US4372303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bandage frame and method
Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corp
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Filing: 1980-09-11
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Granted: 1983-02-08
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Expires: 2000-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A frame for spreading relatively large adhesive backed bandages into a generally flat configuration for applying to a patient. Such bandages might be for a wound dressing, burn dressing, surgical incise drape, etc. The frame is attached to the bandage when the bandage is being stuck to the patient, but the frame is removed so as not to interfere with subsequent movement of the patient's anatomy.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederic Grossmann
- 👤 Larry A. Sims
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F15/00; A61F15/005; A61F13/00; A61F2013/00361; A61F2013/00795; A61F2013/00817; A61F2013/00829; A61F2013/00834; A61F13/15; A61F2013/15008; A61F2013/15073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for bandaging a patient comprising: a flexible bandage having a backing with an adhesive on a surface thereof for applying to a patient; and a frame means which is substantially less flexible than the bandage and is attachable to the backing thereof for maintaining said bandage in a generally flat configuration and for controlling wrinkling during handling and application of the bandage to the patient when attached thereto; whereby the bandage may resume its flexible nature after application to the patient and removal of the frame means, so as not to interfere with the flexible functioning of the bandage on the patient's anatomy.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for bandaging a patient comprising: a flexible bandage having a backing with an adhesive on a surface thereof for applying to a patient; and a frame means which is substantially less flexible than the bandage and is attachable to the backing thereof for maintaining said bandage in a generally flat configuration and for controlling wrinkling during handling and application of the bandage to the patient when attached thereto; whereby the bandage may resume its flexible nature after application to the patient and removal of the frame means, so as not to interfere with the flexible functioning of the bandage on the patient's anatomy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame means is stiffer than the bandage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 2, wherein the frame means is heavy paper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 2, wherein the frame means is thermoplastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the flexible bandage is a dressing for a wound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 2, wherein the flexible bandage is a burn dressing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the flexible bandage is a surgical drape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 4, wherein the flexible bandage is an incise surgical drape and is severable at a surgical incision.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the bandage is permeable to water vapor, but impermeable to liquid water and bacteria.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the backing and adhesive are transparent for viewing a patient beneath the bandage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the adhesive forms a continuous coating on the backing so that the adhesive is adapted to secure the backing directly to the wound or incision area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the frame is secured to the bandage by an adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the frame is bendable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the frame is preattached to the bandage, and both the frame and flexible bandage are sterile and inside a sterility protecting package.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the bandage has a removable liner protecting the adhesive prior to use.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a flexible bandage or wound dressing having a backing with an adhesive on one side thereof for applying to a patent, the improvement comprising: a reversibly attachable frame means; said frame being substantially less flexible than the bandage or wound dressing and attachable to the backing thereof for maintaining said bandage or wound dressing in a generally flat configuration and having external dimensions sufficient to control wrinkling across a major area of the flexible bandage when attached thereto during application; whereby the bandage or wound dressing may resume its flexible nature after application to the patient and removal of the frame means, so as not to interfere with the flexible functioning of the bandage or dressing on the patient's anatomy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a flexible bandage or wound dressing having a backing with an adhesive on one side thereof for applying to a patent, the improvement comprising: a reversibly attachable frame means; said frame being substantially less flexible than the bandage or wound dressing and attachable to the backing thereof for maintaining said bandage or wound dressing in a generally flat configuration and having external dimensions sufficient to control wrinkling across a major area of the flexible bandage when attached thereto during application; whereby the bandage or wound dressing may resume its flexible nature after application to the patient and removal of the frame means, so as not to interfere with the flexible functioning of the bandage or dressing on the patient's anatomy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A frame as set forth in claim 16, wherein the frame is generally rectangular with an open central portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A frame as set forth in claim 16, wherein the frame is sterile and in a sterility protecting package.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A frame as set forth in claim 17, wherein the frame is bendable, but is stiffer than the bandage.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of bandaging a patient with a flexible bandage comprising the steps of: (a) securing to the bandage a frame means that is substantially less flexible than the bandage for maintaining said bandage in a generally flat configuration and for controlling wrinkling during handling and application of the bandage to the patient; (b) applying the bandage to a patient while the frame means is secured to the bandage; and (c) separating the frame means from the bandage so the frame means does not interfere with the flexible functioning of the bandage of such patient's anatomy.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of bandaging a patient with a flexible bandage comprising the steps of: (a) securing to the bandage a frame means that is substantially less flexible than the bandage for maintaining said bandage in a generally flat configuration and for controlling wrinkling during handling and application of the bandage to the patient; (b) applying the bandage to a patient while the frame means is secured to the bandage; and (c) separating the frame means from the bandage so the frame means does not interfere with the flexible functioning of the bandage of such patient's anatomy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 20, wherein the securing step includes adhesively attaching such frame to the bandage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 20, wherein the separating step includes breaking apart an adhesive joint between the frame and the handle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 22, wherein the breaking apart of the adhesive joint includes progressively peeling the bandage and frame apart.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of bandaging a patient with a flexible bandage comprising the steps of: (a) securing to the bandage a frame means that is substantially less flexible than the bandage for maintaining said bandage in a generally flat configuration and for controlling wrinkling during handling and application of the bandage to the patient; said frame means being manually bendable to temporarily conform to an area of the patient's anatomy; (b) applying the bandage to a patient while the frame means is secured to the bandage with the bandage being applied during a bending action of the frame means about the patient's anatomy; and (c) separating the frame means from the bandage to provide increased flexibility of the bandage on such patient's anatomy.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of bandaging a patient with a flexible bandage comprising the steps of: (a) securing to the bandage a frame means that is substantially less flexible than the bandage for maintaining said bandage in a generally flat configuration and for controlling wrinkling during handling and application of the bandage to the patient; said frame means being manually bendable to temporarily conform to an area of the patient's anatomy; (b) applying the bandage to a patient while the frame means is secured to the bandage with the bandage being applied during a bending action of the frame means about the patient's anatomy; and (c) separating the frame means from the bandage to provide increased flexibility of the bandage on such patient's anatomy.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for bandaging a patient comprising: a flexible bandage having a transparent backing that is permeable to water vapor, but impermeable to liqiud water and bacteria; a transparent flexible adhesive continuously covering one surface of the backing so that the entire bandaging area of the flexible bandage can be directly adhered to a patient; a removal liner associated with said adhesive for protecting the adhesive prior to use; and a frame means which is substantially less flexible than the bandage and is attachable to the backing thereof for maintaining said bandage in a generally flat configuration and for controlling wrinkling during handling and application of the bandage to the patient when attached thereto; whereby the bandage may resume its flexible nature after application to the patient and removal of the frame means, so as not to interfere with the flexible functioning of the bandage on the patient's anatomy.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for bandaging a patient comprising: a flexible bandage having a transparent backing that is permeable to water vapor, but impermeable to liqiud water and bacteria; a transparent flexible adhesive continuously covering one surface of the backing so that the entire bandaging area of the flexible bandage can be directly adhered to a patient; a removal liner associated with said adhesive for protecting the adhesive prior to use; and a frame means which is substantially less flexible than the bandage and is attachable to the backing thereof for maintaining said bandage in a generally flat configuration and for controlling wrinkling during handling and application of the bandage to the patient when attached thereto; whereby the bandage may resume its flexible nature after application to the patient and removal of the frame means, so as not to interfere with the flexible functioning of the bandage on the patient's anatomy.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 25, wherein the frame means is stiffer than the bandage.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 26, wherein the frame means is heavy paper.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system for bandaging a patient as set forth in claim 26, wherein the frame means is thermoplastic.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-02-07 | 1986-08-09 | 1987-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-07 | 1990-08-09 | 1991-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-07 | 1994-08-09 | 1995-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |