Protective Dressing For Skin-Placed Medical Device

Abstract

A dressing for use in protectively covering and isolating a medical device placed on and/or through the skin surface of a patient is disclosed. Examples of such devices include infusion needles for accessing subcutaneously implanted access ports, catheters of various types and purposes, insulin infusion needles, etc. In one embodiment, a dressing for covering a medical device on a skin surface of a patient is disclosed and comprises a dressing portion that is configured to rest against a skin surface of a patient, with the dressing portion defining a hole, and a polymeric cover film that is at least indirectly attached to the dressing portion. The cover film includes a pliable domed portion aligned with the hole of the dressing portion. The pliable domed portion defines a cavity that is configured to receive therein the medical device when the dressing is placed on the skin of the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dressing for covering a needle-bearing medical device on a skin surface of a patient, comprising:
 a substantially flat and pliable cover film including polyurethane, the cover film configured to be removably attached to the skin surface of the patient; and   a foam pad disposed atop the cover film, the foam pad configured to be pierced by the needle-bearing medical device such that in use the foam pad is positioned between the needle-bearing medical device and the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The dressing according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam pad includes an antimicrobial substance configured to prevent contamination of a skin insertion site of the needle. 
     
     
         3 . A dressing for covering a medical device on a skin surface of a patient, comprising:
 a dressing portion configured to rest against the skin surface of the patient, the dressing portion defining an opening; and   a polymeric cover film attached to the dressing portion, the polymeric cover film including a pliable domed portion aligned with the opening, wherein the pliable domed portion:
 is configured to receive therein the medical device when the dressing is placed on the skin surface of the patient, and 
 includes a perimeter portion attached to the dressing portion, the perimeter portion including a releasable portion that enables access to an interior portion of the domed portion after positioning the dressing on the skin surface of the patient over the medical device. 
   
     
     
         4 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , wherein the releasable portion is resealable to the dressing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , further comprising a pull-tab to facilitate separation of the releasable portion form the dressing portion. 
     
     
         6 . The dressing according to  claim 5 , wherein the pull-tab is positioned and the releasable portion are positioned on a proximal end of the perimeter portion. 
     
     
         7 . The dressing according to  claim 6 , wherein a distal portion of the perimeter portion is permanently adhered to the dressing portion. 
     
     
         8 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , wherein the medical device is a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). 
     
     
         9 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , wherein the pliable domed portion is collapsible to enable placement of the dressing in a substantially flat package. 
     
     
         10 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , wherein the pliable domed portion is formed via a thermal forming process using a mold. 
     
     
         11 . The dressing according to  claim 10 , wherein heat from the thermal forming process is directed through the opening defined in the dressing so as to impinge on the polymeric cover film. 
     
     
         12 . The dressing according to  claim 11 , wherein the dressing portion includes non-woven polyester and wherein the polymeric cover film includes a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         13 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , further comprising a release liner removably attached to a bottom surface of the dressing portion, the release liner defining an opening aligned with the opening of the dressing portion. 
     
     
         14 . The dressing according to  claim 13 , wherein the release liner provides heat shielding for the dressing portion and the polymeric cover film during the thermal forming process, and wherein the pliable domed portion prevents tenting of the dressing when the dressing is placed over the medical device on the skin surface of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , further comprising a support frame removably attached to the dressing so as to provide rigidity during placement of the dressing on the skin surface of the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The dressing according to  claim 15 , wherein the support frame is removably attached to the polymeric cover film, the support frame including a cutout portion that enables a securement component to be attached to the polymeric cover film without removal of the support frame. 
     
     
         17 . The dressing according to  claim 16 , wherein the securement component is removably disposed before use on a top surface of the support frame. 
     
     
         18 . The dressing according to  claim 17 , wherein the securement component includes a tube securement assembly for securing tubing of the medical device covered by the dressing. 
     
     
         19 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , wherein the pliable domed portion is substantially teardrop-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The dressing according to  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric cover film includes a thickness proximate an outer perimeter of 2.25 mils, and wherein the pliable domed portion includes a thickness of from 0.65 mil to 1 mil.