Water resistant bandage

Abstract

A water resistant light compression and/or retention bandage for retaining an orthopaedic splint, padding or medical device against a body part, includes a knitted fabric formed of synthetic yarns having a moisture vapor transmission rate from an inner face of the bandage to an outer face of the bandage of at least 500 g/m 2 per 24 hours.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An elongate bandage for overwrapping and retaining an underlying medical device in position on a body part, and comprising a knitted fabric formed of synthetic yarns, and having a moisture vapor transmission rate from an inner face of the bandage to an outer face of the bandage of at least 500 g/m 2  per 24 hours. 
     
     
         2 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric includes elastic yarns and has an elongation in a lengthwise direction of at least 30% of its relaxed length. 
     
     
         3 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner face of the knitted fabric comprises a soft yarn for application against the medical device and the skin of a patient; and the outer face of the knitted fabric comprises a hydrophobic yarn for transmitting moisture away from the inner face of the bandage. 
     
     
         4 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 1 , wherein the soft yarn of the inner face and the hydrophobic yarns of the outer face are both monofilament yarns. 
     
     
         5 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of windows in the fabric in a relaxed state is between 380 and 640/m 2 , the number of courses in the weft direction in a relaxed state is between 5 and 12 per cm 2 ; and the weight of the fabric in a relaxed state is 70+/−5 gsm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 1 , wherein the yarns of the inner face are Nylon 1/33 dtex and the yarns of the outer face are 0.1 polypropylene. 
     
     
         7 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 6 , and including elastic yarns comprising a segmented polyester- or polyether/polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . An elongate bandage for overwrapping and retaining an underlying medical device in position on a body part, and comprising a knitted fabric formed of synthetic yarns, and having a moisture vapor transmission rate from an inner face of the bandage to an outer face of the bandage of at least 500 g/m 2  per 24 hours, wherein the inner face of the knitted fabric comprises a soft monofilament synthetic yarn for application against the medical device and the skin of a patient; the outer face of the knitted fabric comprises a monofilament hydrophobic yarn for transmitting moisture away from the inner face of the bandage, and the fabric is provided with a multiplicity of windows in the fabric that, in a relaxed state is between 380 and 640/m 2 , the number of courses in the weft direction in a relaxed state is between 5 and 12 per cm 2 ; and the weight of the fabric in a relaxed state is 70+/−5 gsm 2 . 
     
     
         9 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 8 , wherein the bandage includes elastic yarns and has an elongation in a lengthwise direction of at least 30% and a thickness in its relaxed state of between 1.1 mm and 2.6 mm. 
     
     
         10 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 8 , wherein the yarns of the inner face are nylon 1/33 dtex and the yarns of the outer face are 0.1 polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 6 , and including elastic yarns comprising a segmented polyester- or polyether/polyurethane. 
     
     
         12 . An elongate bandage for overwrapping and retaining an underlying medical device in position on a body part, and comprising a warp-knitted fabric having a moisture vapor transmission rate from an inner face of the bandage to an outer face of the bandage of at least 500 g/m 2  per 24 hours; and wherein the fabric includes nylon yarns formed into loops on the inner face that protrude through the thickness of the fabric to the outer face to promote moisture transmission through the thickness of the fabric. 
     
     
         13 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 12 , wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate is at least 1400 g/m 2  per 24 hours. 
     
     
         14 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 8 , and including a plurality of fine elastic threads, knitted or laid in with the wales to improve the stretch characteristics of the fabric structure to improve conformability to the anatomy of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . An elongate bandage according to  claim 14 , wherein the elastic threads are knitted or laid into a chain stitch formed in the fabric, the elastic threads having a modulus of elasticity ≦90 Cn at breaking elongation ≧470%. 
     
     
         16 . A water resistant light compression retention bandage for retaining an orthopaedic splint, padding or medical device against a body part, comprising:
 a) a fabric structure defining an inner face of relatively soft synthetic yarns suitable for contact with the body part, and an outer face that comprises a plurality of wales constructed of hydrophobic monofilament yarns;   b) a plurality of courses that are inserted in the knitted yarn that create windows that allow for breathability and conformability of the fabric to the body part and overlying splint, padding or medical device; and   c) a plurality of fine elastic threads, knitted or laid in with the wales to improve the stretch characteristics of the fabric structure and to aid and improve conformability to the anatomy of the patient.