Stabilized foam for medical psa substrate

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for using a stabilized foam that is a crosslinked, closed cell polyolefin having a stabilizing layer and an adhesive layer. The method can be used for treating a wound, scrape, abrasion or skin puncture, for maintaining cleanliness of an operation incision site, suture site, catheter insertion site, or an intentional skin breach site, for monitoring electrical impulses during an EKG or for delivering electrical impulses in TENS or biofeedback therapy, and for reducing scar formation by softening collagen deposits.

1 . A stabilized foam comprising:
 a crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foam having a top and a bottom surface;   a stabilizing layer disposed onto at least one of said top and said bottom surfaces of said crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foam; and   an adhesive layer disposed onto at least one of said top and said bottom surfaces of said crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foam or onto at least one of said stabilizing layers.   
     
     
         2 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foam has a thickness about 0.010 inches to 0.031 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foam has a density about 4 pounds/cubic ft (pcf) to about 20 pcf. 
     
     
         4 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, ULDPE, metallocene catalyzed polyethylene polymer (mLLDPE), vinyl acetate, polyurethane, polyamide, vinyl acetate, silicone gel, and silicone rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing layer is laminated, bonded or adhered to the crosslinked foam. 
     
     
         6 . The stabilized foam of  claim 5 , wherein said stabilizing layer is bonded to the crosslinked foam film by a method selected from the group consisting of: extrusion, coextrusion, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, electrostatic attraction and chemical bonding. 
     
     
         7 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional stabilizing layers. 
     
     
         8 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing layer has a thickness from about 0.0005 inches to about 0.005 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing layer further comprises an effective amount of at least one pressure sensitive adhesive material. 
     
     
         10 . The stabilized foam of  claim 9 , wherein said effective amount of said pressure sensitive adhesive material is about 20 gsm to 70 gsm. 
     
     
         11 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive is a silicone adhesive or a silicone gel and is about 0.005 to 0.050 inches thick. 
     
     
         12 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive is in the form of a zone coat, patterned or discontinuous adhesive coating. 
     
     
         13 . The stabilized foam of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilized foam is perforated using a technique selected from the group consisting of: hot needle, ultrasonic perforation, slitting, die cutting and die punching. 
     
     
         14 . A skin attachment system comprising;
 a foam layer having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a stabilizing layer disposed on said top surface of said foam layer, wherein said stabilizing layer is moisture-permeable and extensible, and wherein said stabilizing layer is not an adhesive layer; and   an adhesive disposed discontinuously on said top surface of said foam layer, wherein said adhesive is substantially flat,   wherein said skin attachment system is fabricated in long, narrow strips that are wound on a roll or die cut into convenient sizes to form a skin attachment tape or tissue stabilizing system.   
     
     
         15 . The skin attachment system of  claim 14 , wherein said foam layer contains perforations, open pores and/or cells. 
     
     
         16 . The skin attachment system of  claim 14 , wherein said adhesive is a silicone adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . A wound dressing system comprising:
 a foam layer having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a stabilizing layer, wherein said stabilizing layer is moisture-permeable and extensible, and provides a barrier from contamination of a wound; and   an adhesive that is discontinuously disposed on said top surface of said foam layer, wherein said adhesive is cured or cross-linked until firmly attached to said top surface yet is releasable when applied to skin;   wherein said wound dressing system absorbs exudates from a wound and protects said wound from exterior contamination, and   wherein said discontinuous adhesive allows absorption of fluids and air penetration through said adhesive to said wound.   
     
     
         18 . The wound dressing system of  claim 17 , wherein said adhesive is a silicone adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The wound dressing system of  claim 18 , wherein said silicone adhesive is a gently-releasing adhesive during removal of the wound dressing system from skin. 
     
     
         20 . The wound dressing system of  claim 17 , wherein said foam layer is an absorbent, hydrophilic and/or open-cell foam material.