Pressure applying dressing

Abstract

A dressing for applying pressure to a patient target site is provided. The dressing includes an elastic spacer longitudinally extending between first and second substrates. The elastic spacer is configured to be selectively moved between the first length and a second length. The second length is longer than the first length. A triggering element, when present, selectively maintains the elastic spacer at the second length and selectively prevents the elastic spacer from moving toward the first length. Portions of the triggering element are sequentially removable such that as each portion of the triggering element is removed, the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length. The sequential movement of the elastic spacer from the second length toward the first length responsively urges the first and second substrates longitudinally toward one another to apply a predetermined amount of longitudinal force to the patient target site.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A dressing for applying pressure to a patient target site, comprising:
 longitudinally spaced first and second substrates each having a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, the first surface of each of the first and the second substrates having an attachment member for attaching the dressing to the patient target site;   an elastic spacer longitudinally extending between the first and the second substrates, the elastic spacer being biased to a first length, the elastic spacer being configured to be selectively moved between the first length and a second length, the second length being longer than the first length; and   a triggering element removably joined to at least one of the second surface of the first substrate, the second surface of the second substrate, and the elastic spacer, the triggering element, when present, selectively maintaining the elastic spacer at the second length and selectively preventing the elastic spacer from moving toward the first length, portions of the triggering element being sequentially removable from at least one of the second surface of the first substrate, the second surface of the second substrate, and the elastic spacer such that as each portion of the triggering element is removed, the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length;   wherein the sequential movement of the elastic spacer from the second length toward the first length responsively urges the first and second substrates longitudinally toward one another to apply a predetermined amount of longitudinal force to the patient target site.   
     
     
         2 . The dressing of  claim 1 , including at least one removable cover at least partially covering each of the attachment members of the first and second substrates. 
     
     
         3 . The dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic spacer has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, the first surface of the elastic spacer having at least one interfacing element for contacting the target patient site. 
     
     
         4 . The dressing of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one interfacing element is at least one of gauze, perforated plastic film dressing, and alginate. 
     
     
         5 . The dressing of  claim 3 , wherein when the elastic spacer has the first length, the at least one interfacing element continuously spans between the first and second substrates. 
     
     
         6 . The dressing of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one interfacing element is at least two interfacing elements, a chosen one of the at least two interfacing elements being longitudinally parallel with another of the at least two interfacing elements, the at least two interfacing elements being longitudinally spaced apart from one another when the elastic spacer has the second length, the chosen one of the at least the at least two interfacing elements directly longitudinally contacting another of the at least two interfacing elements when the elastic spacer has the first length so that the at least two interfacing elements, as a whole, continuously span between the first and second substrates. 
     
     
         7 . The dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering element is removably attached to at least one of the second surface of the first substrate, the second surface of the second substrate, and a surface of the elastic spacer, the attachment between the triggering element and at least one of the second surface of the first substrate, the second surface of the second substrate, and a surface of the elastic spacer being at least one of an adhesive attachment, a magnetic attachment, a hook and loop attachment, and a button attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering element is formed from at least two removable portions, each of the at least two removable portions being removably attached to at least one of another removable portion, the second surface of the first substrate, the second surface of the second substrate, and a surface of the elastic spacer. 
     
     
         9 . The dressing of  claim 8 , wherein the at least two removable portions of the triggering element are sequentially removable from at least one of another of the at least two removable portions, the second surface of the first substrate, the second surface of the second substrate, and a surface of the elastic spacer such that as each of the at least two removable portions of the triggering element is removed, the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length. 
     
     
         10 . The dressing of  claim 9 , wherein as the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length, the amount of longitudinal force applied to the target patient site sequentially increases. 
     
     
         11 . The dressing of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two removable portions include a first removable portion removably attached to at least a second removable portion, the first removable portion selectively maintaining the second removable portion at a second removable portion length, the second removable portion being biased to a first removable portion length that is shorter than the second removable portion length, removal of the first removable portion from the second removable portion responsively causing the second removable portion to move from the second removable portion length to the first removable portion length, movement of the second removable portion from the second removable portion length to the first removable portion length responsively causing the elastic spacer to move from the second length L 2  to an intermediate length L 3 , the intermediate length being shorter than the second length and longer than the first length. 
     
     
         12 . The dressing of  claim 11 , wherein removal of the second removable portion responsively urges the elastic spacer to move from the intermediate length to the first length. 
     
     
         13 . The dressing of  claim 8 , wherein a chosen one of the at least two removable portions is longitudinally parallel to another of the at least two removable portions, and as each of the at least two removable portions are selectively removed, the elastic spacer moves from the second length to the first length sequentially by moving to at least one intermediate length before moving to the first length, the at least one intermediate length being shorter than the second length and longer than the first length. 
     
     
         14 . The dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering element is formed from at least two removable portions, each of the at least two removable portions being laterally removably inserted into a corresponding expandable cavity of the elastic spacer. 
     
     
         15 . The dressing of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two removable portions of the triggering element are sequentially removable from the corresponding expandable cavities such that as each of the at least two removable portions of the triggering element is removed, the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length. 
     
     
         16 . A method for applying pressure to a patient target site, the method comprising:
 providing a dressing having an elastic spacer longitudinally extending between longitudinally spaced first and second substrates;   adjusting the elastic spacer from a first length to a second length, the second length being longer than the first length;   joining a triggering element to at least one of a second surface of the first substrate, a second surface of the second substrate, and the elastic spacer to selectively maintain the elastic spacer at the second length and, with the triggering element, selectively prevent the elastic spacer from achieving the first length;   attaching the first substrate to a first side of the patient target site;   attaching the second substrate to a second side of the patient target site opposite the first side, to longitudinally span the patient target site with the elastic spacer; and   sequentially removing portions of the triggering element, the sequential removal of portions of the triggering element causing the elastic spacer to sequentially move from the second length to the first length, the sequential movement of the elastic spacer from the second length to the first length responsively urging the first and second substrates longitudinally toward one another to apply a predetermined amount of longitudinal force to the patient target site.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the elastic spacer has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, the first surface of the elastic spacer having at least one interfacing element for contacting the target patient site, the at least one interfacing element continuously spanning between the first and second substrates when the elastic spacer has the first length. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the elastic spacer has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, the first surface of the elastic spacer having at least two interfacing elements for contacting the target patient site, a chosen one of the at least two interfacing elements being longitudinally parallel with another of the at least two interfacing elements, the at least two interfacing elements being longitudinally spaced apart from one another when the elastic spacer has the second length, the chosen one of the at least two interfacing elements directly longitudinally contacting another of the at least two interfacing elements when the elastic spacer has the first length so that the at least two interfacing elements, as a whole, continuously span between the first and second substrates. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the triggering element is formed from at least two removable portions, each of the at least two removable portions being removably attached to at least one of another removable portion, the second surface of the first substrate, the second surface of the second substrate, and a surface of the elastic spacer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least two removable portions of the triggering element are sequentially removable from at least one of another of the at least two removable portions, the second surface of the first substrate, the second surface of the second substrate, and a surface of the elastic spacer such that as each of the at least two removable portions of the triggering element is removed, the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least two removable portions include a first removable portion removably attached to at least a second removable portion, the first removable portion selectively maintaining the second removable portion at a second removable portion length, the second removable portion being biased to a first removable portion length that is shorter than the second removable portion length, the method further comprising:
 removing the first removable portion from the second removable portion to responsively cause the second removable portion to move from the second removable portion length to the first removable portion length, movement of the second removable portion from the second removable portion length to the first removable portion length responsively causing the elastic spacer to move from the second length to an intermediate length, the intermediate length being shorter than the second length and longer than the first length; and   removing the second removable portion to responsively cause the elastic spacer to move from the intermediate length to the first length.   
     
     
         22 . The dressing of  claim 20 , wherein a chosen one of the at least two removable portions is longitudinally parallel to another of the at least two removable portions, as each of the at least two removable portions are selectively removed, the elastic spacer moves from the second length to the first length sequentially by moving to at least one intermediate length before moving to the first length, the at least one intermediate length being shorter than the second length and longer than the first length. 
     
     
         23 . The dressing of  claim 16 , wherein the triggering element is formed from at least two removable portions, each of the at least two removable portions being laterally removably inserted into a corresponding expandable cavity of the elastic spacer. 
     
     
         24 . The dressing of  claim 23 , wherein the at least two removable portions of the triggering element are sequentially removable from the corresponding expandable cavities such that as each of the at least two removable portions of the triggering element is removed, the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length. 
     
     
         25 . A dressing for applying pressure to a patient target site, comprising:
 longitudinally spaced first and second substrates each having a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, the first surface of each of the first and the second substrates having an attachment member for attaching the dressing to the patient target site;   an elastic spacer longitudinally extending between the first and the second substrates, the elastic spacer being biased to a first length, the elastic spacer being configured to be selectively moved between the first length and a second length, the second length being longer than the first length; and   a triggering element laterally removably inserted into a corresponding expandable cavity of the elastic spacer, the triggering element, when present, selectively maintaining the elastic spacer at the second length and selectively preventing the elastic spacer from moving toward the first length, the triggering element being removable from the corresponding expandable cavity of the elastic spacer such that as the triggering element is removed, the elastic spacer moves from the second length toward the first length.   
     
     
         26 . The dressing of  claim 25 , wherein the triggering element is formed from at least two removable portions, each of the at least two removable portions being laterally removably inserted into a corresponding expandable cavity of the elastic spacer. 
     
     
         27 . The dressing of  claim 26 , wherein the at least two removable portions of the triggering element are sequentially removable from the corresponding expandable cavities such that as each of the at least two removable portions of the triggering element is removed, the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length. 
     
     
         28 . The dressing of  claim 27 , wherein as the elastic spacer sequentially moves from the second length toward the first length, the amount of longitudinal force applied to the target patient site sequentially increases.