Cushion for holding an element of grafted skin

• US 4,480,638 A
• Filed: 11/09/1981
• Issued: 11/06/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eduard Schmid
• Original Assignee: Eduard Schmid
• Inventors: Schmid, Eduard
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Macey, Harry J.
• Application Number:
  US06/321,169
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 128/95, 128/96, 128/112, 128/117, 128/118, 128/157, 128/155, 128/156, 128/163, 128/165, 128/158, 604/289, 604/290, 604/304, 604/305, 604/385, 604/23-25
• US Class Current: 602/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/05 specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00157 for burns or skin transplants A61F2013/00187 takes precedence; not adhering to the wound A61F2013/00217
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00165 not touching the wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0017 possibility of applying fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00182 with transparent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00829 rigid or semi-rigid backing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00846 with transparent or translucent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/34 Pressure pads filled with air or liquid valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

A cushion for pressing an element of grafted skin against the body surface, wherein the portion (2) to be applied to the body has a window or opening (4) the dimensions of which approximately equal that of the graft. The edges (6) of the window (4) are attached to the skin so as to be impervious to air or liquids. The filling medium of the cushion (air or a liquid) is maintained under pressure.

Claims

1. A device for covering and applying pressure to a skin graft of a known size and shape and applied to a human body with normal skin surrounding the skin graft,

said device comprising a hollow inflatable generally pillow-shaped cushion having a first side wall made of a thin flexible sheet foil material for facing and engaging the human body,

said cushion having a second side wall made of a thin flexible sheet foil material and opposite from said first side wall for facing away from the human body,

said first and second side walls having joined peripheral portions and forming an interior space within said inflatable cushion,

said cushion and said first side wall thereof having an overall size and shape which is relatively substantially greater than the size and shape of the skin graft for overlying and protecting the skin graft and a portion of the surrounding skin,

said first side wall having an open cutout window therein having a size and shape relatively corresponding generally with the size and shape of the skin graft for producing open communication through said window between the skin graft and the interior space within said cushion,

the interior space within said inflatable cushion being in open communication with said skin graft through said open cutout window when said cushion is in its position of use,

said first side wall having a marginal portion surrounding said open cutout window and directed toward said window for engaging the surrounding skin around the entire skin graft,

first means for producing fluid-tight attachment of said marginal portion of said first side wall to the surrounding skin around the entire skin graft,

and second means for producing, maintaining and controlling fluid pressure within said cushion for inflating said cushion and exerting fluid pressure against the skin graft,

said marginal portion also being subject to the fluid pressure and being pressed against the surrounding skin by the fluid pressure when the cushion is in its position of use,

said cushion including a semipermeable partition within said cushion and dividing the interior space within said cushion into first and second compartments on opposite sides of said semipermeable partition,

said first compartment being in direct open communication with the skin graft through said open cutout window,

said second compartment being separated from said first compartment by said semipermeable partition whereby the only communication between the skin graft and said second compartment is through said first compartment and said semipermeable partition,

said cushion including a moisture binding agent contained within said second compartment for absorbing moisture evolved from the skin graft,

said semipermeable partition being permeable by moisture while preventing direct contact between said moisture binding agent and said skin graft.

2. A device according to claim 1,

said semipermeable partition being made of a thin semipermeable plastic sheet material,

said first and second side walls being made of a thin flexible transparent plastic materials.

3. A device according to claim 1,

said second means including inlet and outlet valves connecting with said second compartment of the interior space within said cushion for circulating pressurized fluid through said second compartment.

4. A device according to claim 1,

said first means comprising adhesive material on said marginal portion of said first side wall and surrounding said open cutout window for causing said marginal portion to adhere to the skin surrounding the skin graft.