Bandaging device

Abstract

A wound care device that can be effectively attached to a wide range of wound locations without the use of any adhesives, can apply controlled, consistent pressure to the wound, and can be configured to allow the clinician to see relevant areas of the patient's body is disclosed. The wound care device includes a contact pad connected with a securing strap. The securing strap includes an inelastic strap segment and an elastic strap segment. The elastic strap segment is coupled with an attachment segment, which attaches to the inelastic strap segment and cooperates with the elastic strap segment to compress the contact pad to the wound.

1 . A wound care device for compressing against an area of a body part of a patient, the wound care device comprising:
 a first strap formed of a substantially inelastic material, the first strap having a top side, a bottom side, a proximal end and a distal end;   a contact pad affixed to the bottom side and positioned near the proximal end of the first strap, the contact pad having a thickness and being configured for placement against the area of the body part of the patient;   a second strap formed of a substantially elastic material having elongation elasticity, the second strap having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the first strap; and   an attachment connected to a distal end of the second strap opposite the first strap, and being configured to securely attach to the top side of the first strap when the contact pad is placed against the area of the body part of the patient and the first strap is wound around the body part of the patient, and to elongate the second strap such that the second strap applies a compression force from the elongation elasticity to the first strap to compress the contact pad to the area of the body part of the patient when the attachment is attached to the top side of the first strap.   
     
     
         2 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first strap has a length configured so as to be the only contact with the body part of the patient apart from the contact pad. 
     
     
         3 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the second strap has a length that is less than one-third of a length of the first strap. 
     
     
         4 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the contact pad in an uncompressed state is between 0.1 and 2 centimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the contact pad includes a fluid absorbent layer. 
     
     
         6 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first strap is formed of at least one layer of fabric that is substantially inelastic. 
     
     
         7 . A wound care device for compressing against a body part of a patient, the wound care device comprising:
 an inelastic strap having a top side, a bottom side, a proximal end and a distal end;   a contact pad affixed to the bottom side and positioned near the proximal end of the inelastic strap, the contact pad having a thickness and being configured for placement against the body part of the patient;   an elastic strap having elongation elasticity, the elastic strap having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the inelastic strap; and   an attachment connected to a distal end of the elastic strap opposite the inelastic strap, and being configured to securely attach to the top side of the inelastic strap when the contact pad is placed against the body part of the patient and the inelastic strap is wound around the body part of the patient, and to elongate the elastic strap such that the elastic strap applies a compression force from the elongation elasticity to the inelastic strap and the contact pad affixed thereto, to compress the contact pad to the body part of the patient.   
     
     
         8 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the inelastic strap has a length configured so as to be the only contact with the body part of the patient apart from the contact pad. 
     
     
         9 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the elastic strap has a length that is less than one-third of a length of the inelastic strap. 
     
     
         10 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the contact pad in an uncompressed state is between 0.1 and 2 centimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the contact pad includes a fluid absorbent layer. 
     
     
         12 . The wound care device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the inelastic strap is formed of at least one layer of fabric that is substantially inelastic in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for compressing a contact pad against an area of a body part of a patient, the contact pad having a thickness in an uncompressed state that is between 0.1 and 2 centimeters and being configured for placement and compression against the area of the body part of the patient, the apparatus comprising:
 an inelastic strap having a top side, a bottom side, a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the bottom side of the inelastic strap having the contact pad affixed thereto;   an elastic strap having elongation elasticity, the elastic strap having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the inelastic strap; and   an attachment connected to a distal end of the elastic strap opposite the inelastic strap, and being configured to securely attach to the top side of the inelastic strap when the contact pad is placed against the area of the body part of the patient and the inelastic strap is wound around the body part of the patient, and to elongate the elastic strap such that the elastic strap applies a compression force from the elongation elasticity to the inelastic strap and the contact pad affixed thereto, to compress the contact pad to the area of the body part of the patient.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the inelastic strap has a length configured so as to be the only contact with the body part of the patient apart from the contact pad. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the elastic strap has a length that is less than one-third of a length of the inelastic strap. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the inelastic strap is formed of at least one layer of fabric that is substantially inelastic in a longitudinal direction.