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Title:
MULTIPURPOSE FIRST-AID BANDAGE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2000/074616
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A multipurpose first-aid adhesive bandage (30) for covering a traumatized site on the skin and for administering hot or cold treatments, therapeutic medicinal agents, an adhesive dissolving component that permits easy separation of the bandage when adhered to the skin, and providing a display for a decorative child appealing simulative character or indicia. The first-aid bandage (30) has an elongated main body having an upper surface (34), a lower surface (38) and an interior region. The lower surface (38) is coated with an adhesive (33) for adhering the bandage to the skin, and has a raised gauze portion (23) for covering the traumatized site. The interior region (35) comprises a mixing chamber (28) and a plurality of compressible rupturable reservoir chambers (21, 23) for containing a variety of therapeutic medicinal agents, reactive cooling or heating chemicals, foams, gels, gases and liquids.

Inventors:
TANO ROBERT S (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2000/006269
Publication Date:
December 14, 2000
Filing Date:
March 10, 2000
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
TANO ROBERT S (US)
International Classes:
A61F13/02; A61K9/70; (IPC1-7): A61F13/00
Foreign References:
US5846559A1998-12-08
US4708716A1987-11-24
US5665378A1997-09-09
US5330452A1994-07-19
US0034692A1862-03-18
US5122127A1992-06-16
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Craig, Royal W. (MD, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims
1. A firstaid bandage for covering a wound or other trauma site on the skin and for administering hot and cold treatments and therapeutic medicinal agents to the covered site, said bandage comprising: an elongated main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, an interior region and an outer edge portion circumferentially located on the elongated member; the lower surface having thereon an outer adhesive layer and a raised gauze portion disposed generally at the center portion of the adhesive layer and located on the side of the bandage to be applied to the skin ; the interior region having therein a mixing chamber and a plurality of compressible rupturable reservoir chambers, wherein the mixing chamber is connected to each of the reservoirs and the mixing chamber is located proximate the gauze pad; and attachment means for attaching the bandage to the skin.
2. The bandage according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reservoir chambers each contain a different reactive agent that produce a cooling effect when mixed.
3. The bandage according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reservoir chambers each contain a different reactive agent that produce warming effect when mixed.
4. The bandage according to claim 1, further comprising a removable protective peel back label removably attached to the adhesive layer and the gauze pad.
5. The bandage according to claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying a simulative child appealing character.
6. The bandage according to claim 5, wherein the display means for displaying the simulative child appealing characters is selected from the group consisting of a hologram, a fluid expandable balloon, and a fluid expandable sponge.
7. The bandage according to claim 5, wherein said display means is a temperaturesensitive color changeable membrane for changing colors as the temperature varies.
8. The bandage according to claim 1, further comprising: a insulator layer surrounding the mixing chamber; and a heat sink layer located between the gauze pad and the mixing chamber.
9. The bandage according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises an adhesive.
10. The bandage according to claim 8, further comprising : detachment means for detaching the bandage when the bandage is adhesively applied to a patient's skin; wherein the detachment means substantially dissolves the adhesive bonding the bandage to the patient's skin, thereby enabling painless and easy removal of the bandage.
11. The bandage according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of rupturable reservoir chambers comprise one or more therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of antibiotic agents, antiseptics agents, pain relieving agents, wound closing adhesive agents, and antihistamine agents.
12. The bandage according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of rupturable reservoir chambers comprises a first reservoir chamber and a second reservoir chamber; and the first reservoir chamber comprises a reactive first cold inducing component and the second reservoir chamber comprises a reactive second cold inducing component, wherein a cooling effect results by mixing the reactive first cooling inducing component and the reactive second cooling inducing component in the mixing chamber.
13. The bandage according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of rupturable reservoir chambers comprises a first reservoir chamber and a second reservoir chamber, and the first reservoir chamber comprises a reactive first heat inducing component and the second reservoir chamber comprises a reactive second heat inducing component, wherein a heating effect results by mixing the reactive first heat inducing component and the reactive second heat inducing component in the mixing chamber.
Description:
MULTIPURPOSE FIRST-AID BANDAGE Technical Field The present invention relates generally to a first-aide bandage, and more particularly, to an multipurpose first-aid adhesive bandage capable of delivering hot and/or cold treatments to a covered wound or otherwise traumatized site, and as well as having an adhesive dissolving functions.

Background Art Various types of conventional first-aid adhesive bandages are known in the prior art. Typically, such bandages come in perforated strips of various sizes and shapes, and usually contain on one side a gauze pad generally centrally located within an adhesive portion of the bandage, wherein a protective peel back portion is usually located over the entire gauze and adhesive containing side of the bandage.

The gauze pad can also contain therapeutic medicinal agents and the like.

However, such bandages typically have various disadvantages such as difficulty in separating the adhesive adhering the bandage to the skin without pain and possible damage to the skin or wound site. Such bandages are also not capable of delivering hot or cold treatments to the covered wound or otherwise traumatized site.

Examples of some conventional prior art bandages, dressings and the like are as follows.

U. S. Patent No. issued on March 24,1998 to Hatt et al. teaches a method of controlling body temperature with a medical applicator comprising a flexible envelope containing, in one embodiment, wherein a medicinal fluid which is delivered to the patient via apertures in the envelope. In additional embodiments, the envelope can also be heated in a microwave oven, and cooled in a domestic refrigerator or cooler.

U. S. Patent No. 5,260,066 issued on November 9,1993 to Wood et al. teaches a cryogel bandage for administering therapeutic agents to mammalian trauma sites. The cryogel bandage comprises a controlled release bandage for

releasing therapeutic agents contained in a poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel.

U. S. Patent No. issued on July 19,1994 to Zook et al. teaches a topical medicating device having a transparent viscoelastic gel pad having one or more pharmacologically-active substances incorporated therein, an occlusive covering sheet and a retaining ring with porous mesh work. The device can be adhered to a patient's skin by an adhesive bandage, wherein the device can thereby deliver a pharmacologically-active substances, typically an anesthetic agent.

U. S. Patent No. 5,772,623 issued on June 30,1998 to Conte teaches a conventional first adhesive bandage having a distinctive tab portion for facilitating removal from the skin. While the tab permits removal of the adhesive bandage from the skin without requiring prying between the skin and the bandage's lower surface, adhered to the skin, the bandage must still be physically torn or separated from the skin by painfully pulling the adhesive from the skin.

U. S. Patent No. 3,596,657 issued on August 3,1971 to Eidus teaches a surgical dressing comprising a conventional cotton gauze material and thermally conductive elements interwoven or dispersed in the cotton gauze to provide the surgical dressing with high absorbency and thermal conductivity, and thereby facilitate cooling or heat treatment to body areas while bandaged.

EPA Patent No. 0038910 published in October 1981 teaches a thermal bandage consisting of a flexible plastic container housing a chillable liquid within a plurality of compartments which will not freeze when stored in a domestic refrigerator. The thermal bandage is also segmented to enable the respective compartments to hinge with respect to one another so that the bandage may be secured about a limb by tie means integral with bandage. The thermal bandage can be used for the treatment of injuries such as sprains, bruise, burns, and the like.

German Patent No. 3,118,232 published in November 1982 teaches a multi-layer medical skin dressing having an inner chamber for insertion of hot or cold treating mass. The dressing is typically held-in place against the skin by a bandage.

The prior art fails to teach a multipurpose first-aid bandage capable of

supplying a chemically induced cold or heat treatments, wound treating therapeutic agents, and an adhesive dissolving solvent for allowing the easy separation of the adhesive adhering the bandage to the skin.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

Disclosure of Invention The present invention is directed towards a multipurpose adhesive first-aid bandage for covering a wound or other traumatized site on the skin, and for administering hot or cold treatments, therapeutic medicinal agents, and providing a display of a decorative simulative character or indica. The first-aid bandage comprises an elongated main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, an interior region and an outer edge portion circumferentially located about the elongated member. The lower surface is preferably coated with an outer adhesive layer for adhering the bandage to the skin, and has a raised gauze portion disposed at or near the center portion, of the adhesive layer for covering the wound or traumatized site. Preferably, the lowermost surface of the bandage is covered by a removable protective peel back label that is removably attached to the adhesive layer and the gauze pad. The interior region of the bandage comprises a mixing chamber and a plurality of compressible rupturable reservoir chambers. The rupturable reservoir chambers contain a variety of therapeutic agents, cooling or heating agents, foams, gels, gases, liquids or a combination, that can be activated in the mixing chamber.. Additionally, the mixing chamber itself can contain a'variety of therapeutic agents, cooling agents, heating agents, foams, gels, gases, liquids, or solids, that are different from, or the same as, those stored within the compressible rupturable reservoir chambers.

Brief Description of Drawings Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred

embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective elevational view of an adhesive first-aid bandage according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the adhesive bandage according to the present invention taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of the adhesive bandage according to the present invention taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of the adhesive bandage according to the present invention taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the adhesive bandage from Fig. 4 with inflated simulative dinosaur.

Fig. 6 shows a top perspective view of the adhesive bandage from Fig. 4 with inflated simulative dinosaur.

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of the adhesive bandage according to the present invention taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Fig. 8 shows sectional view of another embodiment of the adhesive bandage according to the present invention taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 in a folded orientation.

Fig. 9 shows a sectional view of the adhesive bandage shown of FIG. 8 in an unfolded orientation.

In all of the above-described figures similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the drawings.

Best Mode (s) for Carrying Out the Invention The present invention as depicted in Figures 1-9 is a multipurpose first-aid adhesive bandage for covering a wound or otherwise traumatized site on the skin, and for administering hot or cold treatments and therapeutic medicinal agents to the covered wound site.

Examples of therapeutic medicinal agents include, but are not limited to,

antibiotics, antiseptic agents, pain relieving agents, wound closing adhesives/glues, antihistamine agents and the like. The multipurpose first-aid bandage can be used to treat a variety of conditions such as cuts scrape, burns, bruises, insect bites or stings, and surgical sites just to name a few. In the preferred embodiment, the first-aid bandage is attached to the skin by an adhesive. However, the first-aid bandage can also be attached to the skin by various attachment means well known in the art, such-as by an elastic flexible wrap and the like.

The bandage, generally referred to herein by reference numeral 30, comprises an elongated main body having an upper surface 34, a lower surface 38, an interior region 35 and an outer edge portion 36 circumferentially located about the elongated member. The lower surface of the elongated member is preferably coated with an outer adhesive layer 33, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive commonly used in conventional adhesive bandages, for adhering the bandage 30 to the skin. The lower surface of the elongated member also has a raised gauze portion 22, such as a conventional cotton gauze material, disposed at or near the center portion of the adhesive layer for covering the wound or traumatized site.

In a preferred embodiment as depicted in Figure 1, a removable protective peel release covering 32 is removably attached to the adhesive layer for covering the adhesive layer 33 and the gauze pad 22. It should be noted that the overall dimensions such as the size and shape of the bandage, including the gauze pad, can vary, and that the shape of the bandage as depicted in the figures is for illustrative purposes only.

As depicted in Figures 2-5 and 7-9, the interior region 35, located between the upper surface 34 and lower surface 38 of the bandage 30 comprises a rupturable mixing chamber 28 and a plurality of compressible flexible yet pressure rupturable reservoir chambers (21,23). The rupturable compressible flexible reservoir chambers (21,23) are preferably constructed from plastic, metal or a combination of both, and preferably contain a variety of therapeutic agents, as well as chemical cooling or heating components, and foams, gels, gases or liquids for inflating or expanding decorative display balloons, sponges and the like.

Figure 3 depicts a detachment means 44 for detaching the first-aid adhesive bandage 30 from the skin. The detachment means 44 is preferably an adhesive dissolving solvent that, once activated and released, is capable of substantially dissolving the adhesive bonding the bandage to the patient's skin, resulting in easy and generally pain free removal of the bandage. The mixing chamber 28 is connected to each of the rupturable reservoir chambers (21,23) by separate transfer channels (29,29) such that the components of each reservoir chamber (21,23) can be transported into the mixing chamber 28 there through for mixing and/or activation. The mixing chamber 28 is preferably located above the gauze pad 22, proximate a heat sink layer 24, such that any cooling or heating effects provided for by the mixing chamber 28, when containing reactant materials transferred from the reservoir chambers (21,23), can be retained in the heat sink layer 24, and then evenly transferred to the gauze pad 22 and onto the covered wound or trauma site.

Additionally, the mixing chamber itself can contain a variety of therapeutic agents, cooling agents, heating agents, foams, gels, gases, liquids, or solids, that are different from, or the same as, those stored within the compressible rupturable reservoir chambers.

The heat sink layer 24 enables the heating or cooling treatment provided for by the reaction of the materials from the reservoir chambers to be stored within the heat sink layer, rather than the dissipate outwards from the bandage 30 in a direction away from the covered trauma site.

In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir chambers contain chemical agents that when mixed in the mixing chamber produce a warming effect, or contain chemical agents that when mixed in the mixing chamber produce a cooling effect.

The contents of the rupturable reservoir chambers (21,23) can be transferred into the mixing chamber 28 by various methods. One such method is by applying pressure to the top of the bandage above the compressible reservoir chambers (21, 23), whereby the build up of forces within the reservoir chambers (21,23) forces the contents therein through a weakened section (27,27) in the wall of the reservoir chambers (21,23), preferably located nearest the transfer channels (29,29), and

into the mixing chamber 28.

In an alternative embodiment as depicted in Figure 3, the reservoir chambers (21,23) can be refilled or replenished with additional therapeutic agents, inflatable or expandable fluid compounds, as well as heating or cooling foams, gels or liquids and the like. The reservoir chambers (21,23) can be refilled or replenished by squeezing, or other transfer methods, refill containers (42,42) to transfer the therapeutic agents contained therein into the refill channels (43,43), thereby refilling the reservoir chambers (21,23).

Figures 4 and 5 depict a sectional view of another preferred alternative embodiment of the bandage 30, wherein flexible compressible reservoir chambers (55,57) are shown, and differ slightly from the reservoir chambers (21,23) depicted in Figures 2 and 3. The contents of the rupturable reservoir chambers (55, 57) can be transferred into the mixing chamber 28 by various methods. One such method is by applying pressure to the top of the bandage above the compressible reservoir chambers (55,57), whereby the build up of forces within the reservoir chambers (55,57) forces the contents therein through a weakened section (58,58) in the wall of the reservoir chambers (55,57), preferably located nearest the mixing chamber 28 and into the mixing chamber. Although not shown, the reservoir chambers (55,57) can be refilled or replenished with additional therapeutic agents, inflatable or expandable compounds, as well as heating/cooling foams, gas, or liquids (as depicted previously in Figure 3).

Figure 4 also depicts a display means 52 for preferably displaying simulative child appealing characters or other indicia such as a hologram capable of revealing one or more images when viewed from different angles, a liquid or gas expandable/inflatable balloon, a fluid expandable sponge, and a temperature sensitive color changeable membrane capable of changing colors as the temperature varies. To inflate the liquid or gas expandable/inflatable balloon or fluid expandable sponge, the rupturable compressible flexible reservoir chambers may contain any of a variety of known effervescent mixing agents or bubbling foams, gels, gases or liquids, any of which are capable of inflating or expanding the

decorative display balloon, sponge, etc.

A variety of suitable temperature sensitive color changeable membranes and/or inks are commercially available, and these add to the child appeal by changing colors as the temperature varies. This way, logos of sports teams or the like can be made to appear. In addition to the aesthetic effects, the above-described embodiments still provide the cooling, heating or therapeutic effects from reactant materials transferred from the reservoir chambers onto the covered wound or trauma site.

Figures 5 and 6 depict the display means 52 as an expanded/inflated simulative dinosaur 54, wherein the simulative dinosaur 54 is projecting from the bandage 30 as worn on a patient's wrist. The simulative designs or characters can be depicted or viewed by a various display means 52 such as a holographic image capable of displaying one or more decorative items such as a dinosaur or other decorative indicia, printed informative and decorative indicia or the like, gas, foam or liquid inflatable/expandable materials such as balloons and the like, moisture activated expandable materials such as sponge and the like, and temperature- sensitive color changeable membranes as described above that are capable of changing colors as the temperature varies.

Fig. 7 depicts a sectional view of another preferred alternative embodiment of the adhesive bandage 30, wherein the flexible compressible reservoir chambers (65,67) deliver the contents contained therein by directly pouring the contents onto a wound or trauma site covered by the gauze portion 22 of the bandage 30, rather than empty into the mixing chamber as previously depicted. Like the previously described reservoir chambers, the flexible compressible reservoir chambers (65,67) contain various therapeutic wound treating compounds. While not shown in Figure 7, this embodiment can also have incorporated therein a display means and mixing chamber as previously discussed, and the reservoir chambers (65,67) can be refilled or replenished with additional therapeutic agents and the like, as depicted in Figure 3.

Figures 8 and 9 depict a sectional view of another preferred alternative

embodiment of the adhesive bandage 30, wherein the reservoir chambers (75,76) deliver the contents contained therein over the entire the bandage 30. Figure 8 depicts the bandage 30 in a pre-activated folded state or orientation, wherein reservoir chamber 75 contains a reactive cooling or heating-agent that will react with a different reactive cooling or heating agent, respectively, contained in reservoir chamber 76. The bandage 30 is activated by unfolding the bandage 30 in the direction of the arrows depicted in Figure 8 such that, a break-away wall portion 78, separating reservoir chambers 75 and 76, is ruptured thereby enabling the contents contained therein to mix and react with each other. This activates the bandage 30 and results in the generation of hot or cold treatment as shown in Fig.

9, depending on what reactive are stored within the reservoir chambers 75 and 76.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability The prior art fails to teach a first-aid bandage capable of supplying a chemically induced cold or heat treatments, wound treating therapeutic agents, and an adhesive dissolving solvent for allowing the easy separation of the adhesive adhering the bandage to the skin. Rather, the majority of the prior art is directed to single purpose bandages. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a first-aid bandage for applying therapeutic agents, such as but not limited to, antibiotics, antiseptic agents, pain relieving agents, wound closing adhesives/glues, and antihistamine agents for treating a variety of conditions such as cuts, scrapes, burns, bruises, insect bites or stings, and surgical sites just to name a few.

Specifically, it would be greatly advantageous to apply chemically induced hot or

cold treatments to a wound or otherwise traumatized site, and to release an adhesive dissolving component to allow for the easy separation of the bandage adhered to the skin. In order to increase the appeal and use by children, it would also be helpful to display a child appealing simulative decorative design or character.

Considering the above, there is a significant industrial demand for a device which is effective for multipurpose use inasmuch as it is capable of covering a wound or other traumatized site on the skin, administering said hot or cold treatments, therapeutic medicinal agents, and/or solvents, while at the same time providing a display of a decorative simulative character or indica. Of course, the demand escalates wherein the device is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the foregoing specification and drawings.