MXPA99006826A - Sterile adhesive bandage and associated methods. - Google Patents

Abstract

A bandage (12) encapsulated in a protective sterile covering is disclosed, whereby the bandage (12) may be removed from its sterile covering and applied with one hand without contamination of any portion of the bandage (12). The apparatus and method to manufacture the unique bandage is also disclosed.

Description

STERIL ADHESIVE BANDAGE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus for including a sterile. More particularly, this invention relates to a sterile adhesive bandage, encapsulated in a protective cover. The protective cover can be removed and the sterile bandage can be applied by a user with just one hand without contaminating any portion of the sterile bandage. This invention also relates to the method and apparatus for producing the sterile adhesive bandage contained in the protective cover, wherein the bandage can be removed from the protective cover and applied by the user with one hand.

II. DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE Through the years, refinements have been continually made to prepare bandages and other sterile devices. A plurality of sterile devices is usually contained in an interconnected series of sterile packets. Removing each device from the package that requires contact by the user. Protective gloves can be worn during the removal and handling of the sterile device, thus avoiding contamination, however, the use of sterile gloves is often not economical. i efficient. The various release systems have described that they assist the user in removing an individual sterile device from the package with only one hand. The following patents describe a release system which will prepare the sterile device, requiring only one command by the user: Haber, US Patent No. 4,733,797 (the patent? 97); Goldstein, U.S. Patent No. 4,807,753 (the "753 patent"); Moshel, U.S. Patent No. 3,520,403 (the patent 03); and Cooper, U.S. Patent No. 1,827,354 (the "354 patent"). Although these described delivery systems distribute the sterile device, requiring only one hand, the user also uses both hands in the final application of the sterile device. From now on, there is a need to pack a sterile device which can be distributed with one hand. A commonly packaged sterile device is an adhesive bandage. The conventional bandage includes a gauze pad attached to an adhesive coated bandage strip. When the bandage is applied to the desired surface, the user removes the adhesive bandage from the sterile package, contacting either the sterile gauze or a portion of the adhesive strip. This contact either contaminates the gauze pad or reduces the tactile adhesion of the adhesive strip. Taulbee, decedent and collaborators, in U.S. Patent No. 4,993,586 (the '586 patent), and Adams IV, U.S. Patent No. 3,835,992 (the x992 patent) both describe a package distributing adhesive bandage. Taulbee describes an adhesive bandage sandwiched between an upper and lower protective strip. The adhesive side of the bandage is mounted face down on the lower protective strip. One end of the adhesive strip preferably attached to a mounted pad. The mounted pad facilitates the removal of the bandage from the lower protective strip, however, two hands are required to remove the mounted pad from the adhesive strip, and a portion of the sterile bandage must be contacted by the user. Therefore, there is a need for a sterile device, such as a bandage that can be distributed and applied with one hand without contaminating any portion of the sterile device.

Adams, IV, describes a package that distributes the bandage similar to Taulbee, which distributes a bandage from a continuous roll. A similarly mounted pad separates one end of the adhesive strip from the lower protective strip. In use, the user must use two hands to separate the mounted pad from the adhesive strip. From now on, there is a need for a bandage which can be distributed and applied with only one hand. The present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bandage which can be applied without contaminating any portion of the bandage. In the preferred embodiment, the band can additionally be applied with only one hand without contaminating any portion of the band. The band is included in a sterile sealed package, by means of which the band can be removed from the package and applied to the desired surface with only one hand. The sterile package includes the bandage, comprising a flexible strip, a carrier member, a wound pad, a pull tab, and a release backrest.

The flexible strip has an adhesive coating deposited on at least the flat bottom surface of the strip. A wound pad is attached to the lower flat surface of the strip and centered such that a portion of the adhesive strip extends from each end of the wound pad. The strip and the wound pad are cut by die in a predetermined manner, thereby separating the wound pad and the strip in an outer surrounding frame and the inner bandage. The pull tab is additionally attached to the lower flat surface of the outer surrounding frame, adjacent to one end of the flexible strip. The flexible strip, the wound pad, and the pull tab are sandwiched between a carrier member and a release backrest. The carrier member has a light adhesion adhesive, whereby the bandage and surrounding outer frame of the adhesive strip is attached to the top surface of both. The release backing adheres to the bottom surface of the flexible adhesive strip, adhesive strip. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of bandages and the surrounding outer frames each have a carrier member attached thereto, being connected in series to the continuous roll of the release backrest. The bandages can be distributed individually from the roll. As the bandage is distributed, the bandage, the outer frame and the carrier member are separated from the release backrest. The user centers the wound pad on the desired location and presses the tongue and an adjacent portion of the adhesive strip against the desired surface. The remaining portion of the adhesive strip is pressed against the desired surface. By holding the pull tab, the user avoids any contaminating contact with the bandage, including contamination through the top surface of the bandage. The pull tab is then pulled away from the surface, separating the pull tab and the outer frame from the adhesive strip of the bandage. The outer frame of the bandage and the carrier member separated from the bandage leaving the bandage adhered to the desired surface. In this way, only one hand is required to distribute the bandage and apply the bandage to the desired surface. During the manufacture of the continuous roll of bandages an adhesive sheet can be used to form a plurality of interconnected bandages in rows and columns. The columns of bandages formed on the sheet can be separated, thereby forming a plurality of continuous rolls of bandages. In an alternate preferred embodiment, each bandage and the outer frame are attached to an independent release backrest. A plurality of these bands can be indicated and distributed independently. The pull tab is not attached to the release backrest, which helps the user to easily remove the release backing from the blindfold and outer frame. In another preferred embodiment, the flexible strip is constructed of a litmus paper, eliminating the need for a wound pad. The litmus paper can be removed from its similar package by removing the bandage, thereby avoiding any contaminating contact to the paper. Accordingly, a main object of the present invention provides a sterile adhesive bandage that can be removed from its package and apply with only one hand without any contaminating contact to the adhesive strip of the bandage or the wound pad. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sterile litmus paper which can be removed from its package without any contaminating contact to the litmus strip. Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a sterile bandage which can be distributed and applied by the user without contaminating the bandage. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a continuous roll of interconnected bandages which can be individually separated., distributed, and applied by the user using only one hand. Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a method of simultaneously manufacturing a sheet of adhesive material fabric, a plurality of continuous rolls of bandages. These and other objects, as well as these and other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to a person skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the claims and drawings they accompany in which the numerals are similar in the diverse views referred to the corresponding parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of interconnected bandages, forming a continuous roll of bandages; Figure 2 is a partial schematic perspective view of the interconnected bandages; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a continuous roll of bandages of the type shown in Figure 1 being distributed; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of bands indicated individually; Figure 5 is a partial perspective view along the interconnected bandages having the release backing partially removed; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an individual bandage being applied to a wrist of the patient. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a single bandage applied to a wrist of the wearer; Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of an inner bandage removed from the outer surrounding frame and the carrier member.

Figure 9 is a perspective view, partially in block, of the apparatus for manufacturing the bandage and its packaging; Y Fig. 10 is a flowchart of the steps necessary to manufacture a plurality of continuous rolls of bandage rolls of the type shown in Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a continuous roll 10 of the bandage 12 is generally shown. Each bandage 12 generally consists of a flexible adhesive strip 14, an outer surrounding frame 16, a carrier member 18, a wound pad 20, a pull tab 22, and a release backrest 24.

The wound pad 20 and the pull tab 22 are attached to the lower flat surface 28 of the adhesive strip 14 (see Figures 2 and 8). The bandage 12 is cut by die of the adhesive strip 14 and separated from the outer surrounding frame 16. A carrier member 18 is attached to the upper flat surface 26 of the bandage 12 and the surrounding outer frame 16. For illustrative purposes, the cut by die defines the shape of the bandage 12 which is shown as visible through the carrier member 18. The person skilled in the art will recognize that the carrier member can be made of transparent or opaque material. The lower flat surface 28 of the bandage 12 and the surrounding frame 16 are joined in a continuous roll of the release back 24, whereby a continuous roll 10 of interconnected bandages 12 is formed. The flexible strip 14 has an adhesive, suitable for medical applications, attached to the lower flat surface 28 of the strip. Without limitation, the flexible strip 14 may be of a transparent or opaque material: vinyl, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, or polyester. An adhesive can be formed on the upper surface 26 of the flexible strip 14 or the lower surface 30 of the carrier member 18. In the preferred embodiment, an adhesive is attached to the lower surface 30 of the carrier member 18. The adhesive is formulated so that when the bandage 12 is removed from the carrier member 18, the adhesive remains on the carrier member 18. Without limitation, this adhesive is a non-transferable lightweight adhesive commonly known in the industry as a high adhesion / low adhesion adhesive, and is available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota. The release back 24 is preferably made of a polymer, easily removable from the adhesive of the flexible strip. The pull tab 22 does not adhere to the release back 24, allowing the user to easily remove the release backing of an individual bandage 12. When the bandage 12 and the surrounding outer frame 16 are sandwiched between the carrier member 18 and the backing of release 24, an airtight seal is formed, whereby the wound pad 20 and the bandage 12 remain sterile. Referring to the following Figure 3, a continuous roll of bandages 10 is placed inside a spout 32, by means of which the bandage 12 can be distributed with only one hand. Band 12 is shown partially distributed. As the user pulls on the pull tab 22, the bandage 12, the outer surrounding frame 16, and the carrier member 13, together, an opening 34 leaves in the spout while the release back 24 is separated from the flexible adhesive strip 14 and is guided away through a guide channel 36. Each bandage 12, outer surrounding frame 16 and carrier member 18 are separated from the continuous roll 10 in a similar manner. An alternate preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 4. Each bandage 12 and outer frame 16 are attached to an independent strip of the release back 24. A plurality of bandages 12 are shown indicated and independently distributed, by means of which the arrows aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bandage 12 indicate the movement and direction of distribution. When the user distributes an indi-idually indicated bandage 12, the pull tab 22 assists the user in facilitating the removal of the release back 24 from the bandage 12 and the outer frame 16. Figures 5-7 further illustrate how the bandage 12 separates from the release backrest 24, from the carrier member 18 and the outer frame 16. The release backrest 24 is first removed from the lower flat surface 28 of the bandage 12 and the outer surrounding frame 16 (see Figure 5). The user then aligns the wound pad 20 on the desired surface and presses the adhesive strip 14 against the desired surface. The user then pulls the pull tab 22 away from the desired surface towards the other end of the adhesive strip 14. The bandage 12 is separated from the carrier member 18, while adhering to the desired surface. The outer surrounding frame 16 remains attached to the carrier member 18, when the pull tab 22 is used to detach the outer frame 16 and the carrier member 18 from the desired surface. In this way only one hand is required to distribute and apply the bandage 12 to the desired surface. Referring to the following Figures 9 and 10, an apparatus 36 for manufacturing a plurality of continuous rolls of bandages 10 is generally shown and described. The apparatus 36 includes various stations performing various functions on an adhesive strip 14 or the fabric roll 38 being continuously fed therethrough, thereby forming continuous rolls of bandages 10. After obtaining a sheet or roll of cloth 38 from material having adhesive deposited on at least one flat surface (see block 40), the continuous web roll 38 is fed past a first station 42, wherein a vacuum placing system 44, of known construction, ... systematically places the wound pad strips 20 in spaced relationship on the adhesive surface of the fabric roll 38 (see block 46). In an alternative preferred embodiment, the individual wound pads 20 are systematically placed on the adhesive surface of the fabric roll 38 and arranged in an isolated location. When the wound pad 20 is arranged on the fabric by insulated placement, a portion of the adhesive strip extends from the wound pad 20 from all sides of the wound pad. The fabric roll 38 continues forward to a second station 48, where the pull tab strips 22 are systematically located and attached to the fabric roll 38. The pull tab 22 is located on the fabric roll 38 at a predetermined distance from each wound pad 20 (see block 50) of course, an additional pull tab 22 can be attached and located at a predetermined distance from each wound pad 20, such that a pull tab 22 will be attached at each end of the adhesive strip 14. The person skilled in the art will recognize that the vacuum placement system 44 can either simultaneously or individually place the wound pad 20 and the pull tab 22 on the adhesive surface of the fabric roll 38. As shown in FIG. shows the vacuum placement system, has two independent vacuum plates, however, one skilled in the art will recognize that a vacuum plate can be used to place the wound pad 20 and the pull tab 22 on the adhesive surface of the fabric roll 28 in spaced relation, either simultaneously or independently. The guide rollers 52 direct the fabric roll 38 onto a sheet roll of the release back 24, by means of which the release back 24 is pressed against the lower adhesive surface 14 of the adhesive strip 14 or the fabric roll 38. The release backing 24 is thereby attached to the fabric roll 38, sealingly covering the wound pad 20 and the pull tab 22 (see block). A first die 56 of known construction has a predetermined shape of die cutting / light cuff cuts of the wound pad 20 and the roll of cloth 22 to the release back in a plurality of bands having predetermined shapes (see block 58) . The carrier member 18 guided in contact with the fabric roll 38 and the release back 24 by a guide roller 60 (see block 62). The carrier member 18 adheres to the upper surface 26 of the fabric roll 38, whereby the fabric roll 38 is sealed between the carrier member and the release back 24. A second die cut 64 of known construction of the cut by punching / cutting by lightly hitting the release backing of the fabric roll and the carrier member along its widths, thereby defining the rows of the bandage strips (see block 66). Finally, as the roll of compressed fabric 38, the carrier member 18 and the release back 24 are wound on a reel 68, a cutter 72 cuts the compressed fabric roll 38, the carrier member 18 and the release back 24 a along its longitudinal axis, thereby forming various continuous rolls of interconnected bandages 10 (see block 70). The person skilled in the art will recognize that the various stations can be connected to the central frame 74 or connected to various integral frames. Once a desired length of the continuous roll is wound on the spool 68 which rotates on a spindle 74, a slicer or cutter separates the roll, and the various continuous rolls are removed from the spindle. This invention has been even described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide the skilled person with the necessary information to apply the principles of novelty and to construct and use such specialized components as required. However, this is understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices, and that the various modifications, both with respect to the detailed equipment and operating procedures, can be made without departing from the scope of the invention by themselves.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (18)

1. A device that includes a strip that can be removed from its sealed closure without contaminating any portion of the strip, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a strip that is cut by a die to separate the strip on an inner strip and the outer surrounding frame; (b) a removable carrier member attached to said upper planar surface of said strip; (c) a removable release backing attached to the lower flat surface of said strip, which comprises said inner strip and said outer surrounding frame between said release backing and said carrier member.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip has an adhesive coating deposited on a lower flat surface of said strip.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally includes a wound pad attached to the lower flat surface of said strip, wherein said wound pad is centered on the lower flat surface of said strip.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of inner strips and outer surrounding frames have attached carrying members which are aligned and connected in series to a continuous roll of the release backrest.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of inner strips and outer surrounding frames have bearer members attached thereto that are aligned and joined in rows and columns to a continuous sheet roll of the release backing.

6. A bandage that can be removed from its sealed package without contaminating any portion of the bandage, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a flexible strip having an adhesive coating deposited on at least one of the upper and lower flat surfaces of said flexible strip; a removable carrier member attached to said top flat surface of said flexible strip; a wound pad attached to the lower flat surface of said flexible strip, wherein a first portion of said flexible strip extending from a first end of said wound pad and a second portion of said flexible strip extending from a second end of said wound pad, said wound pad and said flexible strip are die cut to separate the flexible strip and the wound pad in a bandage and outer surrounding frame; a pull tab joined to the lower flat surface of said outer surrounding frame; and a removable release backing attached to the lower flat surface of said flexible strip, which comprises said bandage and said outer surrounding frame between said release backing and said carrier member.

7. The bandage according to claim 6, characterized in that a plurality of bands and outer surrounding frames have attached carrying members which are aligned and joined in series to a continuous roll of the release backrest.

8. The bandage according to claim 6, characterized in that a plurality of bandages and outer surrounding frames have carrier members attached thereto which are aligned and joined in rows and columns to a continuous roll of the release backrest.

9. A method of producing a bandage that can be applied with only one hand, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a flexible strip having an adhesive coating deposited on at least one of the upper and lower flat surfaces of said strip; (b) attaching a wound pad to a lower flat surface of said strip; (c) attaching a pull tab to the lower flat surface of said strip proximate one end of said strip; (d) attaching a removable release backing to the lower flat surface of said flexible strip; (e) cutting the strip in a predetermined manner thereby defining a bandage and an outer surrounding frame, wherein said pull tab is attached to the outer surrounding frame; and (f) attaching a removable carrier member to an upper flat surface of said bandage and said outer surrounding frame.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of forming a continuous roll of bandages, wherein a plurality of outer bandages and surrounding frames having carrier members attached thereto that are aligned and joined in series to the continuous roll of the release backrest.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of forming a continuous sheet roll of bandages, wherein a plurality of outer wrapping bands and frames having bearer members attached thereto that are aligned and joined in rows and columns to a roll of continuous sheet of the back of 1 release.

12. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of individually distributing the bandage from a distributor.

13. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of distributing each individual bandage from a distributor.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that it additionally includes the step of cutting the continuous sheet roll of the release backing between each column of bandages and outer surrounding frames, thereby forming a continuous roll of bandages.

15. The method according to the rei indication 14, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of distributing an individual bandage from a container having a continuous roll of bandages contained therein.

16. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the step of cutting the strip into a predetermined shape additionally comprises cutting the uniform wound pad with the predetermined cutting of said strip.

17. An apparatus for manufacturing a plurality of continuous rolls of bandages, characterized in that each bandage can be applied with only one hand, characterized in that it comprises: a) a frame; b) a roll of fabric having a coating of adhesive deposited on a lower flat surface of said roll of fabric, said roll of fabric is rotatably attached to said frame; c) an integral means with said frame for joining a plurality of wound pads in a spaced relation to said flat surface of said roll of fabric; d) an integral means with said frame for joining a plurality of tabs in spaced relation of said wound pads to said lower flat surface of said roll of fabric; a means connected to said frame for applying a sheet roll of the release backing to the lower flat surface of said roll of fabric then the tab and the wound pad are joined together; an integral means with said frame to form a plurality of bandages of said roll of fabric and wound pad; the means connected to said frame for applying a carrier member to an upper flat surface of said roll of fabric then the plurality of bandages of said roll of fabric and wound pad are formed; and an integral means of said frame for dividing the bearer member into a plurality of individual bearer members, said individual bearer members being aligned and associated with each band.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that it additionally includes a means for cutting the roll of fabric, the release backing, the carrying member and the tongue, which forms a plurality of continuous rolls of bandages.