EA040667B1 - RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID PROTECTIVE ELEMENT FOR WOUND COVERING - Google Patents

Description

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a protective element, and in particular, it relates to an element for protecting a human skin area containing a wound.

Prerequisites for the creation of the invention

It is known that in the case of wounds, abrasions, scratches or the like. it is necessary to protect them from dirt or infection, and at the same time it is necessary to prevent contamination of the clothes worn by the person due to the wound itself.

For this purpose, various types of wound protection elements applied to human skin, such as, for example, plasters, are well known. They contain an adhesive portion which is intended to adhere to the skin and a non-adhesive portion which is intended to come into contact with the wound.

However, the patches do not protect the wound from impact, and contact with the wound prevents it from healing quickly.

Rigid devices are well known for this purpose and must be placed between the wound and the dressing in order to prevent the latter from coming into contact with the same wound.

Some examples of such devices are known from US 2004/127838, US 4972829, US 3976066 and US 6110197.

Such prior art devices are poorly adaptable to the different structures of the various regions of the human body, in particular to curved regions, with the risk of ineffectiveness, irritation and/or the risk of inconspicuous detachment.

Brief description of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, at least in part, the disadvantages illustrated above by providing a high performance wound protection element.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wound protection element that is particularly inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wound protection element that is adaptable to various parts of the human body.

Such purposes, as well as others that will be more clearly understood below, are satisfied by the protective element for wounds as described, shown and/or claimed herein.

The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Brief description of graphic materials

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the security element 1, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 show perspective views of various embodiments of the security element 1;

in fig. 5 and 6 are schematic side views of various applications of an embodiment of the security element 1;

in fig. 9a is an axonometric view of an embodiment of the security element 1;

in fig. 9b is a view of an embodiment of the security element 1 of FIG. 9a with the front section and rear section 20' removed;

in fig. 10 is an axonometric view of an embodiment of the security element 1.

Detailed Description of Some Preferred Embodiments

With reference to the above figures, a rigid or semi-rigid wound protector 1 is described which is intended to be attached to a human skin area surrounding a wound F for protection.

It is understood that although the inventors will generally refer to wound F hereinafter, the protective element can equally be used in the event of an abrasion, scratch, infection, boil, acne, burn, tattoo, or any similar case requiring protection and/or dressing, without departure from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

As will be better explained below, the protective element 1 can be designed so that, after being applied to the skin of a person, the wound F does not come into contact with clothing or dressings, both to protect the wound and to prevent clothing or dressings from becoming contaminated with blood, pus or drugs. .

The present invention contains several similar or identical parts and/or elements. Unless otherwise indicated, similar or identical parts and/or elements will be identified by a single reference number, which means that the specifications described are common to all similar or identical parts and/or elements.

The security elements 1 may comprise a single laminate of rigid or semi-rigid polymeric material, which may preferably be or consist of an optically transparent or translucent polymeric material. For example, such

- 1 040667 the material may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The protective element 1 may include at least one covering part 2, essentially concave, designed to maintain a position facing the wound F, and located at a distance from the latter. It is clear that the concavity can therefore be turned towards wound F.

In particular, the covering part 2 may remain at a distance from the wound F and there may be several edges 5 of the base intended to come into contact with the skin, preferably in a peripheral area relative to the wound F itself.

The cover part 2 may comprise a top section 10, essentially flat or slightly curved, and several peripheral sections 20, 20', each of which extends from the first of the above to connect it with the corresponding section 6 of the corresponding edge 5 of the base.

In particular, the cover part 2 may comprise a pair of peripheral sections 20, preferably equal to each other, and possibly a pair of front and rear sections 20', preferably also equal to each other.

For example, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-9b includes both peripheral portions 20 and front and rear portions 20', wherein the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 contains only peripheral portions 20.

The peripheral portions 20 and the front and rear portions 20' may be substantially integral with each other, for example as shown in FIG. 3, or they may be interspersed with one or more discontinuities so as to be movable in a substantially independent manner, for example as shown in FIG. 1 and 2.

Optionally, the peripheral portions 20 and the front and rear portions 20' may be connected by means of connectors 21, which may be selectively removed by the user or service person according to needs.

According to a particular aspect of the present invention, each peripheral portion 20 and, if present, the front and rear portions 20' may be rotatably connected to the upper portion 10 in at least one section 12 thereof.

In particular, the section 12 of the top section 10 can define a longitudinal axis X' acting as an axis of mutual rotation between the same top section 10 and the corresponding peripheral section 20 or the front or rear section 20'.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 1-9b containing both the peripheral portions 20 and the front and rear portions 20', the upper portion 10 may have four sections 12 which substantially define its perimeter.

On the other hand, the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, which contains only peripheral portions 20, may include a pair of sections 12 facing each other.

Preferably, the upper section 10 may be elongated to define the main axis Y of extension. Optionally, the top portion 10 may have a substantially polygonal planform, preferably, but not exclusively, a substantially rectangular planform.

According to a particular preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion 10 may be substantially flat or slightly curved to define the plane π and may face the wound F and be located at a distance from the latter due to the peripheral portions 20, 20'.

Accordingly, attachment means 40 may be provided for attaching the cover portion 10 to the skin surrounding the wound F to be protected.

In particular, the fastening means 40 may provide at least one pair of plates 41 which may be movable independently of one another. Preferably, the plates 41 may be located on opposite sides of the cover 2 in a consistent position with the peripheral portions 20.

According to a specific aspect of the present invention, the plates 41 may have a visible top surface 42 and a bottom surface 43 designed to come into contact with the skin. A dressing, gauze, one or more patches, or the like may be provided to attach the plates 41 to the user's skin.

Advantageously, each plate 41 can be pivotally connected to the cover part 2 in a coordinated position with the edges 5 of the base to allow mutual rotation.

In particular, the plates 41 can be pivotally connected to the edge 5 of the base in at least one of its sections 6.

Section 6 may define a longitudinal axis X acting as an axis of mutual rotation of the plate 41 and the cover portion 2. Accordingly, the longitudinal axis X and the longitudinal axis X' may be substantially parallel to each other.

This configuration provides coverage for wounds F located anywhere in the human body, even if there are kinks or joints. Of course, the independent mobility of the plates 41 will provide excellent fastening of the covering element 1 regardless of the configuration of the area surrounding the wound F to be covered.

For example, in the case where the protective element 2 is attached to the elbow, it may be possible to bend the arm without the need for annoying and/or interfering movement of the same protective element 2 and without the need to detach the same protective element 2 from the skin.

This extreme adaptability is also provided by the inherent flexibility of the polymeric material of which the cover element 1 is made, which is flexible when necessary to adapt to the structure of the area surrounding the wound F, but which nevertheless allows the upper area 10 to always be kept on distance from the latter at a height h.

In addition, the rotatability of the peripheral portions 20 and, if present, 20' allows a given height h to be reduced or increased depending on the needs. For example, it may be possible to increase this height h in case particularly bulky dressings are needed, or it may be possible to decrease it in order to limit bulkiness or discomfort of the same protective element 1.

Accordingly, the bottom surface 43 may be adhesive. For example, an adhesive tape connected to the same bottom surface may be provided in a manner known per se, otherwise a layer of adhesive or the like may be provided.

Optionally, a layer of adhesive material, such as adhesive gauze, can be provided on the lower surfaces 43 of the plates 41. In this way, on the one hand, it can be possible to facilitate the adhesion of the protective element 1 to the skin, and, on the other hand, it can be possible providing more comfortable contact between the protective element and the skin itself, in particular between the plates 41 and the skin.

Accordingly, the cover portion 2 may comprise one or more removable portions selectively separated from it.

In a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the present invention, such removable portions may be defined by one or more peripheral portions 20 or front or rear portions 20'.

For example, in FIG. 7 shows two security elements 1 where the front portion 20' has been removed. Thus, it is possible to place the guards next to each other, or to place them overlapping one another along the Y-axis, to cover a wound of any length.

On the other hand, in FIG. 9b shows the security element 1 with the front and rear portions 20' removed, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 9a.

In such a situation, it is also possible to place the guards next to each other or to place them in an overlap along the Y-axis to cover a wound of any length.

It is clear that the peripheral portions 20 can be made removable, regardless of the possibility of removing the front and rear portions 20'. In other words, the peripheral portions 20 and/or the front and rear portions 20' may define the portions to be removed.

Thus, it is possible to place the guards next to each other or to place them in an overlapping manner, both along the Y-axis and in a direction perpendicular to it, to cover a wound F of any size.

In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the cover portion 2 may be composed of a plurality of sections 2' modularly arranged side by side, all of which are equal to each other, each of which defines the area to be removed. In this case, the removal of one or more removable sections 2' can provide a selective change in the size of the security element 1 and, in particular, its length taken along the Y axis.

For example, the latter may be sold with a given number of sections, and its length may be reduced in accordance with the needs by removing one or more removable sections or sections 2'.

It will be appreciated that the cover portion 2 may even have only one portion made up of sections, such as a central portion, and removable continuous portions, such as a front and rear portion, as shown in FIG. 9a and 9b.

In addition, it is clear that the removed areas 2' can be of any size, not necessarily equal to each other.

Therefore, it is clear that due to the above characteristics, it may be possible to change the configuration of the protective element in accordance with the size and/or location of the wound F to be protected.

In order to facilitate the removal of the areas to be removed, each of the latter can be operatively connected to the rest of the covering part 2 by means of a dividing line which contains means 30 for weakening the layered element from which the protective element is made.

The dividing lines may, for example, be sections 12 in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1-8 or edges 12' in the embodiments shown in FIG. 9a-10.

The weakening means 30 may be of a substantially known type. For example, they can be defined by thinning the cover part 2 in a consistent position with the dividing lines

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Claims (8)

and/or a plurality of through holes aligned along the latter. Thanks to these elements, it is possible to mutually separate the areas to be removed in a controlled manner from the rest of the covering part 2 by acting along the corresponding dividing line, for example by tearing or pulling. Perhaps, as shown in Fig. 2, locking means 25, preferably of a removable type, can be provided for holding the peripheral portions 20, 20' in position so that even after impacts and/or bandages, the protective element 1 does not deform, i.e. so that the upper section 10 remains at a distance from the wound F. For example, the locking means 25 may be plates to connect two adjacent peripheral portions 20, 20' to prevent rotation relative to the upper portion 10. On the other hand, the peripheral sections 20 and, if present, the anterior and posterior sections 20' can be detached from each other in order to provide maximum mutual independent mobility. In other words, the peripheral sections 20 and, if present, the anterior and posterior sections 20' can be connected exclusively to the upper section 10 in a consistent position with the respective sections 12, at the same time they can be disconnected from each other. According to a specific aspect of the present invention, the cover portion 2 may include at least one opening 50 passing through it to allow ventilation of the wound F and/or insertion of catheters, needles or the like. In particular, openings 50 may be located in the upper portion 10 and/or in one or more peripheral portions 20, 20'. Accordingly, the security element 1 may comprise at least one cover element 60 which can be connected to the top section 10 and/or the peripheral sections 20 in order to cover one or more through holes 50. Preferably the cover element 60 can be selectively removable by the user. or by a caregiver to ensure better ventilation of the wound F according to needs. For example, there may be a through slot 50 extending longitudinally, or a pair of slots 50 located in the upper portion 10, and a sheet member 60 of an equivalent shape connected to the upper portion 10 by two removable points. According to another aspect of the present invention, identification elements may be provided, for example, to easily and quickly identify the size of the security element 1, or purpose, or other similar characteristics. The identification features may be, for example, an embossed code, a writing area, or the like, and they may be positioned in a consistent position with the top area 10 so that they are easily visible to the user or service person. On the other hand, the identification element may be an R-FID tag, possibly embedded in the layered element from which the security element 1 is made. Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 8, an adhesive element 80 may be provided to assist in the adhesion of the protective element 1 to the skin. In particular, the adhesive element 80 may have a substantially rectangular shape, and yet it may have a central hole 81 to remain in a consistent position with the surfaces 42 of the plates 41, ie. only in a coordinated position with the peripheral portions 20, thus the upper portion 10 remains essentially transparent. According to a specific aspect of the present invention, the security element 1 can be produced by thermoforming or injection molding or by stamping and bending a sheet of polymeric material, thereby obtaining a multilayer element. Thus, the production cost of the security element 1 can be particularly low. In addition, according to a particular embodiment, the entire security element 1 may comprise an adhesive layer in order to simplify and speed up the processing steps. The present invention is susceptible to numerous modifications, all of which fall within the protection scope of the appended claims. All parts may be replaced by other technically equivalent items and materials may vary as required without deviating from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. CLAIM 1. Protective element for wounds (F), containing a single multilayer element, essentially, from a rigid or semi-rigid polymeric material, which contains at least one essentially concave covering part (2) containing an upper section (10), along essentially flat or slightly curved, intended to face the wound (F), and placed at a distance from the latter; at least one pair of edges (5) of the base, designed to come into contact with the skin surrounding the wound (F); at least one pair of peripheral sections (20), each of which passes between the specified upper section (10) and the corresponding edge (5) of the base; - 4 040667 at least one through hole (50) to ensure ventilation of the wound (F) and/or insertion of catheters; at least one pair of plates (41), each of which extends from the respective edge (5) of the base for attaching (40) said at least one covering part (2) to the skin surrounding the wound (F) for protection, each the plate (41) comprises a lower surface (43) intended to come into contact with the skin and an opposite upper surface (42); wherein the specified at least one covering part (2) contains at least one removable section (20, 20'; 2'), selectively separated from it, thus providing a change in the configuration of the protective element in accordance with the shape, size and/or the position of the wound (F) to be protected, said at least one removable section (20, 20'; 2') is operatively connected to the rest of said at least one covering part (2) by means of at least one dividing line (12; 12'), which provides means (30) for weakening said multilayer element, thus ensuring its directional mutual separation by acting along said at least one separating line (12; 12'); wherein each plate (41) is rotatably connected to the edge (5) of the base in at least one of its first sections (6), which defines the first axis (X) of mutual rotation of the plate (41) and the corresponding peripheral section (20); characterized in that each of said peripheral sections (20) is rotatably connected to said upper section (10) in at least one second section (12) of the latter (10), defining a second axis (X') for mutual rotation of said upper section (10) and the corresponding peripheral section (20), while said first and second axes (X, X') of rotation are essentially parallel to each other. 2. The protective element according to claim 1, characterized in that said weakening means (30) comprise a thinning of said multilayer element in a consistent position with said dividing line (12; 12') and/or a plurality of through holes aligned along the latter. 3. A security element according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper portion (10) is substantially elongated in order to define the main extension axis (Y). 4. A security element according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper section (10) has a substantially quadrangular shape in plan, preferably rectangular. 5. The security element according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one covering part (2) comprises or consists of a plurality of sections (2') modularly arranged side by side, each of which defines a respective removable section, wherein said sections (2') are preferably equal to each other, wherein the removal of one or more of said sections (2') provides a selective change in size along said main axis (Y) of extent. 6. The security element according to claim 5, characterized in that said peripheral portions (20) face each other and extend substantially parallel to said main axis (Y) of extent, wherein a pair of front and rear portions ( 20') extending in a substantially perpendicular manner with respect to said peripheral portions (20), wherein at least one of said peripheral portions (20) and/or front and rear portions (20') define said at least one removable a section, while the removal of the latter provides for the placement of two or more protective elements next to each other or placement with overlap along the specified main axis (Y) of extent and / or perpendicular to it. 7. Security element according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower surface (43) of each plate (41) is adhesive. 8. The protective element according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one closing element (60) connected to said at least one through hole (50) to protect, thus, the latter, while said at least at least one closing element (60) is selectively removable by the user or service person. -