INDICATOR DRESSING AND METHOD FOR INDICATING A CONTAMINATION, IN PARTICULAR OF A WOUND

Abstract

The invention relates to an indicator dressing with a carrier element, which is, at least in regions, provided with a marker material, which material, in a specific microbial contamination, changes a color. According to the invention, a first marker material is provided, which, in a first specific microbial contamination, changes color, and at least one second marker material is provided which changes color in a second specific microbial contamination, which material differs from the first microbial contamination. The invention moreover includes a method for indicating a contamination with this indicator dressing.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An indicator dressing for placing upon a wound, with a carrier element, which is provided, at least in regions, with marker materials, which, in a specific microbial contamination, change their color, wherein a placement side of the carrier element upon placement on to the wound is formed by a biocompatible monofilament fabric of monofilament threads, the marker materials are applied in the form of letters and/or numbers, a first marker material is provided, which, in a first specific microbial contamination, changes color, and at least a second marker material is provided, which changes color in a second specific microbial contamination, which differs in type or amount from the first microbial contamination.

17. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein the first marker material is arranged on the carrier element distanced to the at least second marker material.

18. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein the carrier element comprises a placement side for placement, in particular on a wound, and an upper side which faces away from the placement side, and in that a color of the marker materials can be discerned on the upper side.

19. The indicator dressing according to claim 18, wherein the carrier element comprises, on the upper side, a transparent protective layer.

20. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein more than two different marker materials are provided.

21. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein the letters and/or numbers, in the form of which the marker materials are applied, give direct information on the intensity or type of contamination.

22. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein the marker materials are applied through screen printing, spray printing or stamping.

23. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein the monofilament threads of the monofilament fabric of the carrier element are formed with a smooth surface.

24. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein an adhesive layer is provided, at least in regions, on a placement side of the carrier element.

25. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein the marker material includes at least one colorant, in particular a reactive colorant, a fluorescent colorant, a pH-sensitive substance, enzymes, cells, a hydrogel, a temperature-sensitive substance, a salt, an ointment, and/or alginates.

26. The indicator dressing according to claim 16, wherein the marker materials are colorless in an initial state, or have the same color, wherein a discoloring occurs upon reaching of the respectively specific contamination.

27. A method for indicating a contamination, in particular of a wound, wherein an indicator dressing with different marker materials is placed-on, wherein the color of the marker materials changes in a specific microbial contamination, wherein the indicator dressing according to claim 16 is placed-on, in a first microbial contamination, the color of a first marker material changes, and in a second microbial contamination, the color of a second marker material changes, wherein the first microbial contamination differs from the second microbial contamination, wherein the changed marker materials indicate letters and/or numbers on the carrier element.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the different marker materials react to a different degree of microbial contamination and/or in different microbial germs.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the marker materials are colorless in an initial state, or have the same color and, upon achieving the respective specific microbial contamination, discolor.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first marker material and the at least second marker material, upon achieving the specific microbial contamination, assume a first color or at least one second color, which are different.

Description

[0034] The invention is further explained below by means of a preferred exemplary embodiment, which is schematically represented in the drawings. The drawings show in:

[0035] FIG. 1 a schematic plan view onto an indicator dressing according to the invention, and

[0036] FIG. 2 a schematic, cross-sectional view of the indicator dressing of FIG. 1, which is not true to scale.

[0037] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an indicator dressing 10, which comprises a rectangular carrier element 12. The carrier element 12 is configured flexibly and as a biocompatible microfilament fabric. Two strip-shaped adhesive layers 16 are laterally provided on an placement side 13, which is provided for application upon a wound. A single adhesive layer 16 here consists of an adhesive material application, with which the indicator dressing can be releasably fastened e.g. along the edge of a wound.

[0038] The flexible carrier element 12 is provided with pores or openings so that a connection of the wound environment on the placement side 13 to a planar covering element 20 exists, which element is applied on an upper side 14 of the carrier element 12. The covering element 20 can likewise be configured as a fabric, in particular as a monofilament fabric, or a non-woven material or a coating element which is suitable for receiving marker materials.

[0039] A first region 21, a second region 23, a third region 25 and a fourth region 27 are arranged in the covering element 20, arranged spatially distanced from each other in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. The regions 21, 23, 25, 27 are provided with different marker materials, namely a first marker material 22, a second marker material 24, a third marker material 26 or a fourth marker material 28, respectively. The marker materials 22, 24, 26, 28 are, in the illustrated example, applied as fluids, and have penetrated the covering element 20. Here, the marker materials 22, 24, 26, 28, are arranged spatially distanced in the corresponding regions 21, 23, 25, 27, however. A separating means, e.g. a lacquer, can be provided in the interstitial spaces, in order to reliably delimit the individual regions 21, 23, 25, 27 from one another.

[0040] The marker materials 22, 24, 26, 28 here are selected to be different, so that these materials lead, in a respectively pre-specified different contamination, to a change in color. A change to a different color, respectively, preferably results. A labelling is provided, in the represented indicator dressing 10, in each region 21, 23, 25, 27, for the further improved signaling of a contamination, which labelling is schematically represented through the letters A, B, C or D. The labelling can also directly refer to the type of infectious contaminants. If a change in color results in the first region 21 with the first marker material 22, it is signaled, upon a change in color in the first region 21, to the medical personnel that an infection with the contaminant A is present.

[0041] The carrier element 12 with the covering element 20 is provided, on the upper side 14, with a transparent protective layer 30. This layer protects the covering element with the marker materials 22, 24, 26, 28 against external influences, but continues to allow to discern the change in color in the regions 21, 23, 25, 28.