Methods and products for protecting tissue of a patient during a surgical procedure that involve making an incision in the tissue and retracting the tissue to make a larger opening, wherein the methods and products use a water-absorbing stress-distributing layer.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to negative pressure treatment systems and wound dressing systems, apparatuses, and methods that may be used for the treatment of wounds. In particular, some embodiments are directed to improved wound dressings comprising an obscuring layer that may hide fluid contained therein. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more viewing windows disposed therethrough so as to enable monitoring or examination of fluids contained therein.

A see-through dressing assembly is presented for use with a reduced-pressure system for treating a wound on a patient using reduced pressure that allows visual observation of the wound during treatment. The dressing assembly includes a bolster for providing a directed force when under reduced pressure, a sealing member for covering the bolster and providing a seal over the bolster and a patient's epidermis, and wherein the bolster and sealing member are formed from see-through materials sufficient to allow perception of color from a point external to the system. Other systems, dressings, and methods are presented.

A two-piece bandage is useful for treating wound on a patient. The bandage includes a boundary portion including a bottom surface comprising adhesive for attaching the boundary portion to skin of a patient, an open window in the middle of the boundary portion permitting one to view a wound through the open window, and a top surface. The top surface includes a first portion of the top surface surrounding the open window including a flat surface and a second portion of the top surface including an uneven surface. The bandage further includes a plurality of replaceable wound covering portions, each replaceable wound covering portion comprising a padded section comprising a material to dress the wound.

A bandage with an insertable medical data card consisting of a bandage with a central pocket, a slit for accessing the pocket, a flap for sealing the pocket, and a transparent faceplate on the pocket. The medical data card contains pertinent medical data of a user adapted to be inserted into the pocket of the bandage and the bandage worn upon the body of the user. The bandage is changeable every three to four days and the medical data card can be transferred from one bandage to another. The system provides a wearable medical data card which instantly informs first responders and medical caregivers of the user's pertinent medical information, saving precious time while life saving measures based on the pertinent medical information gleaned from the medical data card are being implemented.

A composite wound dressing and delivery apparatus includes a substantially transparent dressing layer having a lower surface that is coated with a pressure sensitive for applying the dressing layer over a wound to define a reservoir in which a negative pressure may be maintained. A substantially transparent backing layer adhered to the lower surface of the dressing layer in a releasable manner, and a vacuum port is centrally located on the dressing layer. The vacuum port is adapted to provide fluid communication between a vacuum source and the reservoir through the dressing layer. A targeting grid associated with either the dressing layer or the backing layer includes regularly spaced reference marks along at least two axes extending from the vacuum port.

A combined bandage having an attachment portion for overlying and circumscribing a human digit with an injured nail and nail bed that is configured with a plurality of extensions to wrap around the injured digit and secure the bandage in place. A protective portion sized to overlie the injured nail and nail bed and affixed to the attachment portion of the bandage within an exterior sleeve for providing a solid reinforcing surface to protect the injured nail and nail bed from further injury through direct force, pressure or incidental striking.

A system for providing a force to a desired area on a curved body part of a person includes a dressing assembly shaped and configured to be placed on the desired area of the person, a releaseable circumferential member surrounding the curved body part that holds the dressing assembly against the desired area, a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal over the dressing assembly and the person's skin, and a reduced-pressure subsystem for providing a reduced pressure to the dressing assembly. When reduced pressure is supplied, the system generates the force against the desired area on the curved body part.

Provided herein is a system and method for trauma-free application and removal of light deactivated adhesive drapes. One aspect provides a system comprising a drape, at least one photosensitive adhesive portion having a release agent, and at least one acrylic and/or polyurethane adhesive portion, where the system is adapted to be coupled to a tissue site and released therefrom upon or after exposure to an external stimulus such as certain wavelengths of light. The system may have a removable blocking layer to prevent the photosensitive adhesive from being exposed to deactivation wavelengths prematurely. Another aspect provides a method for application and removal of a drape using by removing the removable blocking layer and applying light to the drape to deactivate the photosensitive adhesive portion and promote easy, clean, and less painful removal of the drape. When the photosensitive adhesive portion is deactivated, the acrylic and/or polyurethane adhesive portion maintains adhesion between the drape and the tissue until removal of the drape.

The invention relates to a wound dressing and a method for producing a wound dressing with a marker material for indicating a condition of a wound, in particular a microbiological wound milieus. The invention is characterized in that the wound dressing has a contact side which is formed by a biocompatible monofilament fabric of monofilament threads with a smooth surface and in that on the monofilament fabric on its upper side facing away from the wound at least one cover element is fixed which is provided with the marker material.