Patent Description:
Such dressings implemented in the form of film dressings or film plasters are described for instance in <CIT>. In the known dressings, the fixing web is implemented as a thin, optionally transparent polymer foil with an adhesive layer disposed on its fixing surface. Before use of the dressing, the adhesive layer or adhesive itself is completely covered with a covering means, for example silicone paper. In this instance, the covering means may comprise several parts, each individual part of the covering means being provided with a gripping aid, for example in the form of an edge that is folded back over itself. To apply such a dressing, the individual parts of the covering means are peeled off the fixing surface, which may then be fixed to human or animal skin using the adhesive.

In the known dressings, a support means removably attached to the outer surface of the fixing web facing away from the fixing surface, in the form of support films removably attached to the outer surface, contributes to avoiding that the fixing surface folds over on itself during application and sticks to itself, making the dressing unusable.

In the known dressings, the individual parts of the covering means are connected to the support film covering the outer surface. They can be used as gripping aids for the support film when the support film is to be removed from the fixing web after application of the dressing or plaster.

The connection between the support film and covering means may also be obtained with a support film and individual parts of the covering means formed integrally with each other. Moreover, <CIT> also describes an arrangement in which the individual parts of the covering means are connected to the support film by film hinges. The disclosure of <CIT> describes the connection between the support film and covering means.

With known dressings, it has been shown that in practical use, in particular in order to fix medical devices such as catheters or cannulas in place, the fixing web can sometimes undesirably peel off human or animal skin to which it should be fixed. Furthermore, it has been shown that the application itself is only possible with great difficulty.

<CIT> corresponding to <CIT> describes a plaster optimized for machine production. This plaster may be produced with a minimum number of process steps. For that purpose, a support material is applied on a continuous fixing web and is stamped out to form support frames for the individual plasters. The rest of the support material is removed. After separating individual plasters with their respective fixing webs, cover materials and support frames from the continuous web, the individual plasters are sealed into a foil or paper wrapper. In many cases, use of such plasters can also lead to undesirable removal of the fixing web from the skin and to problems during application. Similar dressings are disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>.

<CIT> mentions a wound dressing that can be cut to size, having the characteristics of the preamble of claim <NUM>. In this known dressing, the support means may comprise a plurality of gripping areas distributed over its outer periphery. This facilitates both the removal of the support means after cutting the wound dressing to size and the removal of the covering means.

A dressing as specified in the pre-characterizing portion of claim <NUM> is disclosed in <CIT>.

In consideration of the prior-art problems described above, it is an object of the invention to provide a dressing which, on the one hand, is easy to apply and, on the other hand, remains securely adhered to the skin.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a further development of the known dressings as specified in the appended claims.

In the context of the present invention, the support means at least partially surrounds the exposed shaping surface when there are two points on the shaping-surface-facing edge of the support means which are linked together with a straight line lying inside the shaping surface.

This solution relies on the knowledge that the problems arising when using dressings as known from <CIT> are primarily attributable to the stiffening action of the support film covering the complete outer surface of the fixing web in the known dressings as this stiffening action hampers shaping of the fixing web to the skin, cannulas, catheters and/or other medical devices. This not only creates an obstruction during application of the dressing itself, but also leads to the fixing web failing to completely cover the skin, catheter and/or cannula after application because the stiffening support film prevents attachment of the fixing web to particular contours with smaller radii of curvature. This can cause a premature removal of the fixing web from the skin, cannulas or catheters.

In the dressings according to the invention, the outer surface is not completely covered by a support film. Instead, an exposed shaping surface is created between the support means, where the outer surface of the fixing web is not covered. This shaping surface of the fixing web may be freely shaped to skin surfaces, cannula surfaces or catheter surfaces without being impaired by the support means to achieve a secure attachment. Incidentally, the support means offers an effective solution to avoid the fixing surface sticking to itself. This provides for a simple application of the dressing while ensuring a secure attachment. This achievement brought about by the invention is also essentially supported by the fact that the support means is connected to the covering means in such a way that the covering means forms a gripping aid after application of the dressing to the skin and/or medical instruments so that the support means is removable from the outer surface of the fixing web without such removal of the support means from the fixing web leading to a poorer attachment of the fixing web, as is the case with the plasters disclosed in <CIT> which are indeed easy to machine produce but are difficult to apply.

Similarly to the dressings known from <CIT>, the covering means of the dressings according to the invention may also have two, three or more foil or paper-like covering strips which together form a complete cover for the fixing surface while being individually removable from the fixing surface.

The covering strip may be more easily removed from the fixing surface when at least one covering strip has an edge that is folded back over itself to form a gripping aid. When the covering means comprises two covering strips, both covering strips may have edges folded back over themselves and extending in opposite directions from a parting line separating both covering strips.

To achieve an all-over covering of the fixing surface with the covering means, it has however proved useful to have an edge of one of the covering strips overlapping the folded back edge of a neighbouring covering strip so as to avoid exposing the parting line between the covering strips. With regard to the design of individual covering strips, reference is made to the disclosure of <CIT>, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in this matter. The present invention also encompasses the use of one-piece support means which preferably completely surround the shaping surface.

In the invention, the support means may be formed integrally as one continuous frame.

The support means may have two, three or more supporting parts which are independently removable from the outer surface, of which one at least partially overlaps a covering strip in a projection direction which is perpendicular to the fixing surface, wherein said at least one supporting part is connected to said covering strip such that, after removal from the fixing surface, the covering strip forms a gripping aid for the supporting part connected therewith, to facilitate removal of the supporting dressing.

In this aspect of the invention, it is possible to first detach a covering strip from the fixing surface, apply the fixing web with the thus exposed area of the fixing surface to the skin or a medical device, then also remove from the fixing web the part of the support means connected with the removed covering strip, with the use of the covering strip as a gripping aid, and then shape the exposed area of the fixing web in an appropriate manner, before the remaining covering strips and supporting parts are detached from the fixing web. In this regard, it has proved particularly useful that the projection of the supporting part in the projection direction perpendicular to the fixing surface does not totally cover the covering strip, such that after detaching the covering strip and removing the supporting part, there remains an exposed shaping surface, in the vicinity of said supporting part, which is easy to shape to the contours of the skin and/or medical instruments after removal of the covering strip.

As stated above, the covering strip may be formed integrally with the support means or supporting part, as in a dressing according to <CIT>. Additionally or alternatively, the covering strip may also, in a similar way to the known dressings, be connected to the support means or a supporting part by a film hinge running around an edge of the fixing surface.

A sufficient shaping surface may be provided in the dressings according to the invention when the shaping surface occupies more than <NUM>%, preferably more than <NUM>%, more preferably <NUM>% or more of the outer surface, so that a corresponding surface portion is not covered by the support means.

In order to achieve a balanced compromise between appropriate shapeability and sufficient stability of the dressing during application, it has proved useful that the shaping surface occupies less than <NUM>%, preferably less than <NUM>%, more preferably <NUM>% or less of the outer surface. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the proportion of the shaping surface on the total outer surface of the fixing web is approximately <NUM>%.

When the projection of the supporting part does not totally cover the covering strip connected therewith, it has proved useful, to achieve sufficient stability, that the supporting part covers more than <NUM>%, preferably more than <NUM>% of the outer surface, and the covering strip connected therewith covers <NUM>% or more of the fixing surface. It is possible to obtain sufficient shapeability when the supporting part covers less than <NUM>%, preferably less than <NUM>% of the outer surface, and the covering strip connected therewith covers <NUM>% or less, preferably <NUM>% or less of the fixing surface.

A greater variability in the dressings according to the invention is obtained when the covering strips cover different surface portions of the fixing surface. For example, a covering strip may cover approximately <NUM>% of the fixing surface, while another covering strip may cover approximately <NUM>% of the fixing surface. In some cases, it can be useful to first expose the smaller fixing surface area and to apply it to the skin or medical devices before exposing the larger fixing surface area in order to complete the application. In other cases, it may be useful to proceed in reverse order.

According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that a supporting part is approximately U-shaped and has two exterior legs connected to each other by a connecting leg, wherein the exterior edge of the connecting leg runs along an edge of the fixing web and is connected with a covering strip particularly via a reinforcing strip running around this edge. When the fixing web is generally rectangular, the exterior edges of the exterior leg may run approximately along the edges of the fixing web. The surface exposed between the exterior legs and connecting legs then forms at least a portion of the shaping surface of the fixing web.

Further, it has proved particularly advantageous to have support means having two approximately U-shaped supporting parts, wherein the ends of the exterior legs extending away from the connecting legs of individual supporting parts face each other to form a frame for the shaping surface.

The application of such dressings may be further simplified when a space is left free between the mutually opposite ends of the exterior legs, said space being preferably somewhat smaller than the length of the exterior legs of the supporting parts.

As mentioned above with reference to known dressings, it has proved particularly useful that the fixing web is, at least in sections, transparent, particularly in the area of the shaping surface, particularly in the form of a polymer foil.

As used within the present description, the term "fixing web" denotes a peripherally contoured fabric having, for example, a square, rectangular, oval, circular or polygonal contour.

The invention is described more fully below, with reference to the drawings illustrating all details which are essential to the invention and are not explained further in the description. In the accompanying drawings:.

<FIG>) shows a cross-section across a dressing of the invention, along a sectional plane running perpendicular to the fixing web. <FIG>) shows a top view of a boundary surface of the dressing as per <FIG>), provided with a support means. <FIG>) shows a top view of the boundary surface of the dressing as per <FIG>), provided with a covering means.

The dressing illustrated in <FIG> comprises an approximately rectangular fixing web with rounded corners (see <FIG>)). A fixing surface of the fixing web <NUM> is provided with an adhesive <NUM>. The adhesive <NUM> is covered with a two-piece covering means <NUM>.

The boundary surface of the fixing web <NUM> which faces away from the adhesive <NUM> is provided with a support means generally denoted with reference numeral <NUM>.

The covering means <NUM> comprises two approximately rectangular covering strips <NUM> and <NUM> with parallel edges. Edge <NUM> of covering strip <NUM> facing towards covering strip <NUM> is folded back over itself. Edge <NUM> of covering strip <NUM> facing towards covering strip <NUM> overlaps edge <NUM> of covering strip <NUM> which is folded back over itself. This leads to complete coverage of the fixing surface, or adhesives <NUM> applied thereon, and simultaneously, through edges <NUM> and <NUM>, provides a gripping aid for the covering strips.

The edges of covering strips <NUM> and <NUM> which are facing away from overlapping edges <NUM> and <NUM> are connected with support means <NUM> using hinge-forming reinforcing strips <NUM>. These reinforcing strips overlap boundary surfaces of covering strips <NUM> and <NUM> facing away from the fixing web on the one hand, and boundary surfaces of support means <NUM> facing away from the fixing web on the other hand, and run around opposite edges of fixing web <NUM>.

As is clearly visible in <FIG>), support means <NUM> is a two-part member, wherein supporting part <NUM> is connected with covering strip <NUM> using a reinforcing strip, whereas supporting part <NUM> is connected with covering strip <NUM> using another reinforcing strip. Both supporting parts are approximately U-shaped, having two respective exterior legs <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, <NUM> connected pairwise through respective connecting legs <NUM> and <NUM>. Connecting legs <NUM> and <NUM> are parallel to the edges of the fixing web which are overlapped by reinforcing strips <NUM>, whereas exterior legs <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, <NUM> are perpendicular to these edges.

As is clearly visible in <FIG>), supporting parts <NUM> and <NUM> form a frame for a shaping surface <NUM> disposed on the boundary surface of the fixing web <NUM> which is facing away from fixing surface <NUM> and is uncovered by the support means. A space is left free between the mutually opposite ends of exterior legs <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, <NUM> of supporting parts <NUM> and <NUM> to facilitate the shaping of the shaping surface to the contours of medical instruments and/or human or animal skin. As is visible in <FIG>), fixing surface <NUM> of fixing web <NUM> is completely covered by covering strips <NUM> and <NUM>.

To apply the dressing illustrated in <FIG>, covering strips <NUM> and <NUM> are detached simultaneously or sequentially from fixing surface <NUM> of fixing web <NUM> using gripping aids <NUM> and <NUM>. They remain connected with the support means or support parts <NUM> and <NUM> through reinforcing strips <NUM>. During this process, the assembly remains stable, even after detaching covering strips <NUM> and <NUM> from fixing surface <NUM>. This simultaneously provides a shaping surface <NUM> which is not covered by supporting parts <NUM> and <NUM> and facilitates the shaping of the fixing web.

Once the fixing web has been shaped, supporting parts <NUM> and <NUM> may be detached from the boundary surface of fixing web <NUM> facing away from the fixing surface, wherein covering strips <NUM> and <NUM> may be used as gripping aids. The dressing may thus be applied in a simple and secure manner.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in <FIG>, covering strips <NUM> and <NUM> cover approximately similar surface portions of fixing surface <NUM> of fixing web <NUM>. The support means is disposed substantially in mirror-symmetry to a surface bisectrix of the fixing web's outer surface.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in <FIG> differs substantially from the embodiment of <FIG> in that different surface portions of the fixing surface are covered by individual covering strips <NUM> and <NUM>. Similarly to the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the parting line separating the covering strips is substantially parallel to connecting legs <NUM> and <NUM> of supporting parts <NUM> and <NUM>. This embodiment allows for an increased variability during application of the dressing because a smaller surface portion of the fixing surface or a larger surface portion of the fixing surface may be exposed first depending on the requirements for the application site.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments illustrated for explanatory purposes, but is intended to include the use of dressings having three or more supporting parts, wherein the covering means may be produced as a one-piece member in some cases. In other embodiments of the invention, the outer surface of the fixing web may be totally covered by the support means. In such embodiments, it should be noted that the support means is to be produced as a multi-piece member. In other embodiments of the invention, the support means may be formed as an integral or continuous frame and may completely surround the shaping surface.

Claim 1:
A dressing for application to human or animal skin and/or to medical devices, comprising a fixing web (<NUM>) provided with an adhesive (<NUM>) on a fixing surface, covering means (<NUM>, <NUM>) removably attached to the fixing surface, and support means (<NUM>) connected to the covering means and removably attached to an outer surface of the fixing web (<NUM>) facing away from the fixing surface, wherein the outer surface has an exposed shaping surface (<NUM>) which is at least partially surrounded by the support means, characterised in that the covering means (<NUM>, <NUM>) has two, three or more foil or paper-like covering strips (<NUM>, <NUM>) wherein at least one covering strip (<NUM>) has an edge (<NUM>) that is folded back over itself to form a gripping aid and an edge (<NUM>) of one of the covering strips (<NUM>) overlaps the edge (<NUM>) that is folded back over itself of a neighbouring covering strip (<NUM>) and in that at least one covering strip is formed integrally with the support means or at least one covering strip (<NUM>, <NUM>) is connected to the support means, by a film hinge (<NUM>) running around an edge of the fixing surface.