Devices and methods of treatment for pressure ulcers and related impaired blood circulation problems

A bandage for application to the skin of an individual to treat pressure ulcers and other impaired blood circulation problems comprising:

• a flexible strip having a pair of opposing major planar sides;
• an adhesive on one of the pair of major sides;
• and
• a flexible foam inner member on the one major side of the strip, the foam inner member having a pair of opposing major sides, one major side of the foam inner member being fixed to the strip and a remaining major side facing away from the strip, and a plurality of side edges connecting the major sides, at least some of the adhesive on the strip being left uncovered around the foam inner member to secure the bandage to an individual, the foam inner member having an outer perimeter defined by the side edges extending around and between the major sides of the foam inner member, the side edges tapering from one major side to the other such that the foam inner member diminishes in thickness in the outer perimeter all around the outer perimeter sufficiently smoothly to avoid creation of an abrupt pressure change along the skin of the individual receiving the bandage sufficient to hinder blood flow through the skin under the foam inner member;
• wherein the flexible foam inner member is effective therapeutically to respond to underlying circulatory system pulses and provide arterial or veinal auxiliary pumping action to the skin surface underlying the flexible foam material.