WOUND CARE DEVICE

Abstract

In a wound care device having a covering device, the covering device being fixable to the skin surrounding a wound and serving to create a wound space, the covering device having a film tube that is at least in part water-vapor-permeable, and the wound care device having a suction connection by way of which a vacuum in the wound space can be created, an improvement is proposed in which the film tube makes a transition to a retainer flap via a transitional area, at least partly surrounding a sagittal axis extending transversely, in particular approximately perpendicularly, to a frontal plane that is defined by the tube axis and by a radial axis that penetrates the tube axis and extends vertically thereto.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A wound care device fixable to the skin surrounding a wound to create a wound space and capable of having a suction connection by way of which a vacuum in the wound space can be created, the wound care device comprising: a film tube at least part of which is water-vapor-permeable, the film tube having a tube axis; a retainer flap; and wherein the film tube makes a transition to the retainer flap via a transitional area at least partly running around a sagittal axis extending transversely and approximately perpendicularly to a frontal plane that is defined by the tube axis and by a radial axis that penetrates the tube axis and extends perpendicularly to it.

14. The wound care device of claim 13, wherein the transitional area runs around the sagittal axis over an angular range of 45 to 180.

15. The wound care device of claim 13, wherein the retainer flap comprises a retainer portion that extends at least in part from the transitional area toward the end of the film tube remote from the transitional area, the retainer portion partially running around a longitudinal axis extending in the frontal plane.

16. The wound care device of claim 15, wherein the retainer portion runs around the longitudinal axis over a circumferential angle range of 45 to 180.

17. The wound care device of claim 13, wherein the retainer flap comprises a dorsal retainer flap and a ventral retainer flap.

18. The wound care device of claim 17, wherein each of the dorsal and ventral retainer flaps comprise a retainer portion that extends at least in part from the transitional area toward the end of the film tube remote from the transitional area.

19. The wound care device of claim 18, wherein the retainer portions are joined together on their edges toward the film tube.

20. The wound care device of claim 13, wherein the transitional area further comprises a collar area circumferentially running around the tube axis over a circumferential angle range of 60 to 220, and wherein the collar area merges with the retainer flap.

21. The wound care device of claim 20, wherein the film tube, the transitional area, the retainer flap, and the collar area all form one continuous three-dimensional structure.

22. The wound care device of claim 21, characterized in that the three-dimensional structure is bounded entirely by the edge of the collar area and by edges of the retainer flap.

23. The wound care device of claim 13, characterized in that the film tube is closed on its end remote from the transitional area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Below, the invention is explained in conjunction with the drawings, to which reference is made for all features essential to the invention that are not expressly mentioned in the specification. In the drawing:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a wound care device of the invention; and

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a wound care device of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] The wound care device 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a film tube 110, which via a transitional area 120 makes a transition to a ventral retainer flap 140 and a dorsal retainer flap 150. The dorsal retainer flap 150 and the ventral retainer flap 140 are joined to the film tube 110 not only via the transitional area 120 but also via the collar area 130. The film tube 110 is dimensioned such that it can be pulled over the arm of the patient. On its end remote from the patient's hand, the film tube 110 makes a transition to the collar area 130, which runs around the tube axis over an angle of approximately 180 and then makes a transition to the retainer flaps 140 and 150. The ventral retainer flap 140 is bounded rectilinearly and can be connected sealingly to the patient's skin with the aid of suitable adhesive strips or an adhesive applied to the flap itself. The dorsal retainer flap 150 is likewise bounded rectilinearly and can be connected sealingly to the patient's skin via corresponding adhesive strips or an adhesive applied to the retainer flap itself.

[0034] On the side remote from the collar area 130 in the circumferential direction with respect to the tube axis, the film tube 110 makes a transition to the transitional area 120. Over a circumferential angle of approximately 320, this transitional area runs around a sagittal axis S which extends perpendicular to a frontal plane that is defined by the tube axis A and by a radial axis that penetrates the tube axis A and extends perpendicularly to it. Next, the transitional area 120 makes a transition to the retainer flaps 140 and 150, which are joined together on their edge toward the film tube 110, in the area of respective retainer portions 145 and 155 that begin at the transitional area 120 and extend toward the end of the film tube remote from the transitional area 120. On their edges remote from the film tube 110, the ventral retainer flaps 140 and the dorsal retainer flaps 150 end with free edges. All in all, the film tube 110, the collar area 130, the transitional area 120, and the retainer flaps 140 and 150 form one continuous planar structure, which is bounded entirely by the edges of the collar area and of the retainer flaps, so that only in this area does a sealing connection to the patient's skin have to be established. In particular in the vicinity of the armpit, there is no need to establish such a sealing connection, since that area is covered completely and without gaps by the transitional area and the retainer flaps.

[0035] The film tube 110 runs completely around a tube axis A in the circumferential direction. Beginning at an edge of the film tube 110 remote from the skin, the transitional area 120 runs around a sagittal axis S over an angular range of approximately 160. The retainer flaps 140 and 150 run around a longitudinal axis L, which extends in the frontal plane and is located in a plane that is vertical to the sagittal axis S and contains the tube axis A. The retainer flaps 140 and 150 run around the longitudinal axis over a total circumferential angle of only about 180. The retainer portions 145 and 155 of the retainer flaps 140 and 150 are joined together on their edges toward the film tube 110. Accordingly, the transitional area 120 is joined on the one hand to the film tube 110 over a circumferential angle range of approximately 180 relative to the tube axis A, and on the other to the retainer flaps 140 and 145, respectively, over a circumferential angle range of 180 with respect to the longitudinal axis L.

[0036] The suction connection of the wound care device is not shown in FIG. 1. It may be located in the vicinity of the wound area. Normally, it has to be adapted to the particular treatment. Typically, it is placed above the wound, often centrally above the wound, but depending on the location of the wound it can also be in a different position above the wound. Between the wound base and the covering device, expediently also a filler material, such as a filling foam, gauze, or the like, is provided. It can be seen that in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the tube axis and the longitudinal axis that the retainer flaps 140 and 150 run around form an acute angle of approximately 20 with one another.

[0037] The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, like the embodiment explained in conjunction with FIG. 1, includes a covering device 200 with a film tube 210, a transitional area 220, a collar area 230, a ventral retainer flap 240, and a dorsal retainer flap 250. The film tube 210 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is dimensioned such that it can be pulled over a patient's leg. The transitional area 220 runs around a sagittal axis S, passing through the crotch of the patient, over a circumferential angle of approximately 180. The retainer flaps 240 and 250 run around a longitudinal axis that extends parallel to the tube axis. They are joined sealingly to the film tube on its collar area 230 that lengthens the retainer flaps 240 and 250 in the circumferential direction relative to the side remote from the tube axis. The retainer flaps 240 and 250, as in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, are bounded rectilinearly and can be connected along their edges sealingly to the patient's skin. The application of the covering device explained in conjunction with FIG. 2 is made easier by the fact that the retainer flaps, on their end remote from the transitional area 220, end in the open, so that the retainer flaps can be connected to the patient's skin independently of one another.

[0038] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments explained in conjunction with the drawings. What is essential to attain the object of the invention as described at the outset is that the film tube makes a transition to retainer flaps in at a transitional area, so that not only can areas of the patient's skin that can form creases be sealingly covered, but also there is no need for a direct connection to the patient's skin.

[0039] In all the embodiments of the invention, it is also conceivable that the film tube be tightly closed on its axial end remote from the transitional area, so that the foot or hand of the patient can be received entirely in the tube, and no further sealing connection area is necessary in the vicinity of the ankle and/or the wrist.

[0040] While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, various modifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts and steps described herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. Further, it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.