PROTECTIVE DEVICE AS A TEMPORARY SEAL DURING SEXUAL ACTIVITIES FOR PREVENTING URINARY TRACT AND BLADDER INFLAMMATION

Abstract

The invention relates to a patch for covering a body site, such as the anus, to a method for applying the patch, and to the use of the patch.

Claims

1. A patch (10) for covering a body site, where the patch (10) a. has a thickness in a range from 5 to 5000 m, b. has a patch carrier layer (16), c. has a bonding layer of the patch carrier layer (18), characterized in that the bonding layer of the patch carrier layer (18) in as-designated usage of the patch (10) is configured for complete adhesion on the body site, and d. has an application layer (12), which i. has a tab (32) into which at least one finger (30) can engage for application of the patch (10), or ii. has a bonding layer of the application layer (22), to which at least one finger (30) is bonded temporarily for application of the patch (10), and an application parting layer (24), or iii. protrudes at least partially beyond the patch carrier layer (16), where at least the patch carrier layer (16) on as-designated application of the patch (10) is creased and/or bent and/or folded at an angle () of 0 to 170 along a center axis (A), by virtue of the application layer (12) on as-designated application of the patch (10) being creased and/or bent and/or folded along the center axis (A) or cut through along the center axis (A) and e. has an adhesion layer or bonding layer of the application layer (14).

2. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the patch carrier layer (16) and/or the bonding layer of the patch carrier layer (18) is transparent.

3. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the patch carrier layer (16) has no pores and/or venting holes.

4. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the application layer (12) is detachable in one piece from the patch carrier layer (16).

5. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the application layer (12) is cut through straight along the center axis (A).

6. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the application layer (12) is cut through along the center axis (A) in such a way that two application layer halves (12a,b) are disposed at a distance from one another on the patch carrier layer (16).

7. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the application layer (12) is creased and/or bent and/or folded along the center axis (A).

8. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the application layer (12) has a marking along the center axis (A).

9. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the patch (10) has no nonwoven, no foam material, and no wound pad.

10. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bonding layer of the patch carrier layer (18) and/or the patch carrier layer (16) comprise one or more additives, the additives being selected from the group encompassing antimycotic agents, antibacterial agents, antiviral agents, antiinflammatory agents, antipruritic agents, humic substances, moisture-absorbing agents, gas absorption agents, buffer agents for pH regulation, drying agents, fluid-absorbing materials, hydrophilic agents, starch, cellulose, hydrophilic polymers, hydrophilic salts, calcium anhydride sulfate, odor-absorbing agents, activated carbon, siccatives, silica gel, vitamins, D-mannose, and 2QR complex.

11. The patch (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tab (32) is embodied as a slit (26), where the slit (26) is configured with angling at one end (28) up to the border of the application layer (12).

12. A method for applying the patch (10) as claimed in claim 1 to a body site, wherein the patch (10) is applied to the body site by means of the application layer (12).

13. The use of the patch (10) as claimed in claim 1 for covering a body site, such as the anus (34) and/or the anus (34) and its surrounding skin portion, for temporarily preventing the emergence of microbes/bacteria from the anus (34) and/or for preventing the transfer of microbes/bacteria to the skin portions surrounding the anus (34).

Description

FIGURES

[0180] The embodiments described above enable the provision of a preventive treatment concept in the form of a protective device for urinary tract and bladder infections that is easy and practicable to utilize preferably during sexual acts in order to prevent, but at least significantly to hinder, the emergence of microbes and bacteria from the anus, for example, and/or the transfer of bacteria/microbes to the surrounding skin portion likewise covered by the patch, in order thus to prevent, or at least to minimize, the risk of urinary tract/bladder inflammation.

[0181] Other practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described below in association with the drawings.

[0182] In the drawings:

[0183] FIG. 1 shows a five-ply patch 10 having the various layers 12 to 20 of the exemplary embodiment of an application layer with tab. There may be an adhesive layer of the patch carrier layer 18 disposed beneath the patch carrier layer 16. This adhesive layer 18 may be provided with a parting layer 20. Above the patch carrier layer 16 there may be application layer 12 disposed, which is secured on the patch carrier layer 16 with a bonding layer of the application layer 14.

[0184] FIG. 2 shows the application layer 12 of the patch 10 in a view from above with one slit (left) 26 and with one slit whose one end may run with angling 28 up to the border (right).

[0185] FIG. 3 shows the adhesion layer of the application layer 14, which adheres to the patch carrier layer 16 of the patch 10. The adhesion layer of the application layer may exhibit partial adhesion. The gray regions in FIG. 3 are intended to represent adhesive regions and the white regions are intended to represent non-adhesive regions of the adhesion layer of the application layer 14. The left-hand side shows the exemplary embodiment with two slits in the application layer 12, and the right-hand side shows the exemplary embodiment with one slit in the application layer 12.

[0186] FIG. 4 shows the fastening of the patch 10 with a finger 30 in the tab 32. The left-hand side depicts the exemplary embodiment with a slit 26 in the application layer 12, and the right-hand side depicts it with a slit 26 in the application layer 12, one end of said slit running with angling 28 up to the border. FIG. 4 shows a variant in relation to the application of the patch 10. A finger 30 can be inserted into the tab 32, allowing the patch then to be easily positioned on the anal orifice 34 with a finger 30. The tab 32 is preferably part of the application layer 12 or of the patch carrier layer 16.

[0187] FIG. 5 shows the application layer 12 of the patch 10 in a view from above with two slits 26 (left) and with two slits 26 of which the end of one slit runs up to the border, 28 (right).

[0188] FIG. 6 shows the fastening of the patch 10 with a finger 30 in the tab 32. With two slits 26 on the left-hand side, and on the right-hand side with two slits 26, where one end of one slit runs with angling up to the border, 28. In FIG. 6 the tab 32 has two openings, allowing the finger 30 to be placed through the tab 32.

[0189] FIG. 7 shows the application of the patch 10 with a finger 30 in the tab 32 in the variant embodiment with two slits 26, where one end of one slit runs with angling up to the border, 28.

[0190] FIG. 8 shows the patch 10 with the additional layers 20 to 24 in a seven-ply construction. There may be a bonding layer of the patch carrier layer 18 disposed beneath the patch carrier layer 16. This bonding layer 18 may be provided with a parting layer 20. Above the patch carrier layer 16 there may be disposed an application layer 12, which is secured on the patch carrier layer 16 with a bonding layer of the application layer 14. On its other side the application layer 12 may have a tacky configuration by means of an application bonding layer 22. And so that this application bonding layer 22 does not stick to other items prior to application, an application parting layer 24 may be disposed on the application bonding layer 22.

[0191] FIG. 9 shows the patch 10 in a view from above with application parting layer 12 and possible parting line 44. The parting layer 20 of patch 10 may have the same implementation.

[0192] FIG. 10 shows the application bonding layer 22 in a view from above the patch 10. The regions drawn in gray are adhesive and the regions drawn in white are non-adhesive in their configurationpartially adhesive on the left-hand side, adhesive over the full area on the right.

[0193] FIG. 11 shows the fastening of the patch 10 with the application bonding layer 22 on a finger 30. The regions drawn in gray are adhesive and the regions drawn in white are non-adhesive in their configuration.

[0194] FIG. 12 shows the patch 10 with the application layer 12 and a slit 26. This slit may be widened by the pressing-together of the patch 10, allowing a finger to be placed into the slit 26.

[0195] FIG. 13 shows the patch 10 with the application layer 12 and two slits 26. These slits may be widened by the pressing-together of the patch 10, allowing a finger to be placed through between the slits 26.

[0196] FIG. 14 shows a specific embodiment wherein the application layer 12 possesses an application strip 48 which is bonded around the finger 30. The application layer 12 is connected to the patch carrier layer 16 with an adhesive layer of the application layer 14.

[0197] FIG. 15 likewise shows a specific embodiment, in which an application strip 48 is formed directly on the application layer 12 and can be bonded to it when the finger is placed onto the application layer 12, so that the finger then lies in a loop composed of the application strip 48.

[0198] FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of the patch 10 wherein the application layer 12 protrudes beyond the patch carrier layer 16 and the bonding layer of the patch carrier layer 18, and must be creased along the marking 46 for application.

[0199] FIG. 17 shows a further embodiment of the patch 10, wherein the application layer 12 protrudes beyond the patch carrier layer 16 and is creased centrally.

[0200] FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of the patch 10 wherein the application layer 12 protrudes beyond the patch carrier layer 16 and the bonding layer of the patch carrier layer 18 and is cut through centrally, i.e., consists of at least two parts or application layer halves 12a,b. Depending on the thickness of the application layer 12, the parts or the application layer halves 12a, b may be mounted with a certain distance from one another on the patch carrier layer 16. Hence they can be brought together, for example, without problems, without blocking. The application layer of this embodiment has a first end 52 and a second end 54, with the first end 52 of the application layer 12 protruding beyond a first border 56 of the patch carrier layer and with the second end 54 of the application layer protruding beyond a second border 58 of the patch carrier layer 16. In this case, illustratively, the configuration of the patch 10 is such that at least the patch carrier layer 16 is bendable or creasable along a center axis A during the application of the patch 10. This center axis A runs more particularly along the axis of the patch carrier layer 16 that is equidistant from the first border 56 and from the second border 58 of the patch carrier layer 16. Bendable or creasable in this context means that the patch carrier layer can be bent, creased or folded in such a way that it forms an angle of between 0 to 170.

[0201] FIGS. 19a,b show embodiments of the patch 10 wherein the patch carrier layer 16 is creased (cf. FIG. 31a) or bent (cf. FIG. 31b). In this creased form the patch carrier layer 16 can be applied without problems to the desired body site, preferably to the anus.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0202] The invention is illustrated below by specific exemplary embodiments.

Example 1: Patch

[0203] A round patch having a diameter of 5.5 cm was cut from a fastening patch from Augoog Store. For this purpose a circle with a diameter likewise of 5.5 cm was cut from a filing card from Brunnen (grammage 180 g). The circle of paper was provided 2 cm from the lower border with a straight slit having a distance from the border of 1 cm on both sides. On the right-hand side (plane view) the end of the slit was continued to the border at a 45 angle using the cutter.

[0204] The border of the paper circle was subsequently coated on its reverse face with the general-purpose adhesive UHU extra from UHU, the coating being such that the adhesive border had a thickness of 1 cm all the way round. The paper circle was then bonded rapidly and flush to the film with the green lines and pressed on firmly.

[0205] After a drying time of 30 minutes, the layers bonded to one another were taken so that the paper layer faces upward.

[0206] One side of the circle was gripped by the left-hand thumb and index finger at the border, the opposite border of the circle by the right-hand thumb and index finger, so that the slit ran horizontally between the two hands. Then both sides were pressed in the center direction parallel to the slit, causing a tab to form. The index finger of the right hand was positioned into this tab. Subsequently the parting layer on the underside of the circle was detached using the left hand.

[0207] The circle was then bonded on the anus with the adhesive, exposed underside. Subsequently, the paper layer, including the film of the fastening patch from Augoog Store, was removed by simple peeling.

[0208] This left the wafer-thin film bonded on the anus.

[0209] This film was peeled off simply by being pressed together with thumb and index finger, and was disposed of in the household garbage.

[0210] The features of the invention as disclosed in the present description, in the drawings, and in the claims may be essential, not only individually but also in any desired combinations, for the actualization of the invention in its various embodiments. The invention is not confined to the embodiments described. It may be varied within the ambit of the claims and with account taken of the knowledge of the competent skilled person.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0211] 10 patch [0212] 12 application layer [0213] 12a,b application layer half [0214] 14 adhesion layer or bonding layer of the application layer [0215] 16 patch carrier layer [0216] 18 bonding layer of the patch carrier layer [0217] 20 parting layer [0218] 22 application bonding layer [0219] 24 application parting layer [0220] 26 slit [0221] 28 angled end of slit [0222] 30 finger [0223] 32 tab [0224] 34 anus [0225] 44 parting line [0226] 46 marking [0227] 48 application strip [0228] 52 first end [0229] 54 second end [0230] 560 first border [0231] 58 second border [0232] 60 crease [0233] angle [0234] A center axis