Our co-pending application number WO-A-02065973 discloses a method of treatment of lymphodema and leg ulcers and a prophylactic treatment for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) employing mechanical vibrations, particularly cycloidal vibration, employing a vibration pad. Cycloidal vibration is a small amplitude, 0.1 and 0.5 mm, low frequency, 15 to 75 HZ, vibration that produces motion in three different directions, each of these directions will be at different points in its cycle. It is the out of “phase” relationship which gives rise to the term cycloid vibration. GB-A-2096899 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,019,785 disclose a vibration pad device comprising a motor mounted in a frame, the frame extending into a pad and the motor driving an eccentric weight that causes cycloid vibration of the pad. Cycloidal vibration can be administered by means of integration of the mechanism into static products such as a portable pad as disclosed in GB-A-2096899, but equally it can be incorporated in a mattress, of a therapy couch, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,006,247601 relates to the treatment of cellulitis. Cellulitis is a common skin infection. In 2002 to 2003, in the UK, there were nearly 60,000 recorded admissions into hospital. Each admission can take on average 10 days to treat (2), accounting for up to six hundred thousand-bed days per annum. Most commonly affecting the lower limbs, cellulitis is an acute infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, characterised by: local heat, redness, pain, erythematous tissue and swelling. It is commonly caused by the bacteria streptococci and is associated with, or can be a consequence of, lower limb swelling/oedema. This can be due to a mix of any of the following: leg oedema, venous hypertension, lymphodema, chronic ulceration and immobility.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,006,247601 provides a method of treatment of cellulitis comprising the steps of administering one or more antibiotics and applying a vibration pad to the region of the skin affected by cellulitis and submitting the pad to cycloid vibration for a period of at least 30 minutes at least once per day until the infection diminishes. The vibrations are believed to assist transport of the antibiotics to the site of infection so that they have their effect more rapidly and completely.
Leg ulcers, lymphodema and cellulitis all result, to a greater or lesser extent, in exudation from the skin of potentially infectious material. WO-A-02065973 proposes the use of a cover for the vibration pad, so that exudates can be isolated from the pad and any weeping or bleeding of wounds can be absorbed by the cover and not infect the surface of the pad. However, there is a strong tendency in all environments to reuse apparatus and in today's environmentally-conscious society the temptation not to waste disposable medical supplies can sometimes lead to risks being taken. In fact, the danger of cross-infection is far more costly, even just in environmental terms, than a strict adherence to a single-use policy regarding medical products, and this includes covers of vibration pads.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover including means to substantially guarantee single use thereof, or at least to make it difficult to reuse.