Tubular bandage

Abstract

Tubular bandage, in particular a finger or toe bandage which is formed as a tube comprising an outer layer which is connected to an inner layer, and wherein the outer layer has a diameter and an elasticity such that the bandage can be clamped adhesive-free around the body part to be treated, in the particular, said finger or said toe, and wherein the inner layer is made of an elastic wound-protective material, wherein said outer layer is made of an air-permeable and water-repellent material, and wherein, at the open endings, said outer layer extends in the longitudinal direction over the inner layer over a distance of more than 0.5 mm, such that the outer layer touches the body part to be treated, in particular a finger or toe, with its endings when applied.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a tubular bandage, wherein: the tubular bandage extends along a longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction; the tubular bandage comprises a tube that is open at two endings; the tube comprises a radial tubular outer layer that is connected to a radial inner layer; the outer layer has a diameter and an elasticity such that the bandage can be clamped adhesive-free around a body part to be treated; the inner layer is made of an elastic wound-protective material; the outer layer is made of an air-permeable and water-repellent material; and at every point at the open two endings, the outer layer extends in the longitudinal direction over the inner layer by a distance of more than 0.5 mm, such that by a combination of distance, diameter, and elasticity of the outer layer, the outer layer touches the body part to be treated with its endings when applied, to close off the inner layer from an environment; the method comprising: manufacturing the tubular outer layer with the two open endings; sliding the tubular outer layer thus manufactured over a rotatable shaft; rotating the rotatable shaft provided with the tubular outer layer; and moving an inner layer applicator in a radial direction toward a rotating axis of the rotatable shaft from outside the rotatable shaft to apply the inner layer to the outer layer, wherein the inner layer applicator is provided to stay clear from the two open endings of the outer layer for at least 0.5 mm in the longitudinal direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said manufacturing is done by first extruding a plastic tube and subsequently cutting off a segment of the tube, which segment forms said tubular outer layer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, before applying the inner layer, an adhesive is applied to the outer layer.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising packaging the bandage in a package, and wherein the method is carried out under sterile conditions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a bandage according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a bandage according to the invention in a non-applied state;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a bandage according to the invention in an applied state;

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B show a detail of the edge of the bandage according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 show a device for the manufacture of a bandage according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a bandage which is manufactured by the method according to the invention;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a bandage which is manufactured by the method according to the invention when turning it inside-out, and

(9) FIG. 8 show a variant of a bandage according to the invention, which is provided at one open side to clear a fingernail.

(10) In the drawing, to the same or an analogous element is assigned the same reference numeral.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) The figures show a finger or toe bandage 1. This finger or toe bandage has an outer layer 2 having the form of a tube which is open at its two distal endings. The outer layer is manufactured preferably tubular, in one piece and non-interrupted. This outer layer is made of an elastic material such as a rubber or a latex, or a thermoplastic elastomer. This outer layer further has a diameter D which is chosen such that the bandage without adhesive can be clamped around a finger or toe. The diameter is preferably between 0.5 cm and 3 cm, measured when the bandage is in its unstretched state, and measured on the inside of the outer layer. More preferably, the diameter is between 1 cm and 2 cm.

(12) The outer layer 2 is made air-permeable. This allows the healing process to be promoted. A TPE outer layer can be made air-permeable by providing small openings or holes through the outer layer. The outer layer may be punctured in order to create such openings. Furthermore, the outer layer 2 is made water-repellent. This allows to avoid the penetration of dirt into the wound. Preferably, the bandage is made of an hypo-allergenic material. An example of a material that is suitable for manufacturing the outer layer, is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), Shore A, 25 to 80. This material has an elasticity which is very suitable for the bandage according to the invention.

(13) The finger or toe bandage has a width B which is chosen such that the bandage is able to cover a local wound on a finger or toe. The width B of the bandage is measured parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the finger or toe bandage, and from the one distal ending to the opposite distal ending. Preferably, the width B of the bandage is not more than 3 inches, more preferably not more than 2.5 centimetre. For bandages with a smaller diameter, the width B of the bandage will preferably be not more than 2.0 centimetre.

(14) The outer layer 2 is at least partially provided on an inside with an inner layer comprising at least a wound-protective material 4. The wound-protective material preferably comprises a compress and/or hydrocolloid substance. A compress can be defined as a gauze folded together several times, that is used in surgery as a bandage. The advantage of a gauze, in particular a compress, in the elastic finger or toe bandage according to the invention is that a gauze can stretch along with the elastic outer layer of the bandage. Preferably, the wound-protective material 4 is substantially stretchable in two different directions in the plane of the body of the bandage. The wound-protective material 4 can also be formed as a powder which is attached to the outer layer. The wound-protective material 4 is connected with the outer layer by traditional gluing or by ultrasonic bonding. The inner layer has a thickness between 0.4 mm and 2 mm.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the finger or toe bandage, and shows in particular how the endings have been designed. At the distal endings, the outer layer 2 extends in the longitudinal direction over the inner layer 4 over a distance E. This distance E is at least more than 0.5 mm, preferably more than 1.0 mm, more preferably more than 1.5 mm, most preferably about 2 mm. The technical effect of this distance E is clearly shown in FIG. 3.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the finger or toe bandage, wherein the latter is applied onto a finger or toe. As described above, the diameter and the elasticity of the outer layer of the bandage is such that the bandage clamps onto the finger or toe. By combining this technical feature with the distance E, as described above, the endings of the outer layer will bend towards the finger or toe, and touch the finger or toe, as is shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the inner layer 4 is closed off from the environment, and also the environment is closed off from the wound which is covered by the bandage.

(17) FIG. 4a shows in detail how the endings of the outer layer of the bandage, as a result of the elasticity, diameter and distance E, are adjoining the finger. FIG. 4b shows an alternative in which the clamping of the outer layer of the bandage, at its endings, against the finger is reinforced by the application of an edge 5 at its endings and on the inside of the outer layer. The edge may be formed by a thickening of the outer layer in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 of the bandage.

(18) As, following the construction of the bandage according to the invention, the outer layer completely encloses the inner layer such that the inner layer in use does not come into contact with the environment, the bandage according to the invention is very suitable for covering wounds. However, by the above-described functionality, the invention is equally very suitable for the application of medication as a transdermal bandage. For this purpose, the inner layer may comprise medication which is absorbed through the skin. An example of such a medication is nicotine, such that a nicotine bandage is obtained. Because the outer layer of the bandage completely closes off the inner layer from the environment, also the medication is closed off from the environment. This means that said medication is not able to contaminate the environment. Also, the medication, when the bandage is in a humid or aqueous environment, is not able to dissolve into said environment, as the inner layer is sealed off from the environment.

(19) FIG. 5 shows a device for the manufacture of a bandage according to the invention. Said device comprises a motor 6 which drives a shaft 7, onto which shaft a bandage holder 8 is mounted. The shaft 7 is provided to have mounted bandage holders 8 with different diameters. The bandage holder is formed such that an outer layer 2 of a finger or toe bandage can be slid onto the bandage holder 8. Since outer layers 2 with different thicknesses are provided, also different associated bandage holders 8 should be provided. The device further comprises a piston 9 which is able to radially move an inner layer applicator 10 towards the bandage holder 8. The inner layer applicator 10 is provided to attach an inner layer 4 to the outer layer 2 provided over the bandage holder 8. The inner layer applicator 10 is further provided, when applying the inner layer, to stay clear at least 0.5 mm from the endings of the outer layer.

(20) On the device as shown in FIG. 5, a bandage is formed as shown in FIG. 6. This bandage is technically constructed in the same way as the bandage shown in the FIGS. 1-4, however, inside-out. To use the bandage to cover a wound on a finger or toe, the bandage is turned inside-out in advance, or during the application according to the arrow 11 as shown in FIG. 7. It will therefore be appreciated that the finger or toe bandage in a state as shown in FIG. 6 will be within the scope of protection of the claims when said bandage is suitable to be turned inside-out as shown in FIG. 7.

(21) FIG. 8 shows a variant of a bandage according to the invention, in which the opening of the tube on one side is shaped such as to clear the finger nail, for example, to allow working with the nail. The edges around the preformed opening such that the fingernail is cleared, close off the inside of the bandage from the environment, as described above. The preformed opening may be adapted to the size of the finger or toe nail.

(22) In embodiments, manufacturing of the bandage is done by first extruding a plastic tube and subsequently cutting off a segment of the tube, which segment forms said tubular outer layer. In other embodiments, before applying the inner layer, an adhesive is applied to the outer layer. In still other embodiments, after the bandage is manufactured, the bandage is packaged in a package, and the manufacturing is carried out under sterile conditions.