Adhesive nitric oxide delivery bandage for skin condition healing
An adhesive bandage that is capable of delivering nitric oxide gas to skin is generally disclosed. The bandage may be used for topical skin therapy of a patient, such as, for example, to promote healing of a wound or condition, or to provide exogenous nitric oxide supplementation.
1 . An adhesive bandage for delivering nitric oxide gas to skin, comprising:
a first chamber containing a first mixture;
a second chamber containing a second mixture that, when mixed with the first mixture, forms nitric oxide gas;
a mixing chamber disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber and configured to receive the first mixture and the second mixture to form nitric oxide gas; and
a bandage layer configured to adhere to the skin, wherein the bandage layer includes an adhesive portion configured to prevent the nitric oxide gas from contacting ambient air.
2 . The adhesive bandage of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is connected to the mixing chamber by a first rupturable gateway.
3 . The adhesive bandage of claim 2 , wherein the second chamber is connected to the mixing chamber by a second rupturable gateway.
4 . The adhesive bandage of claim 3 , wherein when fingertip pressure is applied to the first and second chambers, the first and second gateways rupture, allowing for mixing of the contents of the first and second chambers in the mixing chamber to form nitric oxide gas.
5 . The adhesive bandage of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth chamber containing a third mixture that is the same as the first mixture and a fifth chamber containing a fourth mixture that is the same as the second mixture.
6 . The adhesive bandage of claim 5 , wherein the bandage layer includes a membrane configured to diffuse the nitric oxide gas from the mixing chamber to the skin.
7 . The adhesive bandage of claim 6 , wherein the membrane allows only nitric oxide gas to pass through the membrane.
8 . The adhesive bandage of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is connected to the mixing chamber by a first passageway including a first plug.
9 . The adhesive bandage of claim 8 , wherein the second chamber is connected to the mixing chamber by a second passageway including a second plug.
10 . The adhesive bandage of claim 9 , wherein when fingertip pressure is applied to the first and second passageways, the first and second plugs move toward the mixing chamber, allowing for mixing of the contents of the first and second chambers in the mixing chamber to form nitric oxide gas.
11 . An adhesive bandage for delivering nitric oxide gas to skin, comprising:
a first chamber containing a first mixture;
a second chamber containing a second mixture that, when mixed with the first mixture, forms nitric oxide gas;
a mixing chamber disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber and configured to receive the first mixture and the second mixture to form nitric oxide gas, whereby the mixing chamber is formed of a flexible material that flexes in response to the nitric oxide gas expanding within the mixing chamber; and
a bandage layer disposed underneath the first, second, and mixing chambers, the bandage layer including a membrane configured to diffuse the nitric oxide gas from the mixing chamber to the skin.
12 . The adhesive bandage of claim 11 , wherein the first chamber is connected to the mixing chamber by a first rupturable gateway.
13 . The adhesive bandage of claim 12 , wherein the second chamber is connected to the mixing chamber by a second rupturable gateway.
14 . The adhesive bandage of claim 13 , wherein when fingertip pressure is applied to the first and second chambers, the first and second gateways rupture, allowing for mixing of the contents of the first and second chambers in the mixing chamber to form nitric oxide gas.
15 . The adhesive bandage of claim 11 , wherein the membrane allows only nitric oxide gas to pass through the membrane.
16 . The adhesive bandage of claim 11 , wherein the first chamber is connected to the mixing chamber by a first passageway including a first plug.
17 . The adhesive bandage of claim 16 , wherein the second chamber is connected to the mixing chamber by a second passageway including a second plug.
18 . The adhesive bandage of claim 17 , wherein when fingertip pressure is applied to the first and second passageways, the first and second plugs move toward the mixing chamber, allowing for mixing of the contents of the first and second chambers in the mixing chamber to form nitric oxide gas.
19 . A method for creating an adhesive bandage for delivering nitric oxide gas to skin, comprising:
providing a filling block including a first cavity, a second cavity, and a third cavity;
providing a membrane layer over the filling block, the membrane layer including a first chamber disposed in the first cavity, a second chamber disposed in the second cavity, and third chamber disposed in the third cavity;
filling the first cavity with a first mixture; and
filling the third cavity with a second mixture, wherein the first mixture, when mixed with the second mixture in the second chamber, forms nitric oxide gas.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
applying a transmission layer to the membrane layer;
applying a bandage layer to the membrane layer to create the adhesive bandage; and
removing the adhesive bandage from the filling block.