrow portion  313  and side regions  314  and  315  that initially widen, moving along the length from the central narrow portion  313 , and then narrowing again in straight or substantially lines to rounded ends. The “diamond gauze” bandage  310  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  312  is oriented with respect to the body portion  311  such that the sides of the gauze pad  312  are not parallel to length tangents  319 A,  319 C and width tangents  319 B,  319 D. The gauze pad  312  may have the same center point as the body portion  311  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  312  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  319 A,  319 C or width tangents  319 B,  319 D. The central narrow portion  313  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  319 A,  319 C. 
         [0270]      FIGS. 32(   a )- 32 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  320  according to the present invention. A body portion  321  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  320  has a central narrow portion  323  and side regions  324  and  325  that initially widen, moving along the length from the central narrow portion  323 , and then narrowing again in straight or substantially lines to rounded ends. The “diamond gauze” bandage  320  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  322  is oriented with respect to the body portion  321  such that the sides of the gauze pad  322  are not parallel to length tangents  329 A,  329 C and width tangents  329 B,  329 D. The gauze pad  322  may have the same center point as the body portion  321  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  322  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  329 A,  329 C or width tangents  329 B,  329 D. The central narrow portion  323  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  329 A,  329 C. 
         [0271]      FIGS. 33(   a )- 33 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  330  according to the present invention. A body portion  331  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  330  has a central narrow portion  333  and side regions  334  and  335  that widen in straight or substantially straight lines to rounded ends. The “diamond gauze” bandage  330  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  332  is oriented with respect to the body portion  331  such that the sides of the gauze pad  332  are not parallel to length tangents  339 A,  339 C and width tangents  339 B,  339 D. The gauze pad  332  may have the same center point as the body portion  331  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  332  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  339 A,  339 C or width tangents  339 B,  339 D. The central narrow portion  333  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  339 A,  339 C. 
         [0272]      FIGS. 34(   a )- 34 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  340  according to the present invention. A body portion  341  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  340  has a central narrow portion  343  and side regions  344  and  345  that widen in straight or substantially straight lines to rounded ends. The “diamond gauze” bandage  340  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  342  is oriented with respect to the body portion  341  such that the sides of the gauze pad  342  are not parallel to length tangents  349 A,  349 C and width tangents  349 B,  349 D. The gauze pad  342  may have the same center point as the body portion  341  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  342  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  349 A,  349 C or width tangents  349 B,  349 D. The central narrow portion  343  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  349 A,  349 C. 
         [0273]      FIGS. 35(   a )- 35 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  350  according to the present invention. A body portion  351  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  350  has a central narrow portion  353  and side regions  354  and  355  that are formed by circular or elliptical arcs. The “diamond gauze” bandage  350  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  352  is oriented with respect to the body portion  351  such that the sides of the gauze pad  352  are not parallel to length tangents  359 A,  359 C and width tangents  359 B,  359 D. The gauze pad  352  may have the same center point as the body portion  351  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  352  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  359 A,  359 C or width tangents  359 B,  359 D. The central narrow portion  353  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  359 A,  359 C. 
         [0274]      FIGS. 36(   a )- 36 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  360  according to the present invention. A body portion  361  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  360  has a central narrow portion  363  and side regions  364  and  365  that are formed by circular or elliptical arcs. The “diamond gauze” bandage  360  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  362  is oriented with respect to the body portion  361  such that the sides of the gauze pad  362  are not parallel to length tangents  369 A,  369 C and width tangents  369 B,  369 D. The gauze pad  362  may have the same center point as the body portion  361  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  362  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  369 A,  369 C or width tangents  369 B,  369 D. The central narrow portion  363  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  369 A,  369 C. 
         [0275]      FIGS. 37(   a )- 37 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  370  according to the present invention. A body portion  371  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  370  has a central narrow portion  373  and side regions  374  and  375  that widen in straight or substantially straight lines to straight or substantially straight ends, connected by rounded corners. The “diamond gauze” bandage  370  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape with flattened ends. The gauze pad  372  is oriented with respect to the body portion  371  such that the sides of the gauze pad  372  are not parallel to length tangents  379 A,  379 C and width tangents  379 B,  379 D. The gauze pad  372  may have the same center point as the body portion  371  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  372  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  379 A,  379 C or width tangents  379 B,  379 D. The central narrow portion  373  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  379 A,  379 C. 
         [0276]      FIGS. 38(   a )- 38 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  380  according to the present invention. A body portion  381  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  380  has a central narrow portion  383  and side regions  384  and  385  that widen in straight or substantially straight lines to straight or substantially straight ends, connected by rounded corners. The “diamond gauze” bandage  380  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape with flattened ends. The gauze pad  382  is oriented with respect to the body portion  381  such that the sides of the gauze pad  382  are not parallel to length tangents  389 A,  389 C and width tangents  389 B,  389 D. The gauze pad  382  may have the same center point as the body portion  381  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  382  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  389 A,  389 C or width tangents  389 B,  389 D. The central narrow portion  383  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  389 A,  389 C. 
         [0277]      FIGS. 39(   a )- 39 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  390  according to the present invention. A body portion  391  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  390  has a central narrow portion  393  and side regions  394  and  395  that widen in curved lines to straight or substantially straight ends, connected by rounded corners. The “diamond gauze” bandage  390  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape with flattened ends. The gauze pad  392  is oriented with respect to the body portion  391  such that the sides of the gauze pad  392  are not parallel to length tangents  399 A,  399 C and width tangents  399 B,  399 D. The gauze pad  392  may have the same center point as the body portion  391  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  392  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  399 A,  399 C or width tangents  399 B,  399 D. The central narrow portion  393  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  399 A,  399 C. 
         [0278]      FIGS. 40(   a )- 40 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  400  according to the present invention. A body portion  401  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  400  has a central narrow portion  403  and side regions  404  and  405  that widen in curved lines to straight or substantially straight ends, connected by rounded corners. The “diamond gauze” bandage  400  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape with flattened ends. The gauze pad  402  is oriented with respect to the body portion  401  such that the sides of the gauze pad  402  are not parallel to length tangents  409 A,  409 C and width tangents  409 B,  409 D. The gauze pad  402  may have the same center point as the body portion  401  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  402  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  409 A,  409 C or width tangents  409 B,  409 D. The central narrow portion  403  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  409 A,  409 C. 
         [0279]      FIGS. 41(   a )- 41 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, an exploded bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  410  according to the present invention. A body portion  411  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  410  has a central narrow portion  413  and side regions  414 A,  414 B that widen with straight or substantially straight side lines  415 A,  415 B,  415 E,  415 F as the side regions extend to rounded corners  416 A,  416 B,  416 C,  416 D. The rounded corners  416 A,  416 B,  416 C,  416 D transition to straight or substantially straight end lines  415 C,  415 D,  415 G,  415 H that are oriented so as to taper or decrease the length of the body portion  411  as the substantially straight end lines  415 C,  415 D,  415 G,  415 H extend toward inflection points  417 A,  417 B. The inflection points  417 A,  417 B are preferably at midpoints between corresponding rounded corners  416 A,  416 B,  416 C,  416 D. The side lines  415 A,  415 B,  415 E,  415 F are preferably equal in length, and longer than the end lines  415 H,  415 C,  415 D,  415 G, respectively, which are also preferably equal in length. The “diamond gauze” bandage  410  has a body portion that has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  412  is oriented with respect to the body portion  411  such that the sides of the gauze pad  412  are not parallel to length tangents  419 A,  419 C and width tangents  419 B,  419 D. The gauze pad  412  may have the same center point as the body portion  411  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  412  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  419 A,  419 C or width tangents  419 B,  419 D. The central narrow portion  413  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  419 A,  419 C. 
         [0280]      FIGS. 42(   a )- 42 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  420  according to the present invention. A body portion  421  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  420  has a central narrow portion  423  and side regions  424  and  425  that initially widen, moving along the length from the central narrow portion  423 , and then narrowing again in straight or substantially straight lines to rounded ends, where the portions of the side regions  424  and  425  that widen are connected to the portions of the side regions  424  and  425  that narrow by rounded angles. The body portion  421  has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  422  is oriented with respect to the body portion  421  such that the sides of the gauze pad  422  are not parallel to length tangents  429 A,  429 C and width tangents  429 B,  429 D. The gauze pad  422  may have the same center point as the body portion  421  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  422  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  429 A,  429 C or width tangents  429 B,  429 D. The central narrow portion  423  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  429 A,  429 C. 
         [0281]      FIGS. 43(   a )- 43 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  430  according to the present invention. A body portion  431  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  430  has a central narrow portion  433  and side regions  434  and  435  that initially widen, moving along the length from the central narrow portion  433 , and then narrowing again in straight or substantially straight lines to rounded ends, where the portions of the side regions  434  and  435  that widen are connected to the portions of the side regions  434  and  435  that narrow by rounded angles. The body portion  431  has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape. The gauze pad  432  is oriented with respect to the body portion  431  such that the sides of the gauze pad  432  are not parallel to length tangents  439 A,  439 C and width tangents  439 B,  439 D. The gauze pad  432  may have the same center point as the body portion  431  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  432  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  439 A,  439 C or width tangents  439 B,  439 D. The central narrow portion  433  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  439 A,  439 C. 
         [0282]      FIGS. 44(   a )- 44 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  440  according to the present invention. A body portion  441  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  440  has a central narrow portion  443  and side regions  444  and  445  that initially widen, moving along the length from the central narrow portion  443 , and then narrowing again in straight or substantially straight lines to straight or substantially straight ends connected by first rounded angles, where the portions of the side regions  444  and  445  that widen are connected to the portions of the side regions  444  and  445  that narrow by second rounded angles. The body portion  441  has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape with flattened ends. The gauze pad  442  is oriented with respect to the body portion  441  such that the sides of the gauze pad  442  are not parallel to length tangents  449 A,  449 C and width tangents  449 B,  449 D. The gauze pad  442  may have the same center point as the body portion  441  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  442  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  449 A,  449 C or width tangents  449 B,  449 D. The central narrow portion  443  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  449 A,  449 C. 
         [0283]      FIGS. 45(   a ) through  45 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  450  according to the present invention. The “diamond gauze” bandage  450  has a body portion  451  with a central portion  453  that has flattened top and bottom edges  456 A,  456 B, resulting in a uniform or substantially uniform width for the central portion  453 . Oval shaped side regions  455 A and  455 B connect to the central portion  453  via narrow portions  454 A and  454 B. The narrow portions  454 A and  454 B preferably narrow in straight or substantially straight lines from a wider end connected to the central portion  453  and a narrower end connected to the oval shaped side regions  455 A and  455 B. A gauze pad  452  is oriented with respect to the body portion  451  such that the sides of the gauze pad  452  are not parallel to length tangents  459 A,  459 C and width tangents  459 B,  459 D. The gauze pad  452  may have the same center point as the body portion  451  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  452  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  459 A,  459 C or width tangents  459 B,  459 D. The central portion  453  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  459 A,  459 C. 
         [0284]      FIGS. 46(   a )- 46 ( d ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, one side view and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  460  according to the present invention. A body portion  461  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  460  has a central narrow portion  463  and side regions  464 A,  464 B. Side region  464 A has edges defined by two circular or elliptical arcs  465 A,  465 A′ that extend from opposing sides of the central narrow portion  463  and meet at an inflection point  466 A. Side region  464 B has edges defined by two circular or elliptical arcs  465 B,  465 B′ that extend from opposing sides of the narrow portion  463  and meet at an inflection point  466 B. The gauze pad  462  is oriented with respect to the body portion  461  such that the sides of the gauze pad  462  are not parallel to length tangents  469 A,  469 C and width tangents  469 B,  469 D. The gauze pad  462  may have the same center point as the body portion  461  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  462  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  469 A,  469 C or width tangents  469 B,  469 D. The inflection points  466 A,  466 B preferably correspond to midpoints of the width tangents  469 D,  469 B, respectively. The circular or elliptical arcs  465 A,  465 A′,  465 B,  465 B′, are preferably equivalently or similarly sized, and are preferably oriented at a 90 degree angle in relation to adjacent arcs. The central narrow portion  463  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  469 A,  469 C. 
         [0285]      FIGS. 47(   a ) through  47 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  470  according to the present invention. The “diamond gauze” bandage  470  has a body portion  471  with a central portion  473  that has top and bottom edges  476 A,  476 B and oval or bulbous shaped side regions  475 A,  475 B. The “diamond gauze” bandage  470  has a width that is defined by the distance between the top edge  476 A and the bottom edge  476 B. The top and bottom edges  476 A,  476 B may be substantially straight, resulting in a uniform or substantially uniform width for the central portion  473 . Alternatively, the top and bottom edges  476 A,  476 B may be concave edges, resulting in a widening width from the middle of the central portion  473  to the oval shaped side regions  475 A,  475 B. The oval shaped side regions  475 A,  475 B have a width that is wider than the widest width of the central portion  473 . A gauze pad  472  is oriented with respect to the body portion  471  such that the sides of the gauze pad  472  are not parallel to length tangents  479 A,  479 C and width tangents  479 B,  479 D. The gauze pad  472  may have the same center point as the body portion  471  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  472  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  479 A,  479 C or width tangents  479 B,  479 D. The central portion  473  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  479 A,  479 C. 
         [0286]      FIGS. 48(   a )- 48 ( e ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  480  according to the present invention. A body portion  481  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  480  has a central portion  483  that has flattened top and bottom edges  486 A,  486 B, resulting in a uniform or substantially uniform width for the central portion  483 . The body portion  481  also has side regions  484  and  485  that, moving along the length from the central portion  483 , narrow in straight or substantially lines to rounded ends, where the central portion  483  transitions to the side regions  484  and  485  by sharp angles. The gauze pad  482  is oriented with respect to the body portion  481  such that the sides of the gauze pad  482  are not parallel to length tangents  489 A,  489 C and width tangents  489 B,  489 D. The gauze pad  482  may have the same center point as the body portion  481  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  482  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  489 A,  489 C or width tangents  489 B,  489 D. Midpoints of the central portion  483  are preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  489 A,  489 C. 
         [0287]      FIGS. 49(   a )- 49 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, an exploded bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, two side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  490  according to the present invention. A body portion  491  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  490  has a central narrow portion  493  and side regions  494 A,  494 B that widen with straight, substantially straight, or slightly curved side lines  495 A,  495 B,  495 E,  495 F as the side regions  494 A,  494 B extend to rounded corners  496 A,  496 B,  496 C,  496 D. The rounded corners  496 A,  496 B,  496 C,  496 D transition to straight, substantially straight, or slightly curved end lines  495 C,  495 D,  495 G,  495 H that are oriented so as to taper or decrease a length of the body portion  491  as the end lines  495 C,  495 D,  495 G,  495 H extend toward inflection points  497 A,  497 B. The inflection points  497 A,  497 B are preferably at midpoints between corresponding rounded corners  496 A,  496 B,  496 C,  496 D. The side lines  495 A,  495 B,  495 E,  495 F are preferably equal in length and shape to the end lines  495 H,  495 C,  495 D,  495 G, respectively. The gauze pad  492  is oriented with respect to the body portion  491  such that the sides of the gauze pad  492  are not parallel to length tangents  499 A,  499 C and width tangents  499 B,  499 D. The gauze pad  492  may have the same center point as the body portion  491  and/or each of the corners of the gauze pad  492  may be oriented toward a mid-point of one of the length tangents  499 A,  499 C or width tangents  499 B,  499 D. The central narrow portion  493  is preferably positioned to correspond with the midpoints of the length tangents  499 A,  499 C. 
         [0288]      FIGS. 51(   a )- 51 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, three side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  510  according to the present invention. A body portion  511  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  510  has a central narrow portion  513  and side regions  514 A,  514 B that have widening portions  515 A,  515 B, that extend from the central narrow portion  513  to narrowing portions  516 A,  516 B in straight or substantially straight lines. The narrowing portions  516 A,  516 B extend to rounded ends in straight or substantially straight lines. The widening portions  515 A,  515 B are connected to the narrowing portions  516 A,  516 B by rounded angles. The body portion  511  has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape with the narrowing portion  516 B having a greater length than the narrowing portion  516 A. The gauze pad  512  is oriented with respect to the body portion  511  such that the sides of the gauze pad  512  are not parallel to length tangents  519 A,  519 C and width tangents  519 B,  519 D. The corners of the gauze pad  512  oriented toward the width tangents  519 B,  519 D may be oriented toward the mid-points of the width tangents  519 B,  519 D. The corners of the gauze pad  512  oriented toward the length tangents  519 A,  519 C may be oriented toward a midpoint between the rounded angles that connect the widening portions  515 A,  515 B with the narrowing portions  516 A,  516 B. Due to the asymmetrical lengths of the side regions  514 A,  514 B, a midpoint of the central narrow portion  513  does not correspond to the midpoint of the length tangents  519 A,  519 C. 
         [0289]      FIGS. 52(   a )- 52 ( f ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, three side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “diamond gauze” bandage  520  according to the present invention. A body portion  521  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  520  is similar to the configuration of the body portion  511  in  FIG. 51 . The body portion  521  of the “diamond gauze” bandage  520  has a central narrow portion  523  and side regions  524 A,  524 B that have widening regions  525 A,  525 B, that extend from the central narrow portion  523  to narrowing portions  526 A,  526 B in straight or substantially straight lines. The narrowing portions  526 A,  526 B extend to rounded ends in straight or substantially straight lines. The widening portions  525 A,  525 B are connected to the narrowing portions  526 A,  526 B by rounded angles. The body portion  521  has a “bowtie” or “hourglass” shape with the narrowing portion  526 B having a greater length than the narrowing portion  526 A. The gauze pad  522  is oriented with respect to the body portion  521  such that the sides of the gauze pad  522  are not parallel to length tangents  529 A,  529 C and width tangents  529 B,  529 D. The corners of the gauze pad  522  oriented toward the width tangents  529 B,  529 D may be oriented toward the mid-points of the width tangents  529 B,  529 D. Due to the asymmetrical lengths of the side regions  524 A,  524 B, a midpoint of the central narrow portion  523  does not correspond to the midpoint of the length tangents  529 A,  529 C. However, the corners of the gauze pad  522  oriented toward the length tangents  529 A,  529 C may be oriented toward a midpoint between the rounded angles that connect the widening portions  525 A,  525 B with the narrowing portions  526 A,  526 B. In contrast to the shape of the gauze pad  512  for bandage  510 , which has equal sides, the gauze pad  522  for bandage  520  has a “kite-shape”. The “kite shape” may be formed by configuring the sides of the gauze pad  522  that correspond or extend into the side region  524 B to be “stretched” to have an increased length corresponding to the increased length in the narrowing portion  526 B relative to the length of narrowing portion  526 A. Moreover, a kite-shaped gauze pad and/or an increase in length for a single side region may be applied to any “diamond gauze” bandage such as the other exemplary embodiments of a “diamond gauze” bandage described above. 
         [0290]    According to the present invention, an alternative to the “diamond gauze” configuration of a bandage is a “triangular gauze” bandage, as discussed below. The “triangular gauze” configuration provides similar advantages to the “diamond gauze” particularly superior adherence and conformability to a wound area with a maximal area of gauze. The “triangular gauze” configuration may be especially useful in bandaging smaller wounds. 
         [0291]      FIGS. 22(   a )- 22 ( g ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, four side views and one perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a “triangular gauze” bandage  220  according to the present invention. The “triangular gauze” bandage  220  has a body portion  221  in a circular shape, which may be made of any suitable material, preferably a stretchable and breathable material, which is known in the art to be used for bandages. A gauze pad  222  is attached to the wound-facing side of the body portion  221 . The gauze pad  222  is a triangular shape, preferably an equilateral triangular shape, but the gauze pad  222  may alternatively be configured as an isosceles, right or other triangular shape and may have rounded or flattened corners. Moreover, just as in the “diamond gauze” bandages, the corners may be rounded and the sides need not be straight but may, for example, be concave or convex curves or wavy lines. The gauze pad  222  may be positioned so as to have the same center point as the body portion  221 , with each of the corners of the gauze pad  222  extending to the edges of body portion  221 . Alternatively, the gauze pad  222  may be sized so that the corners of the gauze pad  222  do not reach the edges of the body portion  221 . The gauze pad  222  may be sized and positioned so as to substantially define three equal quadrants, on the “non-gauze portion” of the wound facing side of the body portion  221 , i.e. on the wound facing side of the body portion  221  that is not covered by the gauze pad  222 . The bottom wound-facing side of the body portion  221  of the “triangular gauze” bandage  220  may have adhesive as those used for bandages in the art. The adhesive may be applied to all or part of the bottom wound-facing side of the body portion  221  of the “triangular gauze” bandage  220 . The gauze pad  222  may or may not be affixed to the body portion  221  of the “triangular gauze” bandage  220  via the same adhesive as that which is used to affix the “triangular gauze” bandage  220  to a patient. 
         [0292]      FIGS. 23(   a )- 23 ( g ) are, respectively, a bottom wound-facing view, a top non-wound facing view, four side views and one perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a “triangular gauze” bandage  230  according to the present invention. The “triangular gauze” bandage  230  has a body portion  231  in a triangular shape, preferably with rounded corners, and may be made of any suitable material, preferably a stretchable and breathable material, which is known in the art to be used for bandages. The gauze pad  232  is a triangular shape, preferably an equilateral triangular shape, but the gauze pad  232  may alternatively be configured as an isosceles, right or other triangular shape and may have rounded or flattened corners. The gauze pad  232  may be positioned so as to have the same center point as the body portion  231 , with each of the corners of the gauze pad  232  extending to the edges of body portion  231 . Alternatively, the gauze pad  232  may be sized so that the corners of the gauze pad  232  do not reach the edges of the body portion  231 . The gauze pad  232  may be sized and positioned so as to substantially define three equal quadrants on the wound facing side of the body portion  231 . The bottom wound-facing side of the body portion  231  of the “triangular gauze” bandage  230  may have adhesive as those used for bandages in the art. The adhesive may be applied to all or part of the bottom wound-facing side of the body portion  231  of the “triangular gauze” bandage  230 . The gauze pad  232  may or may not be affixed to the body portion  231  of the “triangular gauze” bandage  230  via the same adhesive as that which is used to affix the “triangular gauze” bandage  230  to a patient. 
         [0293]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary in nature, and therefore, the spirit and the scope of the invention are by no means restricted to what is described above or intended to represent every possible embodiment of the invention. Likewise, structural limitations discussed by one exemplary embodiment of the bandage according to the present invention may be applied to other embodiments and exemplary embodiments of the bandage according to the present invention.

Technology Category: a