Methods and products for reducing tissue trauma using water-absorbing stress-distributing materials

1. A method of minimizing stress to tissue of a patient during a surgical procedure, the method comprising:

providing a surgical incise drape comprising a flexible polymeric film having opposite first and second major surfaces, and a layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the first major surface of the flexible polymeric film;

adhering the surgical incise drape to the patient using the pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface of the flexible polymeric film;

providing a water-absorbing stress-distributing layer comprising a hydrogel, a hydrocolloid, or a combination thereof; wherein the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer has opposite first and second major surfaces and wherein the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer is at least 2 mm and no more than 8 mm thick between the first and second major surfaces;

attaching the first major surface of the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer to the second major surface of the flexible polymeric film of the surgical incise drape that is adhered to the patient such that the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer conforms to the shape of the tissue of the patient;

making an incision through the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer and the incise drape into the tissue; and

retracting the tissue along the incision using a retractor;

wherein the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer reduces stress to the incision and tissue trauma by distributing the forces caused by retraction; and

wherein the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer undergoes stretching and/or compression during retraction and protects the skin and underlying tissue from trauma due to compressive and/or stretching forces during tissue retraction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein attaching the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer comprises attaching the first major surface of the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer to the second major surface of the flexible polymeric film of the surgical incise drape through the use of an intervening pressure sensitive adhesive.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retracting does not displace the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer from the patient along the incision while undergoing stretching and/or compression during retraction.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surgical procedure is a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surgical procedure is an open surgical procedure.

6. A method of minimizing stress to tissue of a patient during a surgical procedure, the method comprising:

providing a surgical incise drape comprising a flexible polymeric film having opposite first and second major surfaces and a layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of the first major surface of the flexible polymeric film;

providing a water-absorbing stress-distributing layer comprising a hydrogel, a hydrocolloid, or a combination thereof; wherein the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer has opposite first and second major surfaces and wherein the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer is at least 2 mm and no more than 8 mm thick between the first and second major surfaces;

attaching the first major surface of the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer to the second major surface of the flexible polymeric film of the surgical incise drape so that the surgical incise drape and the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer are attached together to form a stress-distributing composite;

adhering the stress-distributing composite to the patient by contacting the pressure sensitive adhesive layer on the first major surface of the polymeric film of the stress-distributing composite to the patient such that the stress-distributing composite conforms to the shape of the tissue of the patient;

making an incision through the stress-distributing composite into the tissue; and

retracting the tissue along the incision using a retractor;

wherein the stress-distributing composite reduces stress to the incision and tissue trauma by distributing the forces caused by retraction; and

wherein the stress-distributing composite undergoes stretching and/or compression during retraction and protects the skin and underlying tissue from trauma due to compressive and/or stretching forces during tissue retraction.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer comprises a hydrocolloid.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer is porous.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue of the patient is initially treated with a presurgical skin preparation.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue of the patient is initially treated with a barrier film.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a presurgical skin preparation; and

treating the patient's skin with a presurgical skin preparation prior to adhering the surgical incise drape to the patient.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein attaching the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer comprises attaching the first major surface of the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer to the second major surface of the flexible polymeric film of the surgical incise drape through the use of an intervening pressure sensitive adhesive so that the surgical incise drape and the water-absorbing stress-distributing layer are attached together to form a stress-distributing composite.