Wound covering apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to apparatus for covering a burn or other wound in ways that prevent or limit touching the wound. The present disclosure describes Burn Bandages that may include domes or structures that bridge over a wide range of a burn or wound size. In certain instances these structures may expand in one or more directions as they are adjusted to fit to a particular burn or wound size. Such bridging structures may include airways, openings, or voids that promote air/oxygen flow to the wound as the Burn Bandage sits upon surfaces or pads that contact healthy surrounding tissue while they cover a wound site. The apparatus may be any shape including, yet not limited to, a circle, a rectangle, a square, a hexagon, an octagon, an oval, a cone, a cylinder, have a semi-cylindrical shape, or that have any another geometric shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus that promotes healing of a wound, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure that secures to at least a portion of a body part to protect at least a portion of the wound;   at least one sensor coupled to the structure, wherein the at least one sensor monitors a status of the wound; and   a communicator that communicates an alert, wherein the alert is based on the status of the wound.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communicator includes a screen that displays the alert to communicate the alert. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communicator sends the alert to communicate the alert. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alert includes an update on the status of the wound. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alert includes an update on a treatment of the wound. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alert includes a suggestion to apply a treatment to the wound. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a passageway through at least a portion of the structure, wherein the passageway conveys the treatment toward the wound to apply the treatment to the wound.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a compartment within the structure, wherein the compartment stores the treatment and provides the treatment to apply the treatment to the wound.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the treatment includes an ointment. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cloth coupled to the structure, wherein the alert includes a suggestion to replace the cloth.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a moisture sensor that identifies an amount of moisture in a vicinity of the wound. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the alert is based on the amount of moisture in the vicinity of the wound. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a sensor that measures an attribute of air in a vicinity of the wound. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the alert is based on the attribute of the air in the vicinity of the wound. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor monitors a view of the wound to monitor a status of the wound. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a slide rail that moves a first portion of the structure relative to a second portion of the structure to adjust a size of the structure based on a size of the wound; and   a fastener that maintains an alignment of the structure relative to a location of the wound.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure bridges over the wound to avoid contact with the wound. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus that promotes healing of a wound, the apparatus comprising:
 a structure that circumscribes at least a portion of a body part of a person and to cover at least a portion of the wound, the structure including an ointment passageway that receives an ointment and that conveys flow of the ointment toward the wound;   a slide rail that moves a first portion of the structure relative to a second portion of the structure to adjust a size of the structure based on a size of the wound; and   a fastener that maintains an alignment of the structure relative to a location of the wound to prevent the structure from touching the wound as the ointment flows toward the wound.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the structure bridges over the wound to avoid contact with the wound. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a sensor that senses a condition associated with the wound; and   a communicator that communicates an alert indicative of the condition.