Perineal thermal pack with improved liquid containment

Abstract

Devices for providing thermal therapy to the perineal and rectal areas of a patient are described. The device is particularly useful for containing gushing lochia flow. Different embodiments of the device can be used to provide either hot or cold therapy to the patient. The inventive thermal pack of the current invention comprises a thermal pouch, pad and a backing layer.

1 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A device for applying thermal therapy to a patient, comprising:
 a pad comprising a single absorbent core;   an overwrap;   a backing layer; and   a thermal pouch overlying the absorbent core;   wherein the overwrap is over the pad and the thermal pouch,   wherein the overwrap and pad comprise at least one embossed channel, and   wherein the device does not comprise an additional absorbent core.   
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the pad comprises a hot melt glue. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the overwrap is attached to the pad and the thermal pouch. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 58 , wherein the overwrap is attached to the pad beyond a perimeter of the thermal pouch. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one channel is located between an edge of the pad and the thermal pouch. 
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 60 , wherein the at least one channel follows a perimeter of the pad. 
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one embossed channel is continuous. 
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the overwrap comprises at least a first layer, and wherein the first layer is nonwoven. 
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein the overwrap further comprises a second layer, wherein the second layer is an acquisition distribution layer. 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the overwrap has at least one slit. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the thermal pouch is attached above the pad and below the overwrap. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 66 , wherein the pad is compressed where the thermal pouch is attached. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 66 , wherein the pad is thinner where the thermal pouch is attached. 
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the absorbent core extends above a bottom layer of the thermal pouch. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the backing layer is folded. 
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 56 , further comprising an adhesive layer and a release liner attached to the backing layer. 
     
     
         72 . A device for applying thermal therapy to a perineal area of a patient, the device comprising:
 a pad comprising an absorbent core;   an overwrap comprising a first layer and a second layer;   a backing layer; and   a thermal pouch underlying the first layer and the second layer,   wherein the absorbent core comprises an area of reduced thickness configured to receive the thermal pouch.   
     
     
         73 . A device for applying thermal therapy to a patient, the device comprising:
 a pad comprising an absorbent core;   an overwrap comprising at least a first layer;   a backing layer; and   a thermal pouch underlying the first layer,   wherein the absorbent core is folded over at a first edge thereof and a second edge thereof to form a single thickness underlying the thermal pouch and a double thickness at the first and second edges.