Fistula And Penetrating Wound Dressing

Abstract

A fistula and penetrating wound dressing including a planar flexible sheet of material and having a plurality of small openings spaced from the edges to permit an adhesive substance such as collodion to be applied thereover to secure the sheet to the body. The central portion of the dressing includes a domed transparent fluid collection chamber having an outlet nipple adapted for connection to an external receptacle.

Description

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in surgical dressings. More particularly, the invention relates to a dressing adapted for application to the body over a fistula or an open penetrating type of wound.

The problem of providing adequate dressings for large open draining wounds has long been prevalent. Penetration type wounds are frequently found in the combat zones and require immediate dressing in order to prevent infection. In surgery abnormal passages leading from an abscess or hollow organ, commonly known as a fistula, require drainage in order to carry off the bodily fluids emitted in proximity to the body opening. Prior to the present invention, it was necessary to continually change the dressings for such wounds or fistula or else to provide very cumbersome devices or apparatus to evacuate the drained fluids from the area adjacent the wound. Failure to properly drain such wounds may result in abscesses, infection and slow healing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wound dressing which forms an airtight, leak-proof seal around the wound or body opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide a leak-proof sealed dressing having provision for connection of an external drainage means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a nonallergenic dressing that prevents foreign substances from contacting the wound and seals the wound against the atmosphere and prevents fluids from penetrating into the area of the dressing.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a fistula or penetrating wound dressing which is compact, light in weight, and which can be easily, quickly and securely applied to such wounds.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dressing for penetrating wounds or fistula formed of a flat piece of plastic material or the like having openings therein into which collodion may be applied to act as a sealing medium.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wound dressing having a removable dome drain portion.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a dressing having a transparent dome portion therein which allows visual inspection of the wound and of the healing process without the necessity of the removal of the dressing and its associated trauma.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a wound dressing having drainage facility which can be applied with minimal skill which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and efficient in use.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following disclosure.

In order that the general principles of this invention may be readily understood, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the best mode now contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of the dressing allied to a portion of the human anatomy and showing connection to an evacuation pump;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the dressing shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the dressing taken from the lower end in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dressing taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the dome portion of the dressing; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a further modification of the invention.

Reference is now made specifically to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein the fistula and penetrating wound dressing constituting the subject matter of this invention is designated generally at 10.

The main body of the dressing is preferably formed from a single sheet of synthetic transparent plastic of relatively thin section which may be molded under heat and pressure by conventional means. The dressing is molded of the plastic material so as to provide a flat peripheral base 11 with a central upstanding elongated dome structure 12. The dome is spaced from three sides of the base, but has its one end in communication with the adjacent edge by means of a tapered throat portion 13. The throat terminates in a cylindrical nipple 14 which preferably extends outwardly of the base 11. A plurality of small openings are punched or otherwise provided around the edge of the base. Two rows of such openings are shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, although any number may be provided.

The dressing is applied to the wound as shown in FIG. 1 with the dome portion 12 directly over the fistula F or other type of gapping wound which has first been properly cleansed. A viscous solution such as collodion may then be sprayed, brushed, or poured about the periphery of the base 11 so that the same penetrates through the holes 15. Collodion is a known coating agent for wounds and also is useful in securing dressings and comprises a viscous solution of pyroxylin. Obviously other equivalent compounds could be used as well.

After the dressing is secured to the body, the nipple 14 may be connected to a conventional form of vacuum evacuation pump P as by means of a flexible rubber or synthetic conduit 16 which will frictionally fit over the nipple 14 in a tight sealed manner. It will be understood that fluid draining from the wound will be evacuated continually in this manner. If it is not desired to continually evacuate the wound, a tapered plug or the like not shown may be secured within the nipple 14 until such time as drainage of the wound is desired. With the dressing affixed as shown in FIG. 1, medical personnel have continual visual access to the wound through the raised transparent dome portion 12 which also serves as a collection chamber for the drained fluid.

It will be understood that the size of the base portion 11 and/or the size of the dome 12 may vary and different configurations may be used depending upon the particular type of fistula or wound to which the dressing is to be applied. It is contemplated that a circular form of base and dome may be feasible as well as rectangular arrangements of various dimension.

The modification shown in FIG. 5 presents a dome 20 having a peripheral flange 21 which may be removably secured to base portion 11 as by means of conventional adhesives. In all other respects the dome 20 is identical to the dome 12 and may include the tapered throat portion 13 and the nipple portion 14. With this modified form of the dressing, the dome portions may be removed for physically cleaning the wound or in order to provide a clean, new dome portion. Alternatively, the dome 20 may have a continuous peripheral flange without the throat 13 and the nipple and drainage may be provided by merely removing the dome along with the fluid accumulated therein. Here again collodion may be used to secure the dressing to the body of the user since the collodion is more adhesive and less irritating than conventional adhesive tapes and can remain in place for a longer period of time and yet allow wound hygiene without the necessity of changing the entire dressing. The collodion will also form an airtight and leak-proof seal between the dressing and the body which will prevent air and fluids from getting to the wound.

In the further modification shown in FIG. 6, the dressing is designated generally at 30 and includes a base portion in the form of rectangular sheet of tape 31 having a central rectangular opening and its bottom surface coated with a contact adhesive. The opening is covered by means of a cotton mesh or gauze 32. and the mesh has sealed centrally thereon a leak-proof plastic dome 33 similar to the dome 12 in the preferred embodiment. Dome 33 is provided with a peripheral flange 34 which may be adhesively secured to the cotton mesh material 32. It will be understood that the mesh directly beneath the dome will be removed. The dome 33 is provided with a tapered throat portion 35 terminating in a cylindrical nipple 36 through which a vacuum pump hose 37 may be connected.

In this embodiment of the invention the dressing may be applied to the body by means of the adhesive tape 31 and collodion may further be applied over the foraminous mesh material 32 thereby penetrating to the skin and providing a leak-proof tight and secure seal of the dressing to the body. This modification of the invention also may be made in a circular form with an annular adhesive base portion similar to the rectangular portion 31 and with an annular cotton mesh portion and a hemispherical plastic dome.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment and several modifications of the invention, it is to be understood that the drawings and detailed disclosure are to be construed in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense since various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A dressing for wounds comprising a planar flexible base having a smooth bottom face devoid of adhesive and having a transparent domed central fluid collection chamber, a plurality of small openings in said base spaced inwardly from the sides thereof and adapted to receive a liquid adhesive substance therein and permit the same to contact the skin of the wearer, and drain outlet means in said domed chamber communicating with an external drain fluid collection means.

2. A dressing as defined in claim 1, wherein said base is formed of plastic sheet material and said collection chamber is integral therewith.

3. A dressing as defined in claim 1, wherein said domed chamber is provided with a tapered neck portion and a nipple adapted for connection to said external fluid collection means.

4. A dressing as defined in claim 1, wherein said base is provided with a cut out central portion, said domed chamber having a peripheral flange, and adhesive means for removably securing said flange to said base with the domed chamber overlying said cut out.

5. A dressing for wounds comprising a planar flexible base having a domed central fluid collection chamber, a plurality of small openings in said base spaced inwardly from the sides thereof and adapted to receive a liquid adhesive substance therein and permit the same to contact the skin of the wearer, and drain outlet means in said domed chamber communicating with an external drain fluid collection means, said base is provided with adhesive means on its lower peripheral surface and said small openings are provided by woven mesh material, said domed chamber being secured to said mesh material with the mesh material immediately beneath said chamber being removed.

6. A dressing as defined in claim 5, wherein said domed chamber is provided with a tapered neck portion and a nipple adapted for connection to said external fluid collection means.

7. A dressing as defined in claim 5, wherein said domed chamber is transparent to provide for visual inspection of said wound.