SPLASHBACK SHIELD FOR WOUND CLEANSING

Abstract

A splashback shield for connection to a saline bottle containing a saline solution. The splashback shield has a neck with internal threads. A shower barrier is positioned adjacent to the neck. The shower barrier has a plurality of holes. A shield section is positioned adjacent to the shower barrier. A plurality of drains is cut into the shield section. The plurality of drains permits the drainage of the saline solution after the patient's wound has been irrigated.

Claims

1) A splashback shield for connection to a saline bottle containing saline solution, comprising: A) a neck having internal threads, B) a shower barrier positioned adjacent to said neck, said shower barrier having a plurality of holes, C) a shield section positioned adjacent to said shower barrier, and D) a plurality of drains cut into said shield section, said plurality of drains for permitting the drainage of said saline solution after it has irrigated a patient's wound.

2) The splashback shield as in claim 1, wherein said splashback shield is fabricated from plastic.

3) The splashback shield as in claim 1, wherein said internal threads of said neck mesh with threads on said saline bottle.

4) The splashback shield as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of holes in said shower barrier is five twenty-gage holes.

5) The splashback shield as in claim 1, wherein said shield section is semi-spherical with an elliptical cross section.

6) A method for irrigating a patient's wound, comprising the steps of: A) obtaining a splashback shield for connection to a saline bottle containing saline solution, said splashback shield comprising: i) a neck having internal threads, ii) a shower barrier positioned adjacent to said neck, said shower barrier having a plurality of holes, iii) a shield section positioned adjacent to said shower barrier, and iv) a plurality of drains cut into said shield section, said plurality of drains for permitting the drainage of said saline solution after it has irrigated a patient's wound, B) connecting said splashback shield to said saline bottle containing saline solution, C) squeezing said saline bottle so that said saline solution is showered down onto said patient's wound, D) containing said saline solution within said shield section after said saline solution contacts and irrigates said wound, and E) draining said saline solution through said plurality of drains.

7) The method as in claim 6, wherein said splashback shield is fabricated from plastic.

8) The method as in claim 6, wherein said internal threads of said neck mesh with threads on said saline bottle.

9) The method as in claim 6, wherein said plurality of holes in said shower barrier is five twenty-gage holes.

10) The method as in claim 6, wherein said shield section is semi-spherical with an elliptical cross section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIGS. 1-3 show a prior art saline bottle.

[0009] FIGS. 4-7 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIGS. 8-10 show a preferred method for utilizing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] FIG. 4 shows a side view of splashback shield 5 and FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of splashback shield 5. In a preferred embodiment splashback shield 5 is fabricated from plastic. Neck 6 includes internal threads 7. Internal threads 7 mesh with threads 3 of saline solution bottle 1. Shower barrier 8 is positioned between neck 6 and shield section 9. Shower barrier 8 includes multiple holes 10. In a preferred embodiment, shower barrier 8 includes five holes, each having a diameter or approximately 20 gage (20 gage=0.81 mm).

[0012] Shield section 9 is roughly semi-spherical with an elliptical cross section, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The bottom edge of shield section 9 includes multiple drains 11.

[0013] It should be noted that the exact dimensions of splashback shield 5 can be varied depending upon the wishes and needs of the user. The dimensions of one preferred splashback shield 5 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Preferred Method for Utilizing Splashback Shield

[0014] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a preferred method for utilizing splashback shield 5.

[0015] In FIG. 8, the user has threaded splashback shield 5 onto the top of bottle 1 containing a saline solution.

[0016] In FIG. 9 the user has flipped saline bottle 1 over so that shield section 9 of splashback shield 5 is positioned over wound 20 of the patient.

[0017] In FIG. 10 the user has lowered splashback shield 5 so that shield section 9 is resting on the surface of the patient's skin. Shield section 9 is surrounding wound 20, as shown. The user squeezes bottle 1, causing the saline solution contained within bottle 1 to spray outward through holes 10 of shower barrier 8. The saline solution sprays outward through holes 10 and showers down upon wound 20. Saline solution that may also include blood or tissue from wound 10 is then directed upward from the wound, but is contained within shield section 9. Excess saline solution flows outward from the contained area through drains 11.

[0018] Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.