| abstract |
A medication ointment applicator comprising a length of plastic film to which is attached a backing band made of a length of elastic mesh material. The ointment is applied to the surface of the plastic film which is engaged with the skin of the user, the elastic material backing band being wrapped around, for example, the user's ankle or wrist such as to hold the plastic film in firm engagement with the skin for absorption of the medication ointment through the skin. Preferably, the plastic film is provided with a scale enabling the user to measure the correct amount of ointment to be applied as a result of measuring the length of a ribbon of ointment expelled from a dispenser tube, and the surface of the plastic film to which the ointment is applied is textured, in one embodiment of the invention, by ridges being formed on the surface, to help contain the ointment within the edges of the plastic film. In another embodiment of the invention, the plastic film is surrounded by peripheral strips of suitable material that prevents excessive lateral flow of the medicated ointment; such strips being secured to the elastic material as by sewing or by cementation to such material. The backing band of elastic mesh material in one embodiment of the invention has a hook or loop material patch on one end, and lateral strips of complementary hook or loop material at the other end, such that the backing band of elastic mesh material can be wrapped tight and held in position by applying the hook or loop material patch against a portion of the complementary hook or loop material strips. In another embodiment of the invention, a hook-like fastener, applied to one end of the length of elastic material, engages the elastic material when the applicator is applied to a person's body. |