Window Dressing Having Force Concentrating Adhesion Elements

• US 20130310754A1
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medline Industries Incorporated (Medline Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medline Industries Incorporated (Medline Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kutsch, John Henry
• Granted Patent: US 9,987,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/180
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0266 using pads, patches, tapes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

A dressing includes a cover layer and a plurality of force concentration elements disposed about a perimeter of the cover layer. Each force concentration element is configured to collect and distribute shearing forces applied to the dressing so as to retain the dressing to a patient. When configured as a window dressing, the window dressing can include a top layer defining a window and a backing layer coupled to the top layer and spanning the window. A plurality of adhesive islands can be disposed about a perimeter of the top layer, with each of the adhesive islands having a first adhesion coefficient associated therewith. An adhesive layer can be disposed about the adhesive islands. The adhesive layer can have a second adhesion coefficient associated therewith that is less than the first adhesion coefficient. Window dressings are well suited for catheterization procedures.

Claims

1. A window dressing, comprising:

a top layer defining a window;

a backing layer coupled to the top layer and spanning the window;

a plurality of adhesive islands disposed about a perimeter of the top layer, each adhesive islands having a first adhesion coefficient associated therewith; and

an adhesive layer disposed about the plurality of adhesive islands, the adhesive layer having a second adhesion coefficient associated therewith that is less than the first adhesion coefficient.

2. The window dressing of claim 1, wherein one or more adhesive islands are configured to be visibly distinct from the adhesive layer.

3. The window dressing of claim 2, wherein the one or more adhesive islands and the adhesive layer have different colors.

4. The window dressing of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of adhesive islands have one of triangular perimeters or rectangular perimeters.

5. The window dressing of claim 4, wherein at least some others of the plurality of adhesive islands have another of the triangular perimeters or the rectangular perimeters.

6. The window dressing of claim 1, wherein the plurality of adhesive islands comprises at least twelve adhesive islands.

7. The window dressing of claim 1, wherein the window is generally triangular.

8. The window dressing of claim 7, wherein the top layer defines stress relief elements that are substantially aligned with one side of the window.

9. The window dressing of claim 1, wherein the top layer comprises a plurality of layers.

10. The window dressing of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of layers is colored.

11. A dressing, comprising:

a cover layer; and

a plurality of force concentration elements disposed about a perimeter of the cover layer, each force concentration element being configured to collect and distribute shearing forces applied to the dressing so as to retain the dressing to a patient.

12. The dressing of claim 11, wherein the each force concentration element is defined by selective deposition of an adhesive having an adhesion coefficient greater than other adhesives disposed about the each force concentration element.

13. The dressing of claim 12, wherein the adhesive is disposed on a patient side of the cover layer.

14. The dressing of claim 11, wherein the cover layer comprises a first portion extending along a first direction and a second portion extending from the first portion distally in a second direction opposite the first, wherein the first portion is substantially trapezoidal in shape.

15. The dressing of claim 14, wherein the second portion is substantially inverted-peak triangular in shape.

16. The dressing of claim 11, further comprising two adhesively backed label strips coupled to the dressing at one of a score line or perforation and extending distally from the dressing.

17. A method of applying a dressing, comprising:

obtaining the dressing, the dressing comprising a plurality of adhesive force concentration elements disposed about a perimeter of the dressing;

removing a peel-away layer from the dressing; and

applying the dressing to a patient.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the dressing comprises a window dressing, the method further comprising:

inserting a catheter into the patient at an insertion site;

wherein the applying comprises placing a window of the window dressing atop the insertion site.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the dressing comprises a dual window dressing, the method further comprising:

placing a second window of the dual window dressing atop a coupler of the catheter such that at least a portion of the coupler is disposed beneath the dressing between the window and the second window.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising detaching one or more adhesive labels separably coupled to the dressing prior to the applying.