Wound dressing having a movable flap for alternately viewing and covering a wound

• US 6,043,408 A
• Filed: 05/17/1996
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lisa Fernandez Geng
• Original Assignee: Lisa Fernandez Geng
• Inventors: Geng, Lisa Fernandez
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Kim M.
• Application Number:
  US08/650,088
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 602/41-59, 128/887, 128/888, 128/889, 604/180, 604/174, 604/304-308
• US Class Current: 602/58
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/023 wound covering film layers without a fluid retention layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00165 not touching the wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00817 handles or handling tabs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00846 with transparent or translucent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00859 with macroscopic openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00868 thin film

Abstract

An external wound dressing having a cover which is reversibly movable to an open position exposing the wound from a closed position covering the wound thereby enabling selective viewing of the wound without removing the wound dressing from the individual.

Claims

1. An external wound dressing comprising:

(a) layer of backing sheet material having a first portion in the form of an opening for positioning over the wound and a second portion, said first portion having a first end and a second end, and said second portion having a first face and a second face;

(b) an adhesive on said first face of said second portion of said layer of backing sheet material, said adhesive being selected for ready adherence to the skin of a patient to thereby adhere said layer of backing sheet material to the skin of the patient;

(c) a flap comprising a layer of backing material, said backing material layer having a first end and a second free end, wherein said second free end is defined by an unencumbered edge of backing material free from connection to additional backing material, said first end of said backing material layer being coupled to said second portion of said layer of backing sheet material at said first end of said first portion of said layer of backing sheet material; and

(d) a releasable attachment element on said second end of said backing material layer, said attachment element permitting repeated releasing and reattaching of said second end of said backing material layer directly to said second face of said second portion of said layer of backing sheet material at said second end of said first portion of said layer of backing sheet material such that said flap is movable from a closed position covering the wound to an open position so that the wound can be selectively viewed by the user.

2. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said first end of said backing material layer is permanently attached directly to said layer of backing sheet material such that release and reattachment is not permitted and said second end is releasably attached directly said layer of backing sheet material to permit repeated opening and closing of said flap.

3. The external wound dressing of claim 2, wherein said first end of said backing material layer is attached to said layer of backing sheet material with an adhesive.

4. The external wound dressing of claim 2, wherein said first end of said backing material layer is attached to said layer of backing sheet material by hot pressing.

5. The external wound dressing of claim 2, wherein said first end of said backing material layer is attached to said layer of backing sheet material by stitching.

6. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said first end and said second end of said backing material layer are releasably attached directly to said layer of backing sheet material to permit repeated attachment and removal of the entire flap to and from said layer of backing sheet material.

7. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said releasable attachment element on said second end of said backing material layer is an adhesive.

8. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said flap further includes a gauze material adhered to said flap and facing the wound.

9. The external wound dressing of claim 8, further comprising an antibacterial agent impregnated in said gauze material of said flap.

10. The external wound dressing of claim 1, further comprising a tab at one end of said flap for reversibly moving said flap from the open to the closed position.

11. The external wound dressing of claim 1, further comprising a layer of protective sheet material covering said adhesive on said layer of backing sheet material, said layer being removable from said adhesive to enable said wound dressing to be applied to the wound.

12. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said releasable attachment element is a hook and loop fabric.

13. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said backing sheet material is a film.

14. The external wound dressing of claim 13, wherein said film is a polyurethane film.

15. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said layer of backing sheet material is formed from a two-way stretchable material.

16. The external wound dressing of claim 15, wherein said layer of backing sheet material is formed from a non-toxic, porous material.

17. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said layer of backing sheet material is formed from a non-toxic, porous material.

18. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said layer of backing sheet material is formed from a non-rigid, flexible fabric.

19. The external wound dressing of claim 18, wherein said fabric is selected from the group consisting of nylon, Dacron, polyethylene, cotton and linen.

20. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said backing sheet material is opaque.

21. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said layer of backing sheet material and said flap are decorated with a design.

22. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said flap is formed from the same material as said layer of backing sheet material.

23. The external wound dressing of claim 4, wherein said flap is formed from a material as said backing sheet material.

24. The external wound dressing of claim 1, wherein said flap is opaque.

25. An external wound dressing for selectively covering and uncovering a wound, said wound dressing comprising:

a layer of backing sheet material positioned on both sides of the wound and leaving an opening over the wound, said layer of backing sheet material having a first face and a second face;

an adhesive on said first face of said layer of backing sheet material, said adhesive being selected for ready adherence to the skin of a patient to thereby adhere said wound dressing to the skin of the patient;

a flap formed from a layer of backing material separate from said backing sheet material and having a first end and a second end, said first end of said flap being coupled to said first layer of backing sheet material on one side of the wound; and

a releasable attachment element on said second end of said flap, said attachment element permitting repeated releasing and reattaching of said second end of said flap directly to said second face of said layer of backing sheet material on the other side of the wound such that said flap is movable from a closed position covering the wound to an open position uncovering the wound.

26. The external wound dressing of claim 25, further comprising a sheet of release paper covering said adhesive on said layer of backing sheet material, said release paper being removable from said adhesive to enable said wound dressing to be applied to the wound.

27. The external wound dressing of claim 25, wherein said backing sheet material is a film.

28. The external wound dressing of claim 25, wherein said backing sheet material is a two-way stretchable material.

29. The external wound dressing of claim 28, wherein said backing sheet material is a non-toxic, porous material.

30. The external wound dressing of claim 25, wherein said backing sheet material is a non-rigid, flexible fabric.

31. The external wound dressing of claim 25, wherein said flap is formed from the same material as said backing sheet material.

32. The external wound dressing of claim 25, wherein said flap is formed from a material different from said backing sheet material.

33. The external wound dressing of claim 25, wherein said flap is opaque.