JACKET FOR WATERTIGHT SEALING A MEDICAL DEVICE

Abstract

A jacket for watertight sealing a medical device is disclosed. The jacket includes a flexible envelope having a first side and an opposing second side. The first side has a first sealing lip configured to surround the medical device and a second sealing lip spaced from the first sealing lip and configured to surround the medical device. The flexible envelope has an envelope contacting sealing end that is fixedly connectable to the opposing second side. A method of using the inventive jacket includes mounting a medical device on a skin site of an extremity of a user and placing the jacket onto the skin site such that the first sealing lip and the second sealing lip surround the medical device. The flexible envelope is then wrapped around the extremity and fixedly connects the envelope contacting sealing end to the opposing second side of the flexible envelope.

Claims

1. A jacket for watertight sealing a medical device, comprising: a flexible envelope having a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the first side comprises (i) a first sealing lip configured to surround the medical device and (ii) a second sealing lip spaced from the first sealing lip and configured to surround the medical device; and the flexible envelope further comprising an envelope contacting sealing end that is fixedly connectable to the opposing second side of the flexible envelope.

2. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein the second sealing lip surrounds the first sealing lip.

3. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein the flexible envelope comprises a low elasticity section.

4. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein the medical device has a height h.sub.md, wherein, in a compressed state of the first sealing lip, the first sealing lip has a first sealing lip height that is larger than the medical device height h.sub.md.

5. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein the second sealing lip comprises first and second portions.

6. The jacket according to claim 5, wherein the first portion at least partially runs along an outer edge of the flexible envelope.

7. The jacket according to claim 5, wherein first portion ends of the first portion respectively contact second portion ends of the second portion, wherein the first portion ends are located on opposing sides relative to a longitudinal axis of the flexible envelope.

8. The jacket according to claim 5, wherein the first portion is a skin contacting portion and the second portion is an interlocking portion configured to contact the opposing second side of the flexible envelope and configured to be arranged next to the first portion, thereby establishing a form-fit connection.

9. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein the envelope contacting sealing end is made of a material which is more elastic than a material of a remaining portion of the flexible envelope.

10. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second sealing lips are inflatable and/or compressible.

11. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein the first side comprises an adhesive.

12. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein the flexible envelope is at least partially made of a transparent material.

13. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein the first side is at least partially colored with a first color and the opposing second side is at least partially colored with a second color different from the first color.

14. The jacket according to claim 1, further comprising a humidity sensor.

15. A method for watertight sealing a medical device, comprising: a) mounting a medical device on a skin site of an extremity of a user; b) placing the jacket according to claim 1 onto the skin site such that the first sealing lip and the second sealing lip surround the medical device; and c) wrapping the flexible envelope around the extremity and fixedly connecting the envelope contacting sealing end to the opposing second side of the of flexible envelope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0116] The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0117] FIGS. 1A to 1E show an exemplary embodiment of a jacket according to this disclosure in a top view (FIG. 1A) and in various cross-sectional views (FIGS. 1B to 1E); and

[0118] FIGS. 2A to 2B show a further exemplary embodiment of a jacket according to this disclosure in a top view (FIG. 2A) and in a cross-sectional view (FIG. 2B).

DESCRIPTION

[0119] The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of this disclosure.

[0120] FIGS. 1A to 1E show an exemplary embodiment of a jacket 110 according to this disclosure in a top view (FIG. 1A) and in various cross-sectional views (FIGS. 1B to 1E).

[0121] FIG. 1A shows a jacket 110 for watertight sealing a medical device 112 in a top view in a state before mounting. The medical device 112 is also depicted in FIG. 1A. However, the medical device 112 itself may not be part of the jacket 110. The jacket 110 comprises at least one flexible envelope 114. The flexible envelope 114 comprises at least one first side 116, specifically at least one skin facing first side 117, and at least one second side 120, specifically at least one opposing second side 118 which may specifically face away from the skin. Thus, the second side 120 may also be referred to as outside facing second side 121. In the top view as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the skin facing first side 117 is shown. The skin facing first side 117 and the opposing second side 118 may respectively correspond to longitudinal sides 122 of the flexible envelope 114. The flexible envelope 114 may specifically have an elongate shape such as an oval shape. However, other shapes may also be feasible. Further, the flexible envelope 114 may be made at least partially of at least one elastic material.

[0122] The flexible envelope 114 comprises at least one first sealing lip 124 configured to surround the medical device 112 and at least one second sealing lip 126 configured to surround the first sealing lip 124 and the medical device 112. The second sealing lip 126 is spaced apart from the first sealing lip 124. Specifically, the flexible envelope 114 may comprise at least one substrate 128 and the first sealing lip 124 and the second sealing lip 126 may respectively be attached to the substrate 128 such as by being adhered to a surface 130 of the substrate 128.

[0123] In the top view as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the first sealing lip 124 may have a rectangular shape. However, other shapes may be feasible such as a shape close or identical to a top view shape of the medical device. The first sealing lip 124 may form an open compartment 132 for the medical device 112.

[0124] The second sealing lip 126 may comprise a first portion 134 and a second portion 136. The first portion 134 may at least partially run along an outer edge 138 of the flexible envelope 114. Specifically, the first portion 134 may be aligned with the outer edge 138 of the flexible envelope 114. The second portion 136 may extend transverse to a first direction of extension 140 of the first portion 134. Further, the second portion 136 may extend transverse to a second direction of extension 142 of the flexible envelope 114. The first direction of extension 140 of the first portion 134 may correspond to the second direction of extension 142 of the flexible envelope 114. Specifically, in the top view of the flexible envelope 114 such as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the second portion 136 may have an arch-shape. The second portion 136 may have at least two second portion ends 144. The first portion 134 may have at least two first portion ends 146. The first portions ends 146 of the first portion 134 may respectively be firmly bonded to the second portion ends 144 of the second portion 136. The first portion ends 146 of the first portion 134 may be located on opposing sides relative to a longitudinal axis 148 of the flexible envelope 114.

[0125] The flexible envelope 114 further comprises at least one envelope contacting sealing end 150. The skin facing first side 117 of the envelope contacting sealing end 150 is fixedly connectable to the outside facing second side 121 of the flexible envelope 114 such as during mounting of the jacket 110. Specifically, in the top view of the flexible envelope 114 as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the flexible envelope 114 may have two opposing ends 152. One first end 154 may have at least parts of the second sealing lip 126, specifically at least parts of the first portion 134 of the second sealing lip 126. One second end 156 may correspond to the envelope contacting sealing end 150.

[0126] In FIG. 1B a cross-sectional view through line A-A as illustrated in FIG. 1A is shown. The cross-sectional view shows the second sealing lip 126, specifically the first portion 134 and the second portion 136 of the second sealing lip. In the cross-sectional view as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the second sealing lip 126 may have a round ground shape. Specifically, a first portion height h.sub.p1 of the first portion 134 may be identical to a second portion height h.sub.p2 of the second portion 136.

[0127] In FIG. 1C a cross-sectional view through line B-B as illustrated in FIG. 1A is shown. The cross-sectional view shows the first sealing lip 124. As outlined above, the first sealing lip 124 surrounds the medical device 112. Specifically, the first sealing lip 124 may form the open compartment 132 for the medical device 112. Thus, the medical device 112 may be enclosed on one longitudinal side 158 of the medical device 112 by the surface 130 of the flexible envelope 114. On shorter sides 160 of the medical device 112 the medical device 112 may be enclosed by the first sealing lip 124. The medical device 112 may have a medical device height h.sub.md. In a compressed state after mounting the jacket the medical device height h.sub.md may be smaller than a first sealing lip height h.sub.sl1 of the first sealing lip 124.

[0128] In FIG. 1D a cross-sectional view through line C-C as illustrated in FIG. 1A is shown. The cross-sectional view shows the second sealing lip 136, specifically the first portion 134 of the second sealing lip 136. As can be seen in FIG. 1D, the second sealing lip 136 may be aligned with the outer edge 138 of the flexible envelope 114.

[0129] In FIG. 1E a further cross-sectional view of the jacket 110 is shown. In FIG. 1E, the jacket 110 is shown in a mounted state 162. Thus, FIG. 1E shows a cross-sectional view of an extremity 164, specifically of an arm 166, of a user or a patient wearing a medical device 112 attachable to the skin, wherein the jacket 110 is wrapped around the extremity 164.

[0130] The medical device 112 may be attached to a skin site 168 of the extremity 164. Specifically, the medical device 112 may have an insertable element 170. The insertable element 170 may at least partially be located within or under the skin of the extremity 164.

[0131] The flexible envelope 114 may encircle the extremity 164 fully. Thereby, the first sealing lip 124 may surround the medical device 112. The second portion 136 may be configured to establish a form-fit connection with at least one section 176 of the first portion 134. Specifically, the first portion 134 may be a skin contacting portion 178 configured for contacting the skin site 168. The second portion 136 may be an interlocking portion 180 configured for contacting the second side 120 of the flexible envelope 114 and for being arranged next to the first portion 134, specifically next to a lateral surface 182 of the first portion, thereby establishing the form-fit connection. The skin facing first side 117 of the envelope contacting sealing end 150 is fixedly connectable to the outside facing second side 120 of the flexible envelope.

[0132] Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1E, when wrapping the flexible envelope 114 around the extremity 164, the second portion 136 of the second sealing lip may be pulled over the first sealing lip 124 which contacts the skin site 168. Thereafter, the envelope contacting sealing end 150 may further be wrapped around the extremity 164 such that the envelope contacting sealing end 150 covers the medical device 112 and the first sealing lip 124. Specifically, the envelope contacting sealing end 150 may be wrapped around the extremity on a part of the flexible envelope 114 opposite the medical device 112. An interlocking of the second portion 136 with the first portion 134 may take place. Thereafter the envelope contacting sealing end 150 may be fixedly attached to the second side of the flexible envelope 114. Thus, the envelope contacting sealing end 150 may be laid up on the second side 120 of the flexible envelope 114.

[0133] FIGS. 2A to 2B show a further exemplary embodiment of a jacket 110 according to this disclosure in a top view (FIG. 2A) and in a cross-sectional view (FIGS. 2B). The jacket 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B correspond at least partially to the jacket 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1E. Thus, reference can be made to the description of FIGS. 1A to 1E above.

[0134] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first side 116, specifically the envelope contacting sealing end 150, may comprise at least one third sealing lip 172. The third sealing lip 172 may run along the outer edge 138 of the flexible envelope 114. Further, third ends 174 of the third sealing lip 172 may be in direct contact with the first ends 154 of the first portion 134 of the second sealing lip 126. Specifically, the third sealing lip 172 and the second sealing lip 126 may be formed as a single piece. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the third sealing lip 172 may be configured to contact the second side 120 of the flexible envelope 114.

[0135] While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0136] 110 jacket

[0137] 112 medical device

[0138] 114 flexible envelope

[0139] 116 first side

[0140] 117 skin facing first side

[0141] 118 opposing second side

[0142] 120 second side

[0143] 121 outside facing second side

[0144] 122 longitudinal side

[0145] 124 first sealing lip

[0146] 126 second sealing lip

[0147] 128 substrate

[0148] 130 surface

[0149] 132 open compartment

[0150] 134 first portion

[0151] 136 second portion

[0152] 138 outer edge

[0153] 140 first direction of extension

[0154] 142 second direction of extension

[0155] 144 second portion end

[0156] 146 first portion end

[0157] 148 longitudinal axis

[0158] 150 envelope contacting sealing end

[0159] 152 end

[0160] 154 first end

[0161] 156 second end

[0162] 158 longitudinal side

[0163] 160 shorter side

[0164] 162 mounted state

[0165] 164 extremity

[0166] 166 arm

[0167] 168 skin site

[0168] 170 insertable element

[0169] 172 third sealing lip

[0170] 174 third end

[0171] 176 section

[0172] 178 skin contacting portion

[0173] 180 interlocking portion

[0174] 182 lateral surface