Extensible Dressings with Sigmoidal Pattern Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dressings lack sufficient extensibility and conformability to accommodate the dynamic contours of skin and joints, particularly in areas prone to movement such as joints of the fingers, ankles, elbows, or knees.

Innovation Solution

A dressing comprising a layer of material with sigmoidal pattern units that create material free regions, allowing the dressing to extend at least 425% more than a similar dressing without these regions when force is applied along a 45° diagonal direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional dressings are used, then they provide basic wound coverage and protection, but they lack sufficient extensibility and conformability to accommodate dynamic skin contours and joint movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformability to skin contoursVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The dressing material is segmented into a matrix structure with distributed material-free regions (voids, channels, or recesses) that allow the material to deform and conform to irregular skin surfaces and joint movements while maintaining overall structural integrity through the continuous matrix framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dressing employs a thin film structure with integrated material-free regions that provides flexibility and conformability to dynamic skin contours. The thin film design allows the dressing to stretch and adapt to joint movements without compromising wound coverage, while the material-free regions enhance flexibility by reducing material rigidity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Length of moving object

If the dressing material is made more extensible to accommodate joint movements, then conformability improves, but structural integrity and adhesive strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveextensibilityVSAvoidadhesive strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The dressing exhibits local quality variations where the material-free regions provide localized extensibility and flexibility in areas requiring movement accommodation, while the surrounding material matrix maintains structural integrity and adhesive strength. This spatial differentiation allows different regions of the dressing to perform different functions simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The dressing functions as a composite structure combining material regions with different properties - the material-free regions provide extensibility and flexibility, while the material matrix provides structural support and adhesive functionality. This composite architecture resolves the contradiction between extensibility and strength by distributing different functional requirements to different structural components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12268576B2Extensible dressings

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 KENVUE BRANDS LLC

AI summary

The present invention relates to dressings such as bandages or tapes having improved extensibility and conformability to human skin and joints.