Sterilizing dressing device and method for skin puncture

• US 5,015,228 A
• Filed: 10/04/1990
• Issued: 05/14/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clinical Diagnostic Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Columbus, Richard L., Kissel, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cannon, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURKE, ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US07/592,436
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19, 604/28, 604/48, 604/49, 604/51, 604/306, 604/304, 604/305, 604/307
• US Class Current: 604/513
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/023 wound covering film layers without a fluid retention layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00748 with hydrocolloids or superabsorbers wound bandages with alginate A61F2013/00229; plasters with cyano-acrylic adhesive A61F2013/00459; plasters for treating burn with hydrogel A61F2013/00523; adhesive for plasters, with hydrogel A61F2013/00676; water-based A61F2013/00689; for use on mucosae A61F2013/00714; for use on wounds A61F2013/00719; with absorbent adhesives A61F2013/00757; with fumed silica A61F2013/00787; with viscoelastic oil-elastomer gel A61F2013/00893
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00846 with transparent or translucent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0091 with disinfecting or anaesthetics means, e.g. anti-mycrobic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates

Abstract

A dressing device and method are described, for use with a needle that is injected into the skin. The dressing device comprises a cover sheet and a gel medium attached to the cover sheet, the gel medium being transparent and effective to reseal after being punctured by the needle. Most importantly, the gel medium includes a sterilizing agent.

Injection of the needle into the skin occurs only after the needle penetrates the gel medium, so that the needle is disinfected or sterilized.

Claims

1. A method of injecting liquid into, or removing liquid from, a site on a live host body, said method comprising

(a) positioning a transparent, puncturable, resealable gel medium containing a sterilizing agent preincorporated therein to cover said site, said medium having adhesive at least partially surrounding it and positioned to temporarily hold said medium on said host body;

(b) contacting said body site with the medium and adhesive; and

(c) inserting a needle into the host body by injecting the needle first through said medium so as to contact said sterilizing agent;

whereby sterility of the needle is insured.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step (c) includes the step of identifying said site by feel or by sight, through said medium, prior to inserting the needle into said host body.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step (b) includes the step of massaging said site with said medium to sterilize the surface of said site.