PIXILATED BANDAGE
A bandage is described which includes a plurality of individual heating elements, each element being able to be individually heated to direct thermal energy to a specific area of the bandage, and a controller operable to control the plurality of individual bandages.
1 . A bandage comprising:
a plurality of individual heating elements, at least a subset of elements of the plurality of individual elements being able to be separately controlled independent of the other elements to direct thermal energy to a specific area of the bandage; and
a controller operable to control the plurality of heating elements forming the bandage.
2 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein the individual heating elements are arranged in a linear array.
3 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein the individual heating elements are arranged in two dimensional array.
4 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to maintain the individual heating elements within a defined temperature range.
5 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to control the individual heating elements according to a preprogrammed treatment regimen.
6 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein the thermal energy is sufficient to kill bacteria.
7 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein each heating element is formed on a flexible circuit board.
8 . The bandage of claim 7 wherein the circuit board is formed of mylar.
9 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein each individual heating element includes a feedback mechanism allowing the controller to react to temperature changes.
10 . A method of delivering thermal energy to a wound comprising:
placing a bandage on the wound the bandage formed of a plurality of independently controllable elements, each element including a heating element and a feedback mechanism;
heating one or more of the plurality of independently controllable elements to a temperature sufficient to destroy infectious agents; and
controlling the one or more of the plurality of independently controllable heating elements using the feedback mechanism to deliver a therapeutic amount of thermal energy according to a preprogrammed treatment regimen.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of independently controllable elements are formed in a two dimensional array.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the bandage can be modified to fit a particular wound.
13 . The method of claim 10 further comprising maintaining the temperature of the heating elements within a predetermined safe operating range of temperatures.
14 . The method of claim 10 wherein the treatment regimen includes maintaining selected elements of the plurality of independently controllable elements at a temperature for a set time
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the treatment regimen includes multiple treatment cycles.
16 . A bandage element comprising:
a heating element formed on a flexible circuit board:
a feedback mechanism formed on the flexible circuit board operable to provide a signal indicative of the temperature of the heating element; and
leads extending from the heating element and feedback mechanism providing electrical connection of the heating element and the feedback mechanism to a controller;
wherein the bandage element is configurable with other bandage elements into an array of individually controllable bandage elements.
17 . The bandage element of claim 16 wherein the feedback mechanism is a thermistor.
18 . The bandage element of claim 16 wherein the flexible circuit board is formed of mylar.
19 . The bandage element of claim 16 wherein the array is a linear array.
20 . The bandage element of claim 16 wherein the array is a two dimensional array.
21 . The bandage element of claim 16 wherein the controller is operable to maintain the heating element within a particular temperature range for a predetermined amount of time.
22 . The bandage element of claim 16 wherein the heating element is capable of being heated to a temperature sufficient to destroy infectious agents.