Dynamic fenestration system for wound protection and monitoring
A fenestration system for protecting and monitoring an injured area may have a first sheet having a first opening; a second sheet having a second opening aligned with the first opening; and a third transparent sheet positioned within a pocket formed between the first and second sheets that provides guidance to and limits the motion of the third transparent sheet. Non-elastic strings are attached to opposite ends of the third transparent sheet and can be grasped to manually move the third transparent sheet within the pocket to selectively cover or uncover the first and second openings. The system may include frames surrounding the openings, and the pocket may be formed by lateral seals maintaining proper alignment during movement and perpendicular seals limiting movement range.
1 . A fenestration system for protecting and monitoring an injured area, comprising:
a first sheet having a first opening;
a second sheet having a second opening aligned with the first opening;
a pocket formed between the first and second sheets having an area smaller than the area of the first and second sheets, the pocket being defined by at least one lateral seal and at least one alignment seal;
a third transparent sheet positioned between the first and second sheets, the third transparent sheet being movable within the pocket such that the at least one lateral seal limits the range of motion of the third transparent sheet relative to the first and second sheets and the at least one alignment seal maintains proper alignment of the third transparent sheet during movement; and
at least one first non-elastic string coupled to the third transparent sheet at a first end thereof and at least one second non-elastic string attached to an opposite end of the third transparent sheet, the first and second strings extending to allow grasping by a user to manually move the third transparent sheet to selectively cover or uncover the first and second openings.
2 . The fenestration system of claim 1 , wherein the third transparent sheet comprises a transparent plastic window.
3 . The fenestration system of claim 2 , wherein the transparent plastic window is configured to align within the first and second openings when the third transparent sheet is moved within the pocket to cover the openings.
4 . The fenestration system of claim 1 , further comprising a first frame surrounding the first opening and a second frame surrounding the second opening.
5 . The fenestration system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second frames are made of a flexible material.
6 . The fenestration system of claim 1 , further comprising a first end bead attached to the at least one first non-elastic string and a second end bead attached to the at least one second non-elastic string, wherein the first and second end beads facilitate grasping by a user to manually move the third transparent sheet.
7 . The fenestration system of claim 1 , wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are transparent.
8 . The fenestration system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first string further comprises at least two first strings that each attach at one end to the transparent middle sheet on the same end thereof, at spaced apart locations, and which attach together at their other ends.
9 . A method of protecting and monitoring an injured area, comprising:
providing a fenestration system having a first sheet having a first opening, a second sheet having a second opening aligned with the first opening, a pocket formed between the first and second sheets having an area smaller than the area of the first and second sheets, the pocket being defined by at least one lateral seal and at least one alignment seal, and a third transparent sheet positioned in the pocket such that the at least one lateral seal limits the range of motion of the third transparent sheet relative to the first and second sheets and the at least one alignment seal maintains proper alignment of the third transparent sheet during movement, and at least one first non-elastic string and at least one second non-elastic string, the first and second strings being coupled to the third transparent sheet at either end thereof to facilitate moving the third transparent sheet in the pocket relative to the first and second sheets;
attaching the fenestration system to a patient or a surgical drape; and
manually moving the third transparent sheet using the at least one first non-elastic string and the at least one second non-elastic string to selectively cover or uncover the first and second openings.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fenestration system further comprises a transparent plastic window in the third transparent sheet configured to align with the first and second openings when the third transparent sheet is moved within the pocket to cover the openings.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises a first frame surrounding the first opening and a second frame surrounding the second opening.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first and second frames are made of a flexible material.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fenestration system further comprises a first end bead attached to the at least one first string and a second end bead attached to the at least one second string, the first and second end beads facilitating manual movement of the third transparent sheet.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are transparent.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one first string further comprises at least two first strings that each attach at one end to the transparent middle sheet on the same end thereof, at spaced apart locations, and which attach together at their other ends.
16 . A wound care kit, comprising:
a fenestration device having a first sheet having a first opening, a second sheet having a second opening aligned with the first opening, a pocket formed between the first and second sheets having an area smaller than the area of the first and second sheets, the pocket being defined by at least one lateral seal and at least one alignment seal, and a third transparent sheet positioned in the pocket such that the at least one lateral seal limits the range of motion of the third transparent sheet relative to the first and second sheets and the at least one alignment seal maintains proper alignment of the third transparent sheet during movement;
at least one first non-elastic string coupled to the third transparent sheet at a first end thereof and at least one second non-elastic string attached to an opposite end of the third transparent sheet, the first and second strings extending to allow grasping by a user to manually move the third transparent sheet inside the pocket to selectively cover or uncover the first and second openings; and
an adhesive for attaching the fenestration device to a patient or a surgical drape.
17 . The wound care kit of claim 16 , wherein the fenestration device further comprises a first frame surrounding the first opening and a second frame surrounding the second opening, the first and second frames being made of a flexible material.
18 . The wound care kit of claim 16 wherein the fenestration device further comprises a first end bead attached to the at least one first non-elastic string and a second end bead attached to the at least one second non-elastic string, the first and second end beads facilitating manual movement of the third transparent sheet.
19 . The wound care kit of claim 16 , wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are transparent.
20 . The wound care kit of claim 16 , wherein the at least one first string further comprises at least two first strings that each attach at one end to the transparent middle sheet on the same end thereof, at spaced apart locations, and which attach together at their other ends.