MULTI-LAYERED ADHESIVE SUBSTRATE
A multi-layered thin film adhesive substrate is disclosed, comprising at least three coextensive layers and an adhesive layer. The thin film substrate is resilient, but remains flexible for accurate and smooth application, in uses such as securement of medical dressings and devices.
1 . A multilayered thin film adhesive substrate having opposing front and back major surfaces, and comprising:
a first layer having an outer edge, an interior major surface, and an exterior major surface presenting said opposing back major surface of said substrate;
a second layer having an outer edge, an interior major surface, and an exterior major surface presenting said opposing front major surface;
a resilient, intermediate mesh layer between the first layer and second layer, said intermediate mesh layer having an outer edge, and being in face-to-face relationship adjacent said respective interior major surfaces; and
a layer of adhesive having an outer edge, and being in face-to-face relationship adjacent said opposing back major surface,
wherein the outer edge of each of said layers is in alignment.
2 . The substrate of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate adhesive layer between said first layer and said second layer adjacent said intermediate mesh layer.
3 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is flexible and inelastic.
4 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is non-implantable.
5 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein said substrate has a thickness of from about 1 mil to about 10 mil.
6 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is severable.
7 . The substrate of claim 1 , further comprising a releasable liner in face-to-face relationship adjacent said adhesive layer.
8 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein said first layer or second layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, silicone, rubber, latex, rayon, composites thereof, copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof.
9 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber elastomers, acrylics, acrylates, epoxies, silicones, hot melt adhesives, solvent-based adhesives, solvent-free adhesives, photosensitive adhesives, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, polyurethanes, styrene block co-polymers, and combinations thereof.
10 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein said intermediate mesh layer comprises polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene, or polyester netting.
11 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein said intermediate mesh layer comprises woven or nonwoven fibers.
12 . The substrate of claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises a plurality of openings formed therein, said openings extending through a thickness of said second layer.
13 . A method of securing a dressing or device to a subject, said method comprising, providing a multilayered thin film adhesive substrate according to claim 1 , applying said substrate to said subject wherein a portion of said adhesive layer is adjacent a tissue of said subject, and applying said substrate to said dressing or device wherein a portion of said adhesive layer is adjacent said dressing or device.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of IV lines, tracheal tubes, nasogastric tubes, ventilators, drains, catheters, central lines, and/or arterial lines.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said substrate comprises a releasable liner in face-to-face relationship adjacent said adhesive layer, said method further comprising removing said releasable liner prior to applying said substrate.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said substrate does not fold in on itself after removing said liner.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said substrate is smooth and non-creased after said applying.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said substrate is topically applied directly to said subject's tissue or to an intermediate underlayment applied to said tissue.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said substrate is not implantable in said subject.
20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising removing said substrate from said subject, said method comprising peeling an edge of said substrate to release said adhesive layer.