Medical Wraps

Abstract

A medical wrap includes a flexible, sheet-form substrate with a discrete medical function delivery region having a surface adapted to be placed against a patient's skin to provide a desired medical effect. The substrate carries a field of fibers exposed on one side thereof for engagement by fastener elements, and an array of fastener elements extending from a side of the substrate opposite the exposed fibers. The fastener elements each have a respective stem extending integrally from a film of resin disposed in a band across the substrate and encapsulating surface features of the substrate. The fastener elements are constructed to snag the exposed fibers when the substrate is wrapped about a patient in an overlapping manner, to secure the wrap about the patient with the medical function delivery region in a desired position. The wrap is useful as a hot or cold pack, medical dressing or drug delivery device.

1 - 42 . (canceled)  
     
     
         43 . A method of forming medical wraps for delivering medical functions, the method comprising: 
 introducing a sheet-form, flexible substrate into a gap defined by a mold roll and an opposed cooperating member, the mold roll defining an array of blind cavities shaped to form fastener elements or fastener element stems;    
       extruding resin into the gap to fill the cavities and commingle with surface features of the substrate, thereby forming a band of resin extending along the substrate, with an array of fastener element stems extending integrally therefrom; 
 securing a field of exposed fibers to a surface of the substrate;  
 cutting across the substrate to form individual wraps, each wrap of a length sufficient to extend about a human limb and having a segment of the band of resin extending thereacross; and  
 providing the wrap with a medical function delivery pouch for containing materials selected to provide medical treatment to living tissue when the wrap is wrapped about the tissue.  
 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising, after the forming the band of resin, forming engageable heads on the fastener element stems.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising inserting an absorbent pad into the pouch.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising inserting an activatable thermic material into the pouch.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43  wherein providing the pouch comprises attaching a preformed pouch at an end of the substrate.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the pouch is attached by welding material of the pouch to the substrate.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the pouch material is welded to a strip of the extended resin spaced apart from the band of resin having fastener element stems.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 43  wherein adding the pouch comprises forming a pouch from the substrate.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  further comprising heat sealing the substrate to close the pouch with contents in the pouch.  
     
     
         52 - 72 . (canceled)  
     
     
         73 . A method of manufacturing a wrap to treat living tissue, the method comprising: 
 extruding a resin into a gap defined by a mold roll and an opposed cooperating member, the mold roll defining an array of blind cavities shaped to form discrete stems extending from a flexible strip of the resin;    forming engageable heads on the stems to form fastener elements;    selecting a loop substrate with surface fibers configured to be engaged by the fastener elements to form a releasable engagement exhibiting a pull force characteristic of less than about 0.2 pounds of force per transverse inch of engaged width;    introducing a sheet-form substrate into the gap such that the resin and the substrate are laminated forming a composite carrying both a field of fiber loops comprising exposed surface fibers of the substrate and the fastener elements or stems molded in the cavities; and    cutting the compounds to form individual wraps, each wrap of a length sufficient to enwrap an intended treatment site and having both an area of the fastener elements or stems and an area of the releasably engageable fiber loops arranged to engage one another when in apposition securing the wrap around the treatment site.    
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising providing the wrap with a medical treatment delivery pouch, which is designed to accommodate materials selected to provide medical treatment to living tissue when the wrap is wrapped about the tissue.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74  further comprising inserting a wound covering into the delivery pouch, the wound covering selected to protect the wound and absorb fluid.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75  further comprising inserting a dressing sponge into the delivery pouch.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 75  further comprising inserting an absorbent material into the delivery pouch.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 74  further comprising inserting a material substantially colder than the tissue to be treated into the pouch.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 74  further comprising inserting unmixed ingredients into the pouch that, when activated by mixing, generates an endothermic reaction.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 74  further comprising inserting an ingredient into the pouch that, when activated by exposure to air, generates an exothermic reaction.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising placing the fastener elements adjacent to an end of the substrate furthest from the pouch.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising providing the composite with a non-fastening, graspable end region extending beyond the region of the fastener elements.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 74  further comprising inserting a medicament to provide the medical treatment.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 74  further comprising placing the wrap in a sealed package with the composite wrapped about the end at which the pouch is disposed, and with the fastener elements releasably engaging the field of fiber loops to hold the composite in a wrapped condition.  
     
     
         85 . A method of forming medical wraps for delivering medical treatments, the method comprising: 
 extruding a resin into a gap defined by a mold roll and an opposed cooperating member, the mold roll defining an array of blind cavities shaped to form discrete stems extending from a flexible strip of the resin;    forming engageable heads on the stems to form fastener elements;    selecting a loop substrate with surface fibers configured to be engaged by the fastener elements to form a releasable engagement exhibiting a pull force characteristic of less than about 0.2 pounds of force per transverse inch of engaged width;    introducing a sheet-form substrate into the gap such that the resin and the substrate are laminated forming a composite carrying both a field of fiber loops comprising exposed surface fibers of the substrate and the fastener elements or stems molded in the cavities;    cutting the composite to form individual wraps, each wrap of a length sufficient to enwrap an intended treatment site and having both an area of the fastener elements or stems and an area of the releasably engageable fiber loops arranged to engage one another when in apposition securing the wrap around the treatment site;    providing the wrap with a medical function delivery pouch for containing materials selected to provide medical treatment to living tissue when the wrap is wrapped about the tissue; and    inserting a medical function component into the pouch, such as an absorbent material, or an endothermic material, or an exothermic material, or a predetermined medicinal treatment.