Head Trauma Bandage Cap and Method

• US 20120296252A1
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Equalizer Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: First Responder Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Cumming, Michelle, Kastros, Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 9,149,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/12 specially adapted for the head or neck
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling

Abstract

An emergency head trauma bandage cap with a detachable strap system and method of use, which, when applied to the head, delivers minimal pressure to control bleeding, doesn'"'"'t compromise cervical spine immobilization, allows for fast and effective application of cold packs to control intracranial/internal swelling or hot packs to prevent hypothermia in non-trauma situations, doesn'"'"'t come apart during treatment and transport, and doesn'"'"'t require a caregiver to re-wrap the dressing.

Claims

1. A head trauma bandage cap comprising:

a. a flexible cap made of a flexible weather resistant or waterproof material with periphery edges, top and side segments, and an opening sized to fit about and cover the forehead/crown, sides, and back of the head of a patient with a head trauma;

the cap side segments defining observation openings proximate the ears so that caregivers can observe any fluid discharge through the ears, the interior of the material having a sterile non-adherent wound contact surface, and with enough flex when placed on a patient to apply minimal pressure to the head to control bleeding without aggravating intracranial pressure, and

b. a detachable strap system with a chin cup and ends with releasable fasteners affixed to the cap periphery edges and structured to secure the cup about a patient'"'"'s chin to removably secure the cap to the head in a manner to apply minimal pressure to control bleeding without aggravating intracranial pressure in one mode, and loosened and re-attached in another mode to prevent circulation restriction and avoid aggravating intracranial pressure.

2. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 1, wherein the material is layered with layers of film and reinforcing and/or cushioning materials, which together form a composite structure providing a barrier toward the penetration of bacteria, pathogens or contaminants.

3. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 2, wherein the material is a monolithic barrier film, which allows air permeability but resists fluid penetration.

4. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 3, wherein the monolithic barrier film, when placed over the skin, allows moisture or perspiration from the skin can escape.

5. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof-breathable film has no holes or direct passages thru the monolithic film layer to act as a bacteria and viral barrier.

6. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 1, wherein the material is constructed of polyurethanes and block-copolymer polyamides, and blends forming a barrier-dressing so exterior particles, fluids and pathogens cannot penetrate from the outside toward the patient.

7. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 2, wherein the inside layers are formed of soft textile or nonwoven material such as traditional bleached cotton gauze.

8. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 1, including antimicrobials placed in the non-adherent wound-contact surface, an absorbent layer, or in the waterproof-breathable outer layer to reduce bacterial populations and infections.

9. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 8, wherein the antimicrobials are selected from the group comprising traditional silver-ion releasing antimicrobials, quaternary amines and oxidizers, iodine, chlorine or chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG).

10. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 9, wherein the material is 200 ppm of elemental silver embedded in a polyurethane polymer blend.

11. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 1, wherein periphery side segments of the cap ear observation openings are cut out and variably secured together with the detachable strapping system in a manner so that the opening of the observation holes may be varied in size as the strap fastener is varied in position.

12. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 1, wherein the releasable fasteners comprise corresponding hook and loop strips.

13. A head trauma bandage cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap is color-coded and placed on the patient to indicate the severity of a patient'"'"'s injuries.

14. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap for covering a head wound of a patient comprising:

a. constructing a flexible cap made of a flexible weather resistant or waterproof material with periphery edges, top and side segments, and an opening sized to fit about and cover the forehead/crown, sides, and back of the head of a patient with a head trauma;

the cap side segments defining observation openings proximate the ears so that caregivers can observe any fluid discharge through the ears, the interior of the material having a sterile non-adherent wound contact surface, and with enough flex when placed on a patient to apply minimal pressure to the head to control bleeding without aggravating intracranial pressure, and

b. affixing a detachable strap system with a chin cup and ends with releasable fasteners to the cap periphery edges structured to secure the cup about a patient'"'"'s chin to removably secure the cap to the head in a manner to apply minimal pressure to control bleeding without aggravating intracranial pressure in one mode, and loosened and re-attached in another mode to prevent circulation restriction and avoid aggravating intracranial pressure.

15. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 14, including marking the cap with different triage color codes to indicate the severity of a patient'"'"'s injuries and the type of medical response required.

16. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 14, wherein the material is laminated with layers of film and reinforcing and/or cushioning materials, which together form a composite structure providing a monolithic barrier film resisting the penetration of bacteria, pathogens or contaminants.

17. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 16, wherein the material is a monolithic barrier film, which allows air permeability but resists fluid penetration allowing moisture or perspiration from the skin to escape.

18. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 16, wherein the monolithic barrier film has no holes or direct passages thru the monolithic film layer to act as a bacteria and viral barrier.

19. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 16, wherein the material is constructed of polyurethanes and block-copolymer polyamides, and blends forming a barrier-dressing so exterior particles, fluids and pathogens cannot penetrate from the outside toward the patient.

20. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 14, wherein the inside layers are formed of soft textile or nonwoven material such as non-adherent traditional bleached cotton gauze.

21. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 16, including antimicrobials placed in the non-adherent wound-contact surface, an absorbent layer, or in the waterproof-breathable outer layer to reduce bacterial populations and infections.

22. A method of making head trauma bandage cap according to claim 21, wherein the antimicrobials are selected from the group comprising traditional silver-ion releasing antimicrobials, quaternary amines and oxidizers, iodine, chlorine or chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG).

23. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 22, wherein the material is 200 ppm of elemental silver embedded in a polyurethane polymer blend.

24. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 14, wherein periphery side segments of the cap ear observation openings are cut out and variably secured together with the detachable strapping system in a manner so that the opening of the observation holes may be varied in size as the strap fastener is varied in position.

25. A method of making a head trauma bandage cap according to claim 14, wherein the releasable fasteners comprise corresponding hook and loop strips.