This invention relates to a hyperbaric treatment device and, in particular, to a hyperbaric device that can For a better understanding of these and other objects be easily applied to any part of the body for treating of the present invention, reference is had to the followskin disorders. ing detailed description of the invention which is to be
The most pertinent prior art known to the applicant read in conjunction with the following drawings,
at the time of filing this case can be found in the follow- 10 wherein;
ing U.S. patents: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hyperbaric device
U.S. Pat. No. 3,450,450 embodying the teachings of the present invention show
U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,238 ing the bag operatively positioned upon the leg of a
U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,298 patient;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,491 15 FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation in section further
U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,371 illustrating the hyperbaric device shown in FIG. 1
It has been known for quite some time that many wherein the treatment chamber in an inflated condition;
types of skin disorders, such as ulcers, burns, venous and
stasis, sores and the like, can be effectively treated by FIG. 3 is also a side elevation in section of the hyperapplying hyperbaric oxygen to the afflicted region. The 20 baric device shown in FIG. 2 showing the chamber in a pressurized treatment gas has been found to suppress collapsed condition, bacterial growth, promote tissue granulation and accelerate epithelization. However, as evidenced by the dis- DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION closures in the above noted patents, most of the prior art Oxygen under pressure has been used to treat skin devices involve rather complex and cumbersome ma- 25 ulcefs and Qther types Qf skjn disorders for quite some chines that are specifically designed to treat only the time Applying dry oxygen under a pressure of between body extremities. In practice, the entire hmb is typically 5 and 25 mm of H produces an antiseptic action> inserted into an opening provided withm a chamber and stimulates granuiation of the tissue and promotes ephithe opening made gastight by placing a tourmquette- ... formation which all contributes to rapid healing. hke seal about the hmb. Wi h the seal in place, pressur- 30 tq ^ ... wkh c m circmatioil) the
lzed gas is introduced into the chamber. ,. . ., , , ~- „ c
,.6 Cl_, . . ,. . .... operating pressure should not exceed 25 mm He. for
Many of the prior art machines are only available on • Ui • J r n v J f ^
r j u • v. f.t / - , j ■ any appreciable period of time. Oxygen applied to the
a very limited basis because of the costs involved in > + \ ■ . . • , ^ ^
building and maintaining this type of complex equip- ?reatTMnt reglon under ambient pressures, on the other
ment. Generally these machines are found only at spe- 35 hand> has httle or no effect on the healing process,
cial locations, such as hospitals, having a specially The present invention, as presented in the accompa
trained staff that is, qualified to run the device. The use n7lng drawings, represents a safe, simple and inexpen
of tourniquette-like seals has also been found to be ob- Slve means for administering hyperbaric oxygen, or any
jectional in that they pose a potential hazard to the other suitable treatment gas, to the skin of a patient. As
general circulation of the patient. The reusable machine 40 wl11 become evident, the device is not limited in its
also requires a thorough cleaning between treatments application to the treatment of body extremities but can
which requires considerable down time and thus further be applied to any afflicted region of the body without
limits the effective utilization of the equipment. having to resort to the use of large bulky chambers or
other similarly complicated pieces of equipment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 45 As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hyperbaric treatIt is therefore an object of the present invention ito ment device 10 of the present invention includes a pliimprove hyperbaric devices used in treating various able base pad 12 to which is securely affixed an inflatforms of skin disorders. able bag 15. The pad is provided with a centrally loA further object of the present invention is to pro- cated opening 16 formed therein. In practice, the pad is mote wider use of hyperbaric gas for the treatment of 50 placed over the afflicted skin region with the opening skin ailments by providing an inexpensive and easy to framing the area to be treated. The outer surface of the use treatment apparatus. pad, that is, the surface opposite that to which the bag Another object of the present invention is to provide is affixed, has an adhesive coating 18 applied thereto hyperbaric treatment apparatus that can be operatively which enables the device to be attached to the skin of applied to any part of the body without impeding the 55 the patient. Although not shown, the adhesive layer is general circulation of the user. normally protected by a tear-away strip which is reYet another object of the present invention is to pro- moved just prior to usage, vide an inexpensive hyperbaric treatment device that Experiments have shown that many known and corncan be conveniently thrown away after each treatment. mercially available adhesives can be operatively linked These and other objects of the present invention are 60 or bonded to plastic materials to provide an extremely attained by means of a hyperbaric device containing a strong adhering surface capable of forming a gastight pliable base pad having a central opening formed bond when applied to human skin. Tests conducted on therein and having, an adhesive coating on the outer simple plastic colostomy bags using this type of adhesurface thereof, a flaccid bag secured to the top surface sive coating have demonstrated that the bag can withof the pad by means of a collar which surrounds the 65 stand internal gas pressures in excess of 25 mm Hg. opening whereby a hyperbaric treatment chamber is without the bag leaking or becoming detached from the formed over the opening, and means to provide a flow skin. Accordingly, this type of adhesive bonding mateof hyperbaric treatment gas into and out of the bag rial can be used in the present system to provide a
4,224,941
