Cranial cap dressing

Abstract

A cranial cap dressing for dressing a craniotomy wound comprising a breathable elastic outer layer sized to fit snuggly on a human head of a patient and an absorbent inner layer attached to the breathable elastic outer layer.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A cranial cap dressing for dressing a human craniotomy wound comprising:
 a breathable elastic outer layer sized to fit snuggly on a head of a human patient,   an absorbent inner layer attached to the breathable elastic outer layer;   the cranial cap dressing designed to substantially completely cover both ears of the patient; and   wherein the cranial cap dressing is shaped substantially as a spherical dome, with a volume greater than a hemisphere of a corresponding sphere.   
     
     
         22 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of breathing channels in the absorbent inner layer providing a passageway for air through the absorbent inner layer to the breathable elastic outer layer. 
     
     
         23 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  further comprising a contact film polymer layer coating on a proximal skin facing surface of the inner layer that reduces the adhesion of the inner layer to the wound. 
     
     
         24 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 23  further comprising a plurality of perforations in the contact film polymer layer coating to allow air and bodily fluids to pass through the contact film polymer layer coating. 
     
     
         25 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  further comprising a mechanical fastener along a circumference of the cranial cap dressing, which helps secure the cranial cap dressing on the head of the patient. 
     
     
         26 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 25 , wherein the mechanical fastener is one of a Velcro flap, a button, a snap, a latch, a buckle, a fabric tie, and a string tie. 
     
     
         27 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 25  wherein the mechanical fastener is located at an inferior posterior most portion of the cranial cap dressing. 
     
     
         28 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 25  wherein the mechanical fastener is a string tie and further comprising a string substantially further comprising a substantially non-elastic string extending in a channel around the circumference of the cranial cap dressing. 
     
     
         29 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  further wherein an anti-microbial agent is affixed to a proximal surface of the inner layer. 
     
     
         30 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 29  wherein the antimicrobial agent is one of elemental or ionic silver. 
     
     
         31 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 29  wherein the antimicrobial agent is one of silver nitrate and silver sulfadiazine. 
     
     
         32 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  further comprising the breathable elastic outer layer having a coefficient of static friction between two pieces of the same material being less than 0.3. 
     
     
         33 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  further comprising a proximate breathable layer attached to the inner layer, opposite to the outer layer. 
     
     
         34 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  wherein a maximum thickness of the inner layer is greater in an area corresponding to an incision than a maximum thickness of the inner layer in an area spaced from the area corresponding to the incision. 
     
     
         35 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  wherein the inner layer is formed as a checkered pattern of absorbent material lining a proximal skin facing surface of the outer layer. 
     
     
         36 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  wherein the inner layer is a substantially a continuous layer of absorbent material extending substantially completely across a proximal skin facing surface of the outer layer. 
     
     
         37 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 36  further comprising a plurality of perforations through the inner layer to provide breathing channels for vapor to pass through the inner layer to the outer layer. 
     
     
         38 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  further comprising a medical adhesive or gel affixed to a circumference of the cranial cap dressing to help releasably secure the cranial cap dressing to a skin of the patient. 
     
     
         39 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  wherein the cranial cap dressing substantially completely covers a cranium of the patient. 
     
     
         40 . The cranial cap dressing of  claim 21  further comprising one or more flap that may be folded down to cover incisions that extend below a circumference of the cranial cap dressing.