ADHESIVE BANDAGE
Adhesive bandages having a backing layer with first and second opposing surfaces, and an absorbent pad associated with the backing layer, the absorbent pad including a first surface that faces the second surface of the backing layer and an opposing second surface having a plurality of tufted regions surrounded and separated by a first network of interconnecting channels recessed in the second surface of the absorbent pad; where the tufted regions have a substantially uniform first density, the channel base region has a substantially uniform second density that is greater than the substantially uniform first density of the tufted regions and the network of channels is visible.
1 . An adhesive bandage for application to abrasions or cuts in the skin, comprising:
a backing layer comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface; and
an absorbent pad associated with said backing layer, said absorbent pad comprising,
a first surface facing said second surface of said backing layer and having a first surface area,
a second surface opposite said first surface and having a second surface area; and
a core body,
said absorbent pad comprising a plurality of tufted regions surrounded and separated by a first network of interconnecting channels recessed in said second surface of said absorbent pad, said channels comprising channel sidewalls extending away from said second surface of said absorbent pad and into said core body of said absorbent pad and terminating in a first surface of a channel base region extending between said channel sidewalls;
wherein said tufted regions have a substantially uniform first density, said channel base region has a substantially uniform second density greater than said substantially uniform first density of said tufted regions and said network of interconnecting channels is visible.
2 . The bandage of claim 1 comprising an adhesive layer applied to at least a portion of said second surface of said backing layer.
3 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said second density of said channel base region is about 12 times or less greater than said first density of said tufted regions.
4 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said substantially uniform second density of said channel base region is from about 0.11 g/cc to about 0.96 g/cc.
5 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said substantially uniform first density of said tufted regions is from about 0.082 g/cc to about 0.17 g/cc.
6 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said channels have a width of from about 0.2 to about 0.6 millimeters and a depth from about 0.02 to about 2 millimeters.
7 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said absorbable pad is not degradable in water.
8 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said first network of interconnecting channels comprises from about 5 to about 20 percent of said second surface area of said second surface of said absorbent pad.
9 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said absorbent pad comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic materials.
10 . The bandage of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between said backing layer and said absorbent pad.
11 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein the shape of said tufted regions is selected from the group consisting of polygonal, elliptical, ovoid and circular.
12 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said channels are non-linear and the shape of said tufted regions is selected from the group consisting of elliptical, ovoid and circular.
13 . The bandage of claim 11 wherein said channels are linear and the shape of said tufted regions is polygonal.
14 . The bandage of claim 1 further comprising a second network of interconnecting channels recessed in said first surface of said absorbent pad, said tufted regions being surrounded and separated by said second network of interconnecting channels recessed in said first surface of said absorbent pad, said channels in said second network of interconnecting channels comprising channel sidewalls extending away from said first surface and into said core body of said absorbent pad and terminating in a second surface of said channel base region opposite said first surface of said channel base region and extending between said channel sidewalls of said second network.
15 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said thickness of said absorbent pad is from about 0.3 millimeters to about 2.5 millimeters.
16 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said base channel region is from about 0.1 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters.
17 . The bandage of claim 14 wherein said second network of interconnecting channels is visible.
18 . The bandage of claim 1 wherein said second surface of said absorbent pad comprises a covering layer.
19 . The bandage of claim 14 wherein said second surface of said absorbent pad comprises a covering layer.