A MEDICATED DRESSING FOR WOUND HEALING.

Field of the Invention.

This invention is directed to a wound dressing, and particularly to a medicated bandage adhesive strip, and the invention is also directed to a wound healing system which can contain different types of medications on the bandage.

Background Art.

It is very well -known to cover a cut or small wound with a bandage adhesive strip. A typical example is the BAND-AID (trade mark) bandage.

These bandages typically comprise a plastic strip coated with a "tack adhesive" on one side and which can stick to a person's skin and adjacent the wound. The centre area of the plastic strip contains a gauze pad. The adhesive/gauze side of the bandage is protected by a pair of peel off layers. These layers protect the adhesive and the gauze pad prior to use. The entire bandage is usually wrapped in a sterile wrapper. To use, the wrapper is removed, the peel off layers are removed, and the adhesive/gauze side of the bandage is attached in such a manner that the cut is protected by the gauze.

These bandages come in various different shapes and sizes including rectangular, oval, circular and the like.

While the gauze pad is sterile, the gauze pad itself does not contain any medication.

Therefore, a bandage of the type described above does not assist in wound healing other than covering the wound. There are various medications that greatly assist in wound healing, reduction of scarring and the like. These medications are known and a person is required to separately apply these medications to the wound prior to attachment of the bandage.

There are many circumstances where this arrangement can lead to difficulties. When

travelling, it is generally inconvenient to have a number of bottles or containers of medication to be applied to a cut prior to applying the bandage. These bottles or containers can break or split. Also, it is sometimes difficult to self apply a medicine to a cut, and particularly to a painful cut. Another disadvantage is that, in some circumstances, it is important to use only a certain amount of medicine on the wound; however it is difficult if not impossible for an ordinary person to be able to precisely add the coiτect amount of medicine to the wound.

For this reason, some attempts have been made to overcome these difficulties. For instance, it is known to provide a bandage containing a gauze pad and a separate sachet containing a medicine. The sachet is attached somewhere to the bandage and removal of the peel off layers seems to also break the sachet. Once broken, the contents of the sachet need to be squeezed out onto the gauze pad prior to applying the bandage to the wound. This arrangement is quite clumsy. One disadvantage is that it is often difficult to properly coat or impregnate the gauze pad with the contents of the sachet, and this might be especially difficult if the person is in great pain. Also, if the person's hands are dirty, squeezing the medicine out of the sachet can contaminate the bandage/gauze pad which is highly undesirable.

Another disadvantage generally with the use of bandages in wound healing is that wound healing can often be improved and scarring reduced if different types of medicines are added to the wound at different times. Thus, initially, the medicine should be one to sterilise the wound, promote blood clotting and the like. However, after some days an alternative medicine could be used to promote wound healing, reduction in scarring etc.

Another disadvantage generally with the use of separate medicines is that the person (and typically a child) can have different types of wounds. For instance, the wound might be a cut, a sting, a rash, a pimple, a boil and the like. For most people, it is difficult if not impossible to know the correct type of medicine to be used with the bandage.

Another difficulty with existing bandages is that many bandages of the type described

above can now "breathe" which means that air can circulate past the bandage strip and through the gauze pad. Application of the medicine to the gauze pad can cause the medicine to evaporate, become "stale", and lose efficacy and the like.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Object of the Invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a medicated wound bandage and optionally a wound healing system that may overcome at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages and/or provide a useful or commercial choice,

In one form, the invention resides in a wound bandage comprising an adhesive member adapted for application to a person's skin, a gauze pad on one side of the adhesive member, at least one medicine on, or in, the gauze pad, at least one peel off layer to protect the adhesive member, and a further removable impermeable layer to seal the at least one medicine in the gauze pad.

The wound bandage can be of any suitable shape and size. Typically, the bandage will be substantially rectangular when viewed in plan, but may also be circular, oval, square and the like. The size of the bandage will typically be such that it can be used by a person without too much difficulty. A typical size will be a length of between

10-100 mm and a width of between 5-50 mm. The bandage may also come as a roll that can be cut to length.

The bandage contains an adhesive member. Typically, the adhesive member will comprise a flexible sheet member containing an adhesive on one side. The adhesive may be any suitable commercial adhesive used to enable a bandage to be adhered to a person's skin.

The bandage contains at least one gauze pad, and will typically contain a single gauze pad is as common with this type of bandage. The gauze pad can be of any shape or size and will typically be square, rectangular, oval, circular, and the like. The gauze pad will typically be positioned in a central portion of the bandage. It is envisaged that there may be certain circumstances where a number of gauze pads is provided. The gauze pad may be made of any suitable material such as cotton, plastic fibres and the like. It is envisaged that a commercially available gauze pad will be used. The size of the gauze pad can vary but will typically have a length and width, or a diameter of between 10-50 mm. The thickness of the gauze pad can also vary but will typically be between 1 -5 mm.

The pad contains at least one medicine. The medicine may be applied to the pad, impregnated into the pad, or otherwise associated with the pad. In most cases, it is envisaged that the medicine will cover the entire pad, although there may be some circumstances where it is desirable for the medicine to cover or be in only a portion of the pad. The medicine may comprise a liquid, a gel, a paste, a powder, a mixture and the like.

The medicine may comprise an antiseptic, a disinfectant, an antifungal, and antimicrobial, an antibacterial, medicine. The medicine may also comprise penicillin, a blood clotting agent, a pain reducing agent, an agent to reduce bleeding, and like and it should be appreciated that no particular limitation should be placed on the type of medicine. The medicine may comprise an essential oil such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, and other types of oils that have medicinal properties. The medicine may comprise other types of natural products such as pawpaw ointments, and the like.

The medicine may comprise an iodine containing compound, and may contain various types of pharmaceutical additives such as emulsifiers, carriers, sorboline , glycerin, and the like.

The amount of medicine to be added can vary and may comprise a dilute solution, a concentrated solution and the like.

If desired, a mixture or combination of medicines can be applied. The medicines can

be mixed together before application, or can be layered on the gauze pad and the like.

The bandage contains at least one peel off layer to protect the adhesive member. This layer is well known and is common for this type of bandage. The peel off layer is typically made of plastic and protects the adhesive portion + a portion of the gauze and can be peeled off prior to use. Typically, the bandage will have a pair of such peel off layers one on each side of the bandage as is common. It is considered that commercial peel off layers will form this part of the invention.

The bandage contains a further removable impermeable layer. The function of this layer is to seal the medicine in the gauze pad. The layer will typically comprise a flexible airtight member. If desired, a laminate of layers or a plurality of layers may be provided. This layer will typically be made of flexible plastic material.

This layer will typically overlie and seal the entire gauze pad. However, if the medicine is only applied to a proportion of the gauze pad, the layer may be designed to overlie and seal only this part of the gauze pad. In practice, it is envisaged that the entire gauze pad will be impregnated with the medicine and therefore it is envisaged that this layer will cover the entire gauze pad.

If desired, a second layer, also impervious, may be provided underneath the bandage and underneath the gauze pad, and this may be required if the gauze pad is breathable and the bandage is breathable. However, in many instances, the adhesive sheet material will be substantially, if not entirely, impervious, and under these circumstances, a layer only over the gauze pad will be sufficient.

It is preferred that the impermeable layer is made of "slippery" or reduced friction material such that it can be (a) relatively easily peeled off to expose the gauze + medicine and (b) it does not appreciably stick to the gauze.

Another option to avoid sticking to the gauze is to make the impermeable layer substantially rigid or dimensionally stable such that it can overlie the gauze pad and be spaced therefrom.

The term "seal the medicine in the gauze pad" is meant to include the ability of the medicine to stay fresh for a relatively long period of time and not be exposed to air etc.

There are many variations of the bandage that can comprise the above features. In one variation, the bandage may be provided with the conventional peel off layers and the sealing layer can be a separate layer extending over the gauze pad and which can also be peeled off.

To assist in the peeling action, it is considered useful that the layers contain a small tab portion that does not stick strongly to the adhesive and which can be initially gripped to pull off the entire layer.

Another variation, and possibly to provide greater security to the bandage, is to provide the sealing or impervious layer with adhesive on the top thereof and the conventional peel off layers can be stuck thereto.

In another variation, the bandage may comprise a single peel off layer which has a portion extending over the gauze pad and at least this portion (and usually the entire layer) being made of impervious material such as this layer combines the functions of the conventional peel off layers + the impervious layer.

Li another variation, the bandage may comprise a peel of layer as described immediately above +one or more conventional peel off layers, again to provide greater security.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which:.

Figure 1. Illustrates a conventional PRIOR ART bandage when viewed in plan.

Figure 2. Illustrates a conventional PRIOR ART bandage in side elevation. Figures 3A-3D. Illustrate a bandage according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figures 4A-4D. Illustrate a bandage according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5A-5D . Illustrate a bandage according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Best Mode.

Referring to the drawings and initially to figures 1-2, there is illustrated a conventional adhesive bandage which is sometimes known as a BAND-AID (trade mark) bandage.

The bandage comprises a flexible base member 10, which is coated on one surface with an adhesive. A gauze pad 11 is attached to the one surface of flexible base member 10. Referring specifically to figure 2, the bandage contains a first peel oft- layer 12 and a second peel off layer 13. In practice, the entire bandage is within a sterile wrapper (not illustrated) which is removed. Then, the first peel off layer 12 can be pulled back in the direction of the illustrated arrow in figure 2, and then the second peel off layer 13 can also be pulled back in the direction of illustrated arrow in figure 2 to expose the gauze pad. Once the peel off layers have been almost or entirely removed, the adhesive coated flexible base member can be adhered to a person's skin. This type of bandage is extremely well known.

Figures 3-5 illustrate three embodiments of the invention, but it should be appreciated that the invention should not be limited in its broad sense merely by the illustration of these three embodiments.

Referring initially to figure 3A-D, there is illustrated a bandage generally as described with reference to figures 1 -2 and therefore containing the base member 10, (see Figure 3D) the first peel off member 12, and the second peel off member 13. However, in this particular embodiment, there is also provided a further impervious peel off

member 14 which attaches over the pad 11, and can be stuck to the adhesive portion of base member 10 which is immediately about pad 11. A medicine can be applied to pad 11 prior to attachment of the impervious peel off member 14 ( or during manufacture). The medicine is therefore trapped in the pad 11. Again, the entire bandage can be placed in a sterile wrapper 50 ( see figure 3A). In use, the wrapper is removed, the peel off layers 12 and 13 are pulled back, and member 14 is also removed ( by grasping small lift tab 51 - see Figure 3D) to expose the medicated pad which can then be attached over the cut/wound etc.

In a variation, and to provide further structural features to the bandage, the top of member 14 may be provided with adhesive 15 ( see Figure 3A) to enable peel off layers 12-13 to be stuck to member 14 prior to being peeled off. Depending on the strength of the adhesive 15, removal of peel off layers 12-13 can also assist in pulling off member 14.

In another variation, and still illustrated in figures 3A-D, if the base member 10 is permeable (breathable), a further impermeable layer 16 is provided underneath base member 10 and underneath the gauze pad 11. This functions to seal the gauze pad against evaporation etc of the medicine impregnated in the gauze pad. If it is desired to have a breathable bandage, this layer 16 can also be a peel off layer which can be peeled off when desired ( or kept on).

Figures 4A-D illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, base member 10 is as described above, as is gauze pad 11. However, the adhesive on the top of base member 10 and the gauze pad is protected/sealed by a single pull off layer 17. Layer 17 is made of impermeable material and extends from one side of gauze pad 11 to the other side of the gauze pad, and also over the adhesive base member 10. The advantage of this embodiment is that only a single peel off layer is required. In a variation, layer 17 may be breathable and may contain an impregnable zone 17A which extends about the pad.

Figures 5A-D illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, there is provided a peel of layer 17 identical or similar to that described with reference

to figure 4, but in addition thereto, there is provided another peel off layer 18 which extends partially over peel off layer 17 and functions to prevent inadvertent removal of peel off layer 17 by trapping the forward portion of peel off layer 17.

Each of these layers can be provided with a small lift tab 19 (see for instance figure 5C).

In another form of the invention, there is provided a wound healing system comprising a plurality of bandages as described above, the bandages being separated into separate types, each type containing at least one bandage (but usually a few bandages), and each type containing a different medicine on the gauze pad.

In this form of the invention, there may also be provided some form of instructions to instruct the correct sequence of use of the differently impregnated bandages.

In this form of the invention, the bandages may be provided in a container, box etc.

In this form of the invention, the bandages themselves may be numbered, named, or contain other form of identifying indicia to assist in the proper sequence of use.

An advantage of this form of the invention is that it can promote wound healing by providing an initial set of bandages containing medicines suitable for initial use such as medicines to prevent infection, stop bleeding, reduce pain etc. Then, another set of bandages can be used containing a different medicine such as a medicine to promote wound healing etc. The bandages may be numbered if desired. This system can also substantially reduce scarring.

The system of the invention may be used to treat the different stages or phases of wound healing/treatment. For example, the initial stage may require a wound dressing with antiseptic properties, and later stages may require different dressings having additives/medicines which can aid healing time and reduce scarring.

The wound healing system is achievable because of the particular bandages that form

part of the present invention, that is, bandages that can now contain a medicine.

The term "medicine" is meant to include but no be limited to an active ingredient which includes any substance which aids in the prevention of infection, promotion of healing, and/or reduction of scarring.

Throughout the specification and the claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.