US3026874A - Wound shield - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1962 R. c. STEVENS 3,026,874

WOUND SHIELD Filed Nov. 6, 1959 INVENTOR. E BEQT C.STE.VENS

ATTOENLEY United States Patent O 3,026,874 WOUND SI HELD Robert C. Stevens, 6111 SW. 86th St., Miami, Fla. Filed Nov. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 851,441 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-260) This invention relates to a novel shield for surgically or otherwise produced surface wounds, the primary object of the invention being to provide an efficient and versatile device of this kind which enables and facilitates controlled drainage, either vacuum or gravity, and medication of a wound with the wound unbandaged, and with controlled admission or exclusion of air from the wound; and which surrounds and isolates the wound while avoiding contact with the wound and affording free visual inspection of the wound.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of a comfortable and conveniently wearable device of the character indicated above, which is readily applied to different regions of the body of a patient, and which, when so applied is securely installed and can enable unusual freedom of mobility of the patient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, unbulky, and structurally sound device of the character indicated above which is readily adjustable, and which can be easily and efficiently sterilized.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a device of the invention applied to an abdominal surface wound;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of said device;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of another form of the invention having a modified form of dam ring.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and related numerals designate like and related parts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES 1 to 3, the device therein shown, and generally designated 10, comprises aring dam 12, of generally circular, but preferably oval shape, and of preferably rectangular cross-section, provided with a preferably flattop surface 14, a preferablyfiat bottom surface 15, and first andsecond ends 16 and 18, respectively. Thedam 12 is made of soft, nonabs-orbent, resilient and compressible material which is substantially perfectly conformable to body surfaces without exertion of substantial pressure upon either the dam or the body surface. Dense foam or sponge rubber or inflated rubber or the equivalents in plastic are suitable materials for thedam 12. The dam has acentral opening 20, substantially larger than the area of awound 22 to be surrounded by the dam, which defines aninner edge 24 for the dam, to which itsouter edge 26 preferably conforms concentrically.

Suitably fixed upon thetop surface 14 of thedam 12, on opposite sides thereof, are similar, clear sheet plastic, highly flexible and outwardlytapered belt anchors 28, which have squaredouter ends 36, provided with elements of separable fastening means, such asmale members 32 ofsnap fasteners 34, spaced crosswise of theends 30, for engagement with femalesnap fastener elements 36, on the ends of aflexible belt 38.

The primary manner in which the device is held in position is by a belt of soft, non-absorbent, resilient and compressible material. The device may also be held in ice position by any adhesive type cement compatible with the flesh. The latter means may be preferable on a smaller wound or on a relatively flat surface of the body.

For a wide range of adjustability and body conformance, thebelt 38 preferably comprises on one end thereof ashort end portion 40 having a squaredinward end 42 on whichfemale elements 36 are secured, and a squaredouter end 44 to which is fixed as indicated at 46, related ends ofstrap sections 48 which are adjustably connected, by means of buckles 50, torelated strap sections 52, which are in turn fixed, as indicated at 54, to the squaredfree ends 56 of a singleflexible belt strap 58.

As shown in FIGURE 3, theanchors 28, at their inner ends, have free edge portions 60 which are clear of and are space-d above thetop surface 14 of thedam 12, to provide for retention, by insertion between thetop surface 14 and the edge portion 60, of theedges 62 of a conformably shaped, removable clear ortransparent window plate 64, which bridges theopening 20 of thedam 12 and, when in place, seals the space between itself, the body surface and wound, and thedam 12, against entrance of outside air, in the absence of other accesses for air. As seen in FIGURE 3, thewindow plate 64 is preferably convex-concave, so that itsedges 62 are tensioned outwardly into the seat between the dam and the anchor edge portions 60.

Extending radially through thesecond end 18 of thedam 12 is theinner end 66 of a resilient andcompressible drainage tube 68, having secured in its outer end a nipple 70, which is adapted to be connected, at times, to a vacuum or suction tube (not shown) when vacuum drainage is used. A shut-oif valve orclamp 72 is provided for thedrainage tube 68.

Extending radially through thefirst end 16 of thedam 12, at circumferentially spaced locations, are theinner ends 74 and 76, of a flexible and compressibleair vent tube 78 and a flexible and compressible irrigating or medicating tube 84 respectively. As shown in FIGURE 2, the irrigating or medicating tube has secured in its outer end, arigid nipple 82, for connection to the tube (not shown) of a source of irrigation or medication, and the flexible tube 80 is provided with a suitable shut-off valve or clamp 84. A loop 86 is provided on the adjacent side of thedam 12, through which the rigid tube section ornipple 82 is adapted to be passed, when not in use. Asimilar loop 88 is provided on the other side of thedam 12 to receive the outer end 90 of theair vent tube 78. It is to be noted that the inner wall of thedam 12 with the adjacent portion of the window orwindow plate 64 forms an annular space of substantial depth. Also, the bottom surface of the darn 1'2 sealingly engages the skin of a human when thedarn 12 carrying thewindow 64 and thetubes 68, 78 and 80, is disposed so as to encompass an area surrounding a wound on said human to thereby house said wound within said space completely sealed from the outside air.

It will be appreciated that a variation of the above described device is valuable in the cases of wounds which are antiseptically sealed but not sutured, as in research projects. This type of variation would have no air vents but would be adapted with self-sealing gaskets to admit drugs through the transparent flexible window. This would eliminate suturing and reduce the hazard of infection while still allowing visibility.

The form of the invention shown in FIGURE 4, and generally designated 10a, comprises a covered ring dam 12a, similar to that of FIGURES 1 to 3, having an opening 29 for similar disposal around a wound, andbelt anchors 28 secured on its ends. The device 10a i d void of the single drainage tube, the suction tube, and the single vent tube of FIGURES l to 3, and has instead a plurality of circumferentially spaced air vent tubes 78a which traverse the darn ring through horizontal bores 79 formed therethrough, for the purpose of supplying maximum controlled and protected flow of and access of air to a wound which the ring dam 12a surrounds.

Although there have been shown and described herein preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that any change or changes in the structures of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A wound shield comprising an annular darn having a central opening, said dam being fabricated wholly of soft, resilient and compressible non-absorbent material and having a top surface and a body-engaging bottom surface, a transparent and flexible window extending over and bridging the opening in said dam and sealingly secured to and carried by the top surface of said dam, the inner wall of said dam with the adjacent portion of said window forming an annular space of substantial depth, a first tube extending through said dam between the top and bottom surfaces of said dam and having one end in communication with said space and having the other end adapted for connection to a source of suction, and a second tube spaced from said first tube and extending through said dam between the top and bottom surfaces of said dam and having one end in communication with said space and having the other end adapted for connection to a source of medicament, the bottom surface of said dam sealingly engaging the skin of a human when the darn carrying the window and tubes is disposed so as to encompass an area surrounding a wound on said human to thereby house said wound within said space completely sealed from the outside air.

2. The wound shield according to claim 1 which includes in addition a flexible belt having the ends operatively connected to said dam for holding the dam carrying the window and tubes in mounted position upon said human.

3. The wound shield according to claim 1 which includes in addition a venting tube spaced from said first andseeond tubes and extending through said darn between the top and bottom surfaces and having one end in communication with said space and having the other end in communication with the atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,677,641 Kinney July 17, 1928 1,956,695 Reinitz May 1, 1934 2,367,690 Purdy Jan. 23, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 641,061 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1950

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