Adhesive wound dressing and perforated shield

Abstract

A simple construction of a two-component adhesive film, external wound dressing, comprises a backing sheet of thin, preferably elastomeric and water vapor-permeable film protected by a release layer comprising two release sheets. The sheets not only protect the adhesive coating on the front face of the film, but also are instrumental in allowing the film to be precisely positioned over a wound, then gradually tensioned with a force no greater than the peel strength for the release sheets, while the dressing is applied. This feature of the dressing allows it to be smoothly applied over the wound with a predetermined amount of force while conforming the film to the contours of an injured body. This features is the result of providing each first and second release sheets with a relatively wide margin, at least 1.25 cm (0.5 inch) wide. The peel strength for each release sheet is essentially identical. In a first embodiment of the dressing, the first release sheet has a first side-margin defined by a fold line running laterally across the longitudinal axis; and the second release sheet has a second side-margin defined by an interrupting line of spaced apart incisions, slits or perforations. In the second embodiment of the dressing each of the release sheets has a side-margin defined by an interrupting line. In either embodiment, no greater force is required to peel each release sheet on either side of the fold line or interrupting line which defines a margin. Another embodiment of the dressing is an 'island dressing' in which a pad of fabric has deposited in it, a layer of hydrophilic absorbent polymer to provide an absorptive dressing. The front surface of the pad may be coated with adhesive to facilitate application of the dressing, or be left uncoated.