THERMALLY-CONDUCTIVE, METAL-BASED BANDAGES WITH HYDROGEL SUBSTRATE

摘要

The invention is a class of medical bandages that are effective for use in the treatment of various types of tissue burns, such as burns due to heat, chemicals, or sun exposure. The inventive bandages are comprised of a thin metal substrate in combination with a heat-sink. The inventive bandages incorporate a metal substrate (such as aluminum) having a burn-facing side for direct contact with the burn to draw heat away from the burn by conduction, and a heat-sink facing side opposite the burn-facing side for contact with a hydrogel to draw heat away from the metal layer by conduction. The thin aluminum layer and associated hydrogel heat-sink ensures flexibility and effective heat-transfer characteristics to rapidly cool a burn wound.

主权项

1. A bandage having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bandage comprising:
(a) a top layer of polymeric material, the top layer having a first surface and a second surface, and where the second surface of the top layer has adhesive disposed thereon; (b) a middle layer of hydrogel substrate, the hydrogel substrate having a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface of the hydrogel substrate is coupled to the second surface of the top layer, and where the hydrogel substrate is positioned within the perimeter of the top layer, and (c) a bottom layer of metal substrate, the metal substrate having a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface of the metal substrate is coupled to the second surface of the hydrogel substrate and where the metal substrate is positioned within the perimeter of the hydrogel substrate.