Protective dressing and methods of use thereof

1. A method of protecting a medical device, comprising:

positioning on a patient's skin over the medical device a substantially rigid casing so as to prevent compression of a protected medical article, wherein the casing comprises a hollow interior facing the patient's skin, a lip, a first adhesive seal attached to a bottom surface of the lip, a second adhesive seal attached to a top surface of the lip, and a membrane spanning the hollow interior;

securing the medical device with the membrane; and

adhering the second adhesive seal to the patient's skin.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the casing is secured to the patient's skin with the adhesive seal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, cuboidal, triangular, pyramidal, cylindrical, conical and dome shape.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is impregnated or coated with an antimicrobial agent.

7. The method of claim 6 ; wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of β-lactams antibiotics, penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, monobactams, glycopeptides, aminoglycosides, macrolides, tetracyclines, chloramphenicols, clindamycins, vancomycins, streptogramins, oxazolindinones, fluoroquinolones, metronidazoles, sulfonamides, allylamines, non-azole ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors, antimetabolite antifungals, flucytosine, azole antifungals, fluconazole, glucan synthesis inhibitors, caspofungin, polyene antifungals, amphotericin B, griseofulvin, antiseptic solutions, chloroxylenol, benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine, hexachlorophine, sulfadiazine, iodine compounds, mercury compounds, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, volatile oils, methyl salicylate, heavy metals and silver.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the casing, membrane, first adhesive seal and second adhesive seal comprise a notch.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the notches are aligned with one another forming a slot.

10. A method of protecting a wound, comprising:

positioning on a patient's skin a substantially rigid casing so as to prevent compression of a protected wound, wherein the casing comprises a hollow interior facing the patient's skin, a lip, a first adhesive seal attached to a bottom surface of the lip, a second adhesive seal attached to a top surface of the lip, and a membrane spanning the hollow interior;

adhering the membrane to the wound; and

securing the second adhesive seal to the patient's skin.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the casing is secured to the patient's skin with the adhesive seal.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein a second adhesive seal is attached to a top surface of the lip of the casing, and wherein the casing is secured to the patient's skin with the second adhesive seal.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the casing comprises a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the casing comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, cuboidal, triangular, pyramidal, cylindrical, conical and dome shape.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the membrane comprises a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the membrane is impregnated or coated with an antimicrobial agent.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of β-lactams antibiotics, penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, monobactams, glycopeptides, aminoglycosides, macrolides, tetracyclines, chloramphenicols, clindamycins, vancomycins, streptogramins, oxazolindinones, fluoroquinolones, metronidazoles, sulfonamides, allylamines, non-azole ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors, antimetabolite antifungals, flucytosine, azole antifungals, fluconazole, glucan synthesis inhibitors, caspofungin, polyene antifungals, amphotericin B, griseofulvin, antiseptic solutions, chlor-oxylenol, benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine, hexachlorophine, sulfadiazine, iodine compounds, mercury compounds, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, volatile oils, methyl salicylate, heavy metals and silver.

18. A method of protecting a medical device, comprising:

placing a medical device on a patient's skin;

covering the medical device with a substantially rigid casing to prevent compression of the medical device against the patient's skin, wherein the casing comprises a hollow interior, a lip, a first adhesive seal attached to the lip, a second adhesive seal attached to a top surface of the lip, and a membrane spanning the hollow interior;

contacting the medical device with the membrane; and

adhering the second adhesive seal to the patient's skin.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising aligning a notch in the casing with a notch in the membrane.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hollow interior of the casing defines a recess, the recess being configured to, receive at least a portion of the protected medical article.