ADHESIVE BANDAGES

Abstract

A dressing, in the form of a four-leaf clover or rectangular, comprising polyurethane foam, silicone adhesive, activated carbon, and silver hydrofiber.

Description

ADHESIVE BANDAGES TECHNICAL SECTOR The present invention describes a dressing for concave anatomical regions corresponding to skin folds. To this end, we present a morphological design adapted to these folds. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, the use of dressings has not taken into account the locations where they are typically applied. When dressings are used on convex surfaces, their design and morphology (shape and adhesion system) are not considered. However, in daily use, there is a need for dressings in concave or fold-like areas, such as the armpits or groin, that adhere to these anatomical areas and protect any existing lesions, thus improving the user's quality of life. The topical management of lesions in concave anatomical regions requires specific characteristics, as most commercially available dressings do not adhere properly because they are not morphologically or structurally designed for lesions in these areas. Therefore, the application of these products often leads to poor results, with dressings frequently peeling or detaching, and a clear lack of adaptation to the available dressings. Furthermore, individuals with these types of lesions sometimes suffer from multiple lesions in the same area simultaneously, creating the need for a versatile dressing. Consequently, the lack of dressings specifically designed for these areas means that users' choices and decisions are based on a catalog and assumptions that do not reflect body morphology, hindering optimal management. Our experience has revealed an unmet need, resulting in higher costs and longer treatment times for these injuries, along with other societal consequences. Users with injuries in these areas are typically young, working-age individuals, and in many cases, these injuries lead to an inability to work due to conditions such as odor, pain, and exudate caused by the inappropriate selection of dressings. Our technology could provide a cost-effective solution for these users. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION Our invention contributes to the field of knowledge a morphological and structural proposal for dressings adapted to a concave anatomical region for which there are currently no solutions, as they do not adapt to the areas or help control the characteristics of some of these lesions. We propose a dressing for various lesions that can appear in concave or folded anatomical regions, which may also include nodules, tunnels, or abscesses. Furthermore, we propose a specific shape or form that allows the dressing to adapt to the anatomical areas where these lesions occur. Other dressings on the market are typically designed for different anatomical areas and tend to detach easily in the presence of sweat, high exudate, or draining lesions, thus failing to provide the desired effect. The advantages of our invention are versatility and adaptability to the anatomical areas where these lesions develop. This would allow us to offer dressings not only to regular users who suffer from lesions in these areas, but also to hospitals, health centers, and other institutions with lesions in concave regions who currently lack suitable dressings. Therefore, we offer a solution to the poor performance of existing dressings in these anatomical regions. Our invention consists of a dressing comprising: (1) high absorbency polyurethane foam, (2) silicone adhesive for fixing it to the skin surface, (3) activated carbon as a deodorizer, and (4) silver hydrofiber as an antimicrobial material. The shapes of this dressing will be of two types: (1) in the shape of a four-leaf clover (figure 1) with a high capacity of adhesion to prevent it from peeling off or (2) in the shape of a rectangle (figure 2) so that it can be used in concave areas such as armpit folds, breast area or buttocks among others, or that it can adhere to underwear producing few skin reactions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description and to help in a better understanding of the technical characteristics of the invention, the following figures are included as an integral part thereof. Figure 1.- Image of the cut-out four-leaf clover-shaped dressing. A) Adhesive areas for skin fixation. B) Areas of highly absorbent foam with deodorizer and silver hydrofiber. Figure 2.-Image of the rectangular dressing with contralateral adhesive i) Inner part in contact with skin. ii) Outer part. A) Adhesive areas for skin fixation. B) Areas of highly absorbent foam with deodorizer and silver hydrofiber. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Study of injuries The lesions of seven patients with a dermatological condition characterized by skin fold lesions were studied at the Dermatology Department of the Pontevedra University Hospital Complex. The majority of the lesions were located in the armpits and groin. Of the seven patients studied, four were women and three were men, aged between 28 and 48 years. All were of Caucasian origin and presented with moderate to severe stages of the disease. All had active lesions in the armpits and groin, where tunnels and abscesses with a break in the skin were observed. Dressing design: More than 15 different types of dressings already on the market were studied, both those available directly and those requested by name. Their characteristics and effects were analyzed, both on-site and through a thorough review of the available literature, allowing us to determine which products were most suitable for facilitating the healing of the lesions. However, after obtaining this information, it was found that the shape and combination of products in the available dressings did not meet the needs of the users, with some lesions detaching or leaking purulent contents due to saturation of the absorbent material within a few hours.Following this, it was concluded that the most suitable materials for manufacturing a dressing for these areas were: (1) polyurethane foam, due to its high absorbency, which allows it to collect sweat or suppuration produced by the lesions without leakage; (2) silicone adhesive to fix it to the skin surface; (3) activated carbon as a deodorizer to control the unpleasant odor that these lesions could generate; and (4) silver hydrofiber as an antimicrobial material. It was also observed that the shape of the dressing was important, so dressings were designed in a rectangular shape with the adhesive on the opposite side (in contact with underwear) and in a four-leaf clover shape that could be cut to size. Development of a dressing prototype: A dressing was prepared using the combination described in the previous section. To determine the most suitable dimensions, the anatomical areas of the seven participating users, of both sexes and with different physical characteristics, were measured. It was concluded that the most suitable dimensions were 12 cm x 14 cm for the padded portion, and 6 cm x 6 cm and 14 cm x 6 cm for the adhesive tabs. Testing of the prototype dressings developed: Custom-designed and commercially available dressings were applied to a group of 12 participants. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group, consisting of 7 participants, was treated with the dressings designed by our research group. The characteristics of these participants were described previously. The second group, consisting of 5 participants, was treated with commercially available dressings. This group consisted of 3 women and 2 men, aged between 30 and 50 years, all Caucasian, with multiple lesions in the armpits and groin. User follow-up was conducted over one month through weekly visits. The follow-up revealed that the dressings described in this utility model achieved greater absorption and fewer problems with skin adhesion, resulting in a reduction in the number of dressings required to treat this type of injury. At the same time, in those whose lesions produced exudate or who had a tendency to sweat, the odor was reduced (subjectively reported by the users) and there was greater control of suppuration, verified by the decrease in dressing changes; the user went from making 4 or 5 changes daily to one in lesions with moderate suppuration. The user's movement was also improved by adhering better to the affected surface (a perception gathered subjectively by the users). All these results confirm that there is an improvement in the control of lesions in these regions even when there is suppuration and / or odor LITERATURE: 1. Annesley, S.H. (2019). Current thinking on caring for patients with a wound: a practical approach. British Journal of Nursing, 28 (5), 290-294. https: / / doi.org / 10.12968 / bjon.2019.28.5.290 2. Bowers, S., & Franco, E. (2020). Chronic Wounds: Evaluation and Management. American family physician, 101 (3), 159 166. Available at: https: / / www.aafp.org / pubs / afp / issues / 2020 / 0201 / p159.html 3. National Group for the Study and Advice on Pressure Ulcers and Chronic Wounds. International Wound Library. Available at: https: / / gneaupp.info / biblioteca-internacional-de-heridas / documentos / 4. Ulcers Out. (2022). Catalog of products for moist wound healing from the Galician Health Service. Available at: https: / / ulcerasfora.sergas.gal / Informacion / Cat%C3%A1logo-deprodutos?idioma=es

Claims

1. A dressing, in the shape of a four-leaf clover or rectangular, comprising polyurethane foam, silicone adhesive, activated carbon, and silver hydrofiber.

2. A dressing according to claim 1 wherein, in the case of a rectangular dressing, the silicone adhesive is arranged on the opposite side.