Patent Publication Number: US-2018042776-A1

Title: Transparent breathable polyurethane film for tattoo aftercare

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Utility patent application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/102,868, filed on Oct. 6, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to a transparent, breathable, polyurethane film for covering a recently-created tattoo and method thereof. 
     The tattooing industry, and the techniques used therein, has been around for hundreds of years in one form or another. Tattooing is believed to have started in the Polynesian islands, and spread throughout the world by the sailors of Her Majesty&#39;s fleet of Great Britain. 
     The various techniques used for tattooing have not changed significantly over time, with the original patent for the present day tattoo machine being based on a Thomas Edison invention for a printing machine. The aftercare used in the tattooing industry has also not changed significantly, ranging from doing nothing, to applying homemade lotions, or balms, to the tattoo. Each tattoo artist has his or her own technique for aftercare. 
     For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the intended advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a tattoo cover assembly in accordance with one embodiment in a cross-sectional view. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a tattoo cover assembly in accordance with one embodiment in a perspective view. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a tattoo cover assembly and package in accordance with one embodiment in a cross-sectional view. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a method of using a tattoo cover assembly in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  respectively illustrate cross-sectional and perspective views of a tattoo cover assembly  10  according to one embodiment. Tattoo cover assembly  10  includes backing cover  12 , film  14 , and carrier layer  16 . An adhesive is applied to film  14  such that the adhesive is between film  14  and carrier layer  16 . 
     In one embodiment, tattoo cover assembly  10  provides an effective way to cover a tattoo between sessions or after the tattooing process is complete. Once film  14  is applied over a tattoo, it helps prevent abrasion to the tattoo, it provides a sterile waterproof covering, and it allows for ready access to continue work on the new tattoo the next day. At the same time, in one embodiment, film  14  is translucent or transparent, and as such, film  14  still allows the person with the tattoo to both view and show the tattoo to others, without ever removing film  14 . 
     In one embodiment, film  14  is translucent, such that light is allowed through it. In another embodiment, film  14  is transparent, such that the tattoo over which it is placed is clearly visible without having to remove film  14 . Film  14  is flexible enough to allow for movement of the joints, and yet also prevents transfer of the tattoo inks and fluids to cloths or bedding while the tattoo is healing. 
     Film  14  can be made out of a variety of materials, for example, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, or a co-polymer. In one embodiment, film  14  is 3M™ Single coated polyurethane, Product Number 9832W. In another embodiment, film  14  is 3M™ Single coated polyurethane, Product Number 9833W. In yet another embodiment, film  14  is 3M™ Single coated incise medical tape, Product Number 9948. 
     In one embodiment, the adhesive backing carried on film  14  is an acrylate medical grade, but other types of medical grade adhesives can also be used in accordance with various embodiments. For example, certain synthetic rubber adhesives can be used. In one embodiment, film  14  has a thickness of 1.0 millimeters, and in another it has a thickness of 0.8 millimeters, and can also be less. In once embodiment, film  14  carries approximately 1.0 millimeters, or less, of adhesive. 
     Film  14  is applied by removing carrier layer  16 , thereby exposing the adhesive carried on the surface of film  14 . Film  14  is then smoothed onto the skin over the recently-applied tattoo. In one case, the carrier layer  16  has a scored line  17  down its center so that it is readily removed from film  14 . In other embodiments, carrier layer  16  may have more scores  17  than just down its center (such as illustrated in  FIG. 1A ). Backing cover  12  can be removed before or after film  14  is smoothed into place over the tattoo. In one embodiment, film  14  and carrier layer  16  are slightly narrower and shorter than backing cover  12  (best illustrated in  FIG. 1B ), such that cover  12  is easily peeled away once film  14  is secured in place over the tattoo. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates illustrate a cross-sectional view of a tattoo cover assembly  10  within a package  18  according to one embodiment. Tattoo cover assembly  10  includes backing cover  12 , film  14 , and carrier layer  16 , all of which are sealed within package  18 . When package  18  is used to seal tattoo cover assembly  10 , each of backing cover  12  and carrier layer  16  help prevent film  14  from adhering to the package itself, such that tattoo cover assembly  10  is easily removed from package  18  when it is opened. 
     In one embodiment, tattoo cover assembly  10  and package  18  are sterilized before sealing package  18  such that the film  14  will ultimately be sterile when applied to the tattoo. In one example, tattoo cover assembly  10  and package  18  are treated with Ethylene Oxide (EtO) sterilization. In that case, the EtO gas infiltrates package  18  as well as tattoo cover assembly  10  (including film  14 ) to kill micro organisms that are left behind during production or in the packaging processes. In another example, gamma irradiation sterilization is used to protect tattoo cover assembly  10  and package  18 . 
     Tattoo artists recommend leaving a newly administered tattoo open and uncovered to heal. If a newly-created tattoo is briefly bandaged, they recommend removing it after an hour, and recommend never leaving it covered for more than two hours (see, Tattoo Aftercare, http://www.sharptattoos.com/aftercare.html). Most artists specifically counsel against covering a new tattoo and instruct that any covering, especially a plastic covering, be immediately removed (see, Tattoo Aftercare—How to Take Care of Your New Tattoo, About.Com, http://tattoo.about.com/cs/beginners/a/blaftercare.htm). 
     Directly contrary to these teachings, tattoo cover assembly  10  is configured to keep a newly administered tattoo covered for at least three, and as long as seven, days after its creation. Film  14  is configured to be permeable or “breathable”, in that it allows air to pass through it in order to keep the tattoo and adjacent skin oxygenated so that the skin can heal. In addition, because film  14  is transparent, the wearer will not be incentivized to remove the film in order to view the new tattoo, or in order to show it to others. As such, the wearer can leave film  14  in place for the duration of the healing process. This retains a barrier between the healing and open skin abrasions and outside contaminants. Also, it prevents transfer of bodily fluids, blood and oozing from the tattoo site, to the outside, such as onto clothes, sheets or other people. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a method of use 20 for tattoo cover assembly  10  according to one embodiment. In accordance with the method  20 , once a tattoo is newly created, a user prepares tattoo cover assembly  10  for application at step  22 . In one embodiment, this preparation includes removing the carrier layer  16  such that the adhesive carried on film  14  is exposed and ready for application over the tattoo. It may also first include unsealing package  18 , which has been previously sterilized. 
     In step  24 , film  14  is applied over a newly-created tattoo. In one embodiment, the adhesive backing carried on film  14  is an acrylate medical grade that will not stick to the tattoo itself due to the fact that a newly-administered tattoo oozes fluid, to which the adhesive will not adhere. Instead, the adhesive will adhere to the areas around the tattoo, thereby creating a seal over the tattoo to outside contaminants. 
     In some examples, film  14  in tattoo cover assembly  10  may not be large enough to cover the entire tattoo. For example, in one case, tattoo cover assembly  10  is 6 inches by 8 inches. Where a tattoo covers a significant portion of a person&#39;s back, for example, one film may not be enough to cover the entire work. In such a case, application of film  14  may include application of several films  14  that slightly overlap each other. The adhesive on film  14  sticks to film  14 , and thus to other applied films as well, but not to the tattoo itself. As such, an entire area is readily covered with multiple films  14 . 
     In step  26 , film  14  is left in place over the tattoo for at least 12, and up to 24, hours. While the skin is still healing after a new tattoo is created, there is open tissue that is susceptible to infection. Film  14  provides an effective barrier to outside contaminants during this initial healing phase when the skin is especially vulnerable. Understandably, most people that have a new tattoo want to see it and to show it. Because film  14  is transparent, however, the wearer can still see and show the tattoo without removing the protective barrier provided by film  14  for the first 12 to 24 hours. Also, because film  14  is breathable and permeable to air, the healing process of the skin continues even while film  14  is in place covering the tattoo. 
     In step  28 , film  14  is replaced at least every 24 hours. In order to ensure that the skin adjacent the tattoo continues to heal without infection, film  14  should not be left in place for more than 24 hours at a time. As such, sometime after 12 hours, and at least by 24 hours, film  14  is removed. At that time, the tattoo can be cleaned. Then, a new film  14  is placed over the tattoo and left for another 12 to 24 hours. 
     At step  30  this process is repeated for at least three and up to seven days. In this way, with method  20  a newly-created tattoo enjoys an effective barrier to outside contaminants for at least 3 days after the tattoo is made. At that same time, the tattoo continues to heal over that time with the benefit of film  14 , which is breathable and permeable to air. The tattoo is also readily visible due to the transparency of film  14  for the entire duration. In some case, the tattoo site may be substantially healed by the time that film  14  is removed after seven days. 
     In an alternative embodiment, film  14  can be provided in roll form, such that various different lengths of film  14  can be pulled off the roll, and then the film can be cut to the desired length. In this way, a tattoo artist can have a roll of film  14  available while creating a tattoo. Once finished, the artist can pull off and cut the appropriate length of film  14  from the roll that will cover the newly-created tattoo. Even in roll form, film  14  can still have carrier layer  16  with adhesive applied between. Furthermore, roll of film  14  can be provided in a package  18 , which can be sterilized as discussed above. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.