Drainage system for incisions or wounds in the body of an animal

Abstract

The invention provides a combination of a sheet of thin pliable material adapted to be placed in sealing engagement with the skin of a patient in the location of a body opening made by an incision or wound, with the sheet being adapted to have an aperture formed therein to expose the opening, together with a removable cap preferably of transparent plastic material which can be adhesively secured to the outer face of the sheet. Drains placed in the body opening can be observed through the cap and the opening can be treated and the tubes withdrawn in increments by simply removing the cap which thereafter can be replaced.

We claim: 
     
       1. A drainage system for draining fluids from an opening such as a wound or incision in the body of an animal, said system being usable in combination with a drain having a portion within the body and a portion extending outwardly of the body through said opening, said drainage system comprising a sheet of gelatinous material having a size sufficient to cover the wound, the drain, and a substantial portion of the external area of the body surrounding the opening, said sheet having a face adapted to be placed in direct contact with and thereby to sealingly engage the external area of the body surrounding the opening, said sheet being adapted to have an aperture formed therein exposing only said opening and the drain therein while covering and isolating the area of the body surrounding said opening and drain, ring forming means of relatively stiff but deformable plastic material, means for securing one side of the ring forming means in sealing engagement with the opposite face of said sheet surrounding said aperture, and a cap of thin transparent plastic material having an edge portion sealingly engaging the opposite side of said ring forming means, said cap being removable to give access to said opening and said drain. 
     
     
       2. A drainage system for draining fluids from an opening such as a wound or incision in the body of an animal, said system being usable in combination with a drain having a portion within the body and a portion extending outwardly of the body through said opening, said drainage system comprising a sheet of soft, pliable, plastic material, a blanket of gelatinous material adhered to one face of the sheet to be placed in contact with and thereby to sealingly engage the external area of the body surrounding the opening, said sheet and blanket being adapted to have an aperture formed therein exposing only said opening and the drain therein while covering and isolating the area of the body surrounding said opening and drain, ring forming means of relatively stiff but deformable plastic material, means for securing one side of the ring forming means in sealing engagement with the opposite face of said sheet surrounding said aperture, and a cap of thin transparent plastic material having an edge portion sealingly engaging the opposite side of said ring forming means, said cap eing removable to give access to said opening and said drain. 
     
     
       3. A drainage system for draining fluids from an opening such as a wound or incision in the body of an animal, said system being usable in combination with a drain having a portion within the body and a portion extending outwardly of the body through said opening, said drainage system comprising a sheet of soft, pliable material having a face to be placed in contact with and thereby to sealingly engage the external area of the body surrounding the opening, said sheet being adapted to have an aperture formed therein exposing only said opening and the drain therein while covering and isolating the area of the body surrounding said opening and drain, a bag of thin plastic material having an inner wall and an outer wall, said walls being secured together at their peripheral edges to form a bag and said walls having opposed holes therein, means for securing the inner wall of the bag to the opposite face of said sheet with the hole in the inner wall surrounding said aperture, a cap of thin plastic material, and means for securing the cap to the outer wall of the bag in position to surround the hole therein, said cap being transparent to permit visual inspection of said opening and drain and said cap being removable to give access to said opening and said drain. 
     
     
       4. A drainage system for draining fluids from an opening such as a wound or incision in the body of an animal, said system being usable in combination with a drain having a portion within the body and a portion extending outwardly of the body through said opening, said drainage system comprising a sheet of soft, pliable, plastic material, a blanket of gelatinous material adhered to one face of the sheet to be placed in contact with and thereby to sealingly engage the external area of the body surrounding the opening, said sheet and blanket being adapted to have an aperture formed therein exposing only said opening and the drain therein while covering and isolating the area of the body surrounding said opening and drain, a bag of thin plastic material having an inner wall and an outer wall, said walls being secured together at their peripheral edges to form a bag and said walls having opposed holes therein, a relatively stiff but deformable ring surrounding each of said holes and sealed to said walls, an adhesive-carrying face on the ring surrounding the hole in the inner wall for securing the bag to the opposite face of said sheet with the hole in the inner wall surrounding said aperture, a cap of thin plastic material secured to a third relatively stiff but deformable ring of approximately the same diameter as the ring in the outer wall, and means for removably securing said third ring to the ring in the outer wall to permit the cap to be removably secured to the outer wall of the bag. 
     
     
       5. A drainage system for draining fluids from an opening such as a wound or incision in the body of an animal, said system being usable in combination with a drain having a portion within the body and a portion extending outwardly of the body through said opening, said drainage system comprising a solid sheet having no discontinuities therein and being formed of soft gelatinous material, said sheet having a face adapted to be placed in direct contact with and thereby to sealingly engage the external area of the body surrounding the opening, said sheet being adapted to have an aperture formed therein exposing only said opening and the drain therein while covering and isolating the area of the body surrounding said opening and drain, ring forming means of relatively stiff but deformable plastic material, means for securing one side of the ring forming means in sealing engagement with the opposite face of said sheet surrounding said aperture, and a cover member of thin plastic material having an edge portion sealingly engaging the opposite side of said ring forming means, said cover member being removable to give access to said opening and said drain.