Integrated Negative Pressure Bandages

Abstract

An integrated negative pressure bandage is constructed with a non-woven polyurethane matrix pad secured on the outside surface to a sheet of polyurethane film formed with an outer adhesive boundary to establish a seal against the skin of the patient around the wound site. The integrated negative pressure bandage is applied to a patient having said wound by removing said release member and attaching said adhesive layer exposed by the removal of said release member to said patient such that said adhesive layer is sealed to the patient around said wound with said non-woven polymer matrix pad being positioned over said wound, and attaching said connector port to said source of negative pressure. The non-woven pad does not stored fluids and exudate, but the source of negative pressure continuously removes the fluids and exudate to a remote location.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated negative pressure bandage connectable to a source of negative pressure to remove fluids and exudate from a wound, comprising:
 a non-woven polymer matrix pad having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being positionable adjacent to and in engagement with said wound;   a polymer film cover integrally affixed to said upper surface of said pad, said film cover having a peripheral boundary surrounding said pad, said film cover having a peripheral boundary surrounding said pad and an opening therethrough, said peripheral boundary including an adhesive layer mounted thereon and projecting outwardly from said non-woven polymer matrix pad such that said adhesive layer is operable to form a seal around said wound with said non-woven polymer matrix pad being positioned over said wound;   a connection port integrally secured to said film cover in flow communication with said opening, said connection port being connectable to said source of negative pressure to extract fluids and exudate from said wound through said non-woven polymer matrix pad;   a mesh layer covering said lower surface of said pad and being integrally secured to said film cover; and   a release member removably attached to said adhesive layer, said release member being an integral part of said bandage before being removed from said adhesive layer to expose said adhesive layer for sealing around said wound.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 1  wherein said mesh layer is impregnated with silver nitrate. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 1  wherein said non-woven polymer matrix pad and said polymer film cover have an oval shape. 
     
     
         4 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 1  wherein said fluids and exudate from said wound are not stored within said non-woven polymer matrix pad and are continuously removed from said non-woven polymer matrix pad through said connection port. 
     
     
         5 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 1  wherein said connection port is integrally secured to said polymer film cover by a seal pad that surrounds said connection port and is secured by adhesive to said polymer film cover. 
     
     
         6 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 1  wherein said bandage is applied to a patient having said wound by removing said release member and attaching said adhesive layer exposed by the removal of said release member to said patient such that said adhesive layer is sealed to the patient around said wound with said non-woven polymer matrix pad being positioned over said wound, and attaching said connector port to said source of negative pressure. 
     
     
         7 . An integrated negative pressure bandage connectable to a source of negative pressure to remove fluids and exudate from a wound, comprising:
 a non-woven polymer matrix pad having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being positionable adjacent to and in engagement with said wound;   a polymer film cover integrally affixed to said upper surface of said pad, said film cover having a peripheral boundary surrounding said pad, said film cover having a peripheral boundary surrounding said pad and an opening therethrough, said peripheral boundary including an adhesive layer mounted thereon and projecting outwardly from said non-woven polymer matrix pad such that said adhesive layer is operable to form a seal around said wound with said non-woven polymer matrix pad being positioned over said wound;   a connection port integrally secured to said film cover in flow communication with said opening, said connection port being connectable to said source of negative pressure to extract fluids and exudate from said wound through said non-woven polymer matrix pad, said connection port being integrally secured to said polymer film cover by a seal pad that surrounds said connection port and is secured by adhesive to said polymer film cover; and   a release member removably attached to said adhesive layer, said release member being an integral part of said bandage before being removed from said adhesive layer to expose said adhesive layer for sealing around said wound.   
     
     
         8 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 7  further comprising a mesh layer covering said lower surface of said pad and being integrally secured to said film cover. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 8  wherein said mesh layer is impregnated with silver nitrate. 
     
     
         10 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 7  wherein said non-woven polymer matrix pad and said polymer film cover have an oval shape. 
     
     
         11 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 7  wherein said fluids and exudate from said wound are not stored within said non-woven polymer matrix pad. 
     
     
         12 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 11  wherein said fluids and exudate are continuously removed from said non-woven polymer matrix pad through said connection port. 
     
     
         13 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 7  wherein said bandage is applied to a patient having said wound by removing said release member and attaching said adhesive layer exposed by the removal of said release member to said patient such that said adhesive layer is sealed to the patient around said wound with said non-woven polymer matrix pad being positioned over said wound, and attaching said connector port to said source of negative pressure. 
     
     
         14 . An integrated negative pressure bandage connectable to a source of negative pressure to remove fluids and exudate from a wound, comprising:
 an oval-shaped, non-woven polymer matrix pad having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being positionable adjacent to and in engagement with said wound;   an oval-shaped polymer film cover integrally affixed to said upper surface of said pad, said film cover having a peripheral boundary surrounding said pad, said film cover having a peripheral boundary surrounding said pad and an opening therethrough, said peripheral boundary including an adhesive layer mounted thereon and projecting outwardly from said non-woven polymer matrix pad such that said adhesive layer is operable to form a seal around said wound with said non-woven polymer matrix pad being positioned over said wound;   a connection port integrally secured to said film cover in flow communication with said opening, said connection port being connectable to said source of negative pressure to extract fluids and exudate from said wound through said non-woven polymer matrix pad, said connection port being integrally secured to said polymer film cover by a seal pad that surrounds said connection port and is secured by adhesive to said polymer film cover;   a mesh layer covering said lower surface of said pad and being integrally secured to said film cover; and   a release member removably attached to said adhesive layer, said release member being an integral part of said bandage before being removed from said adhesive layer to expose said adhesive layer for sealing around said wound.   
     
     
         15 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 14  wherein said mesh layer is impregnated with silver nitrate. 
     
     
         16 . The integrated negative pressure bandage of  claim 14  wherein said bandage is applied to a patient having said wound by removing said release member and attaching said adhesive layer exposed by the removal of said release member to said patient such that said adhesive layer is sealed to the patient around said wound with said non-woven polymer matrix pad being positioned over said wound, and attaching said connector port to said source of negative pressure.