Viscoelastic wound closure dressing
A viscoelastic wound closure dressing. The dressing can include a viscoelastic backing having a first major surface configured to face skin when in use, a first end, a second end, and a middle section located between the first end and the second end. The wound closure dressing can further include a skin-contact adhesive on the first major surface of the viscoelastic backing adjacent the first end and the second end. A majority of the first major surface of the middle section can be free of the skin-contact adhesive. The viscoelastic backing can recover, at room temperature: (i) no more than 40% of its deformation after 10 seconds, after being strained to 50% elongation for 30 minutes, and (ii) at least 70% of its deformation after 48 hours, after being strained to 50% elongation for 30 minutes.
1. A wound closure dressing system comprising:
a support assembly; and
a viscoelastic backing in a pre-stretched configuration,
the viscoelastic backing comprising a first major surface configured to face skin when in use, a first end, a second end, and a middle section located between the first end and the second end,
wherein only the middle section of the viscoelastic backing is in the pre-stretched configuration, and
wherein the viscoelastic backing recovers, at room temperature:
no more than 40% of its deformation after 10 seconds, after being strained to 50% elongation for 30 minutes, and
at least 70% of its deformation after 48 hours, after being strained to 50% elongation for 30 minutes; and
a skin-contact adhesive on the first major surface of the viscoelastic backing at the first end and the second end,
wherein more than 50% of the first major surface of the middle section is free of the skin-contact adhesive,
wherein the viscoelastic backing is coupled to the support assembly via the skin-contact adhesive only.
2. The wound closure dressing system of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic backing recovers, at room temperature:
no more than 30% of its deformation after 10 seconds, after being strained to 50% elongation for 30 minutes.
3. The wound closure dressing system of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic backing recovers, at room temperature:
at least 90% of its deformation after 48 hours, after being strained to 50% elongation for 30 minutes.
4. The wound closure dressing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first end is configured to be secured to skin on one side of a wound site;
the second end is configured to be secured to skin on an opposite side of the wound site from the first end; and
the middle section is configured to be positioned over the wound site.
5. The wound closure dressing system of claim 1 , wherein the skin-contact adhesive is patterned on the first major surface of the middle section.
6. The wound closure dressing system of claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent layer coupled to the first major surface of the middle section of the viscoelastic backing.
7. The wound closure dressing system of claim 6 , wherein the absorbent layer includes at least one of a hydrogel and a foam.
8. The wound closure dressing system of claim 6 , wherein the absorbent layer is positioned adjacent a lateral side of the middle section of the viscoelastic backing.
9. The wound closure dressing system of claim 1 ,
wherein the wound closure dressing is coupled to the support assembly with the viscoelastic backing in the pre-stretched configuration, such that the pre-stretched configuration of the viscoelastic backing is maintained until the wound closure dressing is decoupled from the support assembly.
10. The wound closure dressing system of claim 9 , wherein the support assembly rigid relative to the viscoelastic backing.
11. The wound closure dressing system of claim 9 , wherein the support assembly is configured to be coupled to the first major surface of the viscoelastic backing, and configured to be coupled to a second major surface opposite the first major surface of at least the middle section of the viscoelastic backing.
12. The wound closure dressing system of claim 1 , wherein the wound closure dressing is further coupled to the support assembly via an overwrap that is positioned around at least a portion of the wound closure dressing and the support assembly.
13. The wound closure dressing system of claim 1 , wherein the wound closure dressing is further coupled to the support assembly via a fastener.
14. A wound closure dressing kit comprising:
a first wound closure dressing system according to claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic backing of the first wound closure dressing is pre-stretched by a first percent elongation; and
a second wound closure dressing system according to claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic backing of the second wound closure dressing is pre-stretched by a second percent elongation that is less than the first percent elongation.