Medicated sleeve

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a stretchable sleeve having a medicinal section that can be loaded with a medicinal composition and a perforated section comprising a plurality of openings, wherein the medicinal section and the perforated section overlap, and wherein the sleeve is sized so that the interior surface of the medicinal section comfortably fits a body portion and the medicinal section contacts the body portion at the site of pain. Embodiments of the invention also provide methods for preparing a sleeve by applying a medicinal composition to the inner surface of the medicinal section through the openings at the perforated section. Embodiments of the invention also provide methods for relieving pain in a body portion by pulling the sleeve in an outside-out configuration straight up a body portion without having to roll and flip its exterior surface outside.

1 . A stretchable sleeve having a first open end and a second open end, wherein the two open ends are interconnected by a passage surrounded by an interior surface of the sleeve, the sleeve comprising:
 (a) a medicinal section adapted to be loaded with a medicinal composition; and   (b) a perforated section comprising a plurality of openings,   wherein the medicinal section and the perforated section overlap, and   wherein the passage of the sleeve is sized so that the interior surface of the sleeve contacts a body portion when it is inserted into the passage of the sleeve through the open ends.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is made of a knitted fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the medicinal section comprises a reinforcing material having a low moisture absorbing property. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing material is made of terylene fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the medicinal section is loaded with the medicinal composition comprising an analgesic as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the active ingredient is a menthol. 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein the perforated section is in the form of a mesh. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the perforated section is an integral part of the knitted fabric that is more loosely knitted than the rest of the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the medicinal section and the perforated section of the sleeve are about the same size and wherein the medicinal section is positioned on the circumferentially opposite side of the perforated section in the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve comprises a resilient band around at least one open end of the sleeve to assist securing the sleeve around the body portion. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve has a compression level between about 5 mmHg to about 15 mmHg. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a stretchable sleeve, the method comprising:
 (a) providing the sleeve in an outside-out configuration, the sleeve having a first open end and a second open end, wherein the two open ends are interconnected by a passage surrounded by an interior surface of the sleeve, the sleeve comprising: (i) a medicinal section adapted to be loaded with a medicinal composition; and (ii) a perforated section comprising a plurality of openings, wherein the medicinal section and the perforated section overlap, and wherein the passage of the sleeve is sized so that the interior surface of the sleeve contacts a body portion when it is inserted into the passage of the sleeve through the open ends;   (b) applying the medicinal composition to the interior surface of the sleeve at the medicinal section through the openings at the perforated section of the sleeve.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve is made of a knitted fabric wherein the perforated section is an integral part of the knitted fabric that is more loosely knitted than the rest of the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising incorporating low moisture absorbing secondary fibers in the medicinal section. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the medicinal composition comprises menthol as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , the method further comprising folding the sleeve on a plastic support and enclosing the sleeve in a pouch. 
     
     
         17 . A method of relieving pain in a body portion, the method comprising:
 (a) pulling a stretchable sleeve in an outside-out configuration straight up the body portion, the sleeve having a first open end and a second open end, wherein the two open ends are interconnected by a passage surrounded by an interior surface of the sleeve, the sleeve comprising: a medicinal section loaded with a medicinal composition; and a perforated section comprising a plurality of openings, wherein the medicinal section and the perforated section overlap; and   (b) contacting the medicinal section of the sleeve at a site of pain in the body portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the body portion includes a joint. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , the medicinal composition comprises an analgesic as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the active ingredient is a menthol.