Protective dressing and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A protective device having a substantially rigid casing for placement on a patient's skin, wherein the casing has a hollow interior facing the patient's skin and a lip. The casing can be spanned across its hollow interior by a membrane. The casing can have a first adhesive seal attached to a bottom surface of the lip of the casing, and a second adhesive seal attached to the top surface of the lip of the casing.

1 . A protective device comprising:
 a casing having a substantially rigid outer protuberance, the outer protuberance forming a hollow interior space between a protected medical article and a patient's skin to prevent compression of the medical article when the casing is placed on the patient's skin;   a lip supporting the casing and having a bottom surface; and   a membrane attached to the bottom surface of the lip and spanning the interior space, the membrane being disposed between the hollow interior space and the patient's skin.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first adhesive seal disposed on at least a portion of the membrane so as to contact the patient's skin; and 
 a second adhesive seal disposed on at least a portion of a top surface of the lip. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the membrane is disposed between the lip and the first adhesive seal. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first adhesive seal is impregnated or coated with an antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of β-lactams antibiotics, penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, monobactams, glycopeptides, aminoglycosides, macrolides, tetracyclines, chloramphenicols, clindamycins, vancomycins, streptogramins, oxazolindinones, fluoroquinolones, metronidazoles, sulfonamides, allylamines, non-azole ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors, antimetabolite antifungals, flucytosine, azole antifungals, fluconazole, glucan synthesis inhibitors, caspofungin, polyene antifungals, amphotericin B, griseofulvin, antiseptic solutions, chloroxylenol, benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine, hexachlorophine, sulfadiazine, iodine compounds, mercury compounds, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, volatile oils, methyl salicylate, heavy metals and silver. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein at least two of the protuberance, the membrane, the first adhesive seal, and the second adhesive seal comprise a notch. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein at least two of the notches are aligned with one another forming a slot. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the slot extends through the lip and towards the interior space, a width of the slot being greater toward the interior space so as to position at least a portion of the medical article at an angle with respect to the patient's skin. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane contacts both the protected medical article and the patient's skin when the casing is placed on the patient's skin. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane adheres to both the protected medical article and the patient's skin when the casing is placed on the patient's skin. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the protuberance comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, cuboidal, triangular, pyramidal, cylindrical, conical and dome shape. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material. 
     
     
         13 . A protective device comprising:
 a casing having a substantially rigid protuberance, the protuberance forming a hollow interior cavity between a protected medical article and a patient's skin to prevent compression of the medical article when the casing is placed on the patient's skin; and   a membrane having a bottom surface and spanning the casing at a location below the hollow interior cavity, the bottom surface contacting both the protected medical article and the patient's skin when the casing is placed on the patient's skin.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the membrane comprises one or more perforations. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the membrane comprises hydrogel. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the membrane comprises one or more lower adhesive layers and one or more upper absorbent layers. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the protuberance comprises a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material. 
     
     
         18 . A protective device comprising:
 a substantially rigid casing forming a cavity and having a lip, the cavity being sized and shaped to cover a medical article without compressing the medical article against the patient's skin;   a membrane attached to a lower surface of the lip so as to contact both the medical article and the patient's skin when the casing is placed on the patient's skin; and   a first adhesive seal disposed below a lower surface of the membrane.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  further comprising a second adhesive seal disposed above an upper surface of the lip. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the membrane is impregnated or coated with an antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the protected medical article comprises a needle and tubing, and wherein the membrane adheres to both the needle and tubing when the casing is placed on the patient's skin.