Wound covering apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to apparatus for covering a burn or other wound in ways that prevent or limit touching the wound. The present disclosure describes Burn Bandages that may include domes or structures that bridge over a wide range of a burn or wound size. In certain instances these structures may expand in one or more directions as they are adjusted to fit to a particular burn or wound size. Such bridging structures may include airways, openings, or voids that promote air/oxygen flow to the wound as the Burn Bandage sits upon surfaces or pads that contact healthy surrounding tissue while they cover a wound site. The apparatus may be any shape including, yet not limited to, a circle, a rectangle, a square, a hexagon, an octagon, an oval, a cone, a cylinder, have a semi-cylindrical shape, or that have any another geometric shape.

1 . An apparatus that covers a wound on a person, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure having a shape that both circumscribes an area above a portion of skin having the wound and that bridges over the wound when the structure is aligned above the wound thereby avoiding the structure from coming into physical contact with the wound, wherein the structure includes:
 a compartment located on the interior of the structure and storing an ointment to be applied to the wound whereby the compartment is positioned above the wound when the structure is aligned above the wound, the compartment having a plurality of orifices allowing the ointment to flow to the wound through one or more of the plurality of orifices, 
 one or more airways that allow air to flow from the exterior of the structure to the interior of the structure thereby promoting healing of the wound, the airways including one or more filters that reduce the passage of bacteria, particles, or unfiltered air from the exterior of the structure to the interior of the structure and the wound; and 
   a base portion coupled to the structure and that physically contacts the skin of the person when the structure is aligned above the wound, the base portion including an adhesive that removably adheres to the skin of the person.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pad that flexibly couples the structure to the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion further includes one or more voids that connect to at least one of the airways of the structure. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a size of the plurality of orifices corresponds to an application temperature whereby the ointment begins to liquefy and flow through the plurality of orifices onto the wound. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment mechanism that assists in maintaining the positioning of the structure and base portion relative to the wound. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the size of structure is manipulated before it is aligned over the wound. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the manipulation of the size of the structure includes expanding the structure by moving a first portion of the structure in a first direction, the structure having at least a first and a second portion. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the apparatus further comprising an expansion mechanism that allows a first part of the structure to move relative to a second part of the structure. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the expansion mechanism includes a slide and a rail. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment mechanism attaches to at least one part of the structure or the base portion and touches at least a portion of the skin of the person. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the structure is at least one of a rectangular shape, geometrical shape, a curved shape, a circular shape, a triangle shape, a square shape, a hexagon shape, an octagonal shape, a conical shape, or a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure circumscribes an appendage of the person. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is composed of at least one transparent materials. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is composed of at least one ultra-violet (UV) protective material. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is composed of at least one material bearing printed subject matter. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure encompasses an entire body part while allowing for continued mobility of the encompassed body part. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is modular. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is embedded with at least one sensor that measures healing of the wound. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a smart device that sends one or more of reminders, notifications, status or updates concerning treatment of the wound. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is packaged as part of a kit. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ointment may be replenished. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the kit includes additional ointment. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the ointment is packaged and sold separately from the kit.