Temporary tattoo cover and related method

A method comprising releasably attaching a cover to a patient's skin having thereon a temporary tattoo or other marking identifying a set-up point for radiation therapy, for covering the temporary tattoo or other marking, and allowing the temporary tattoo or other marking to be visible therethrough, the cover comprising a flexible layer having a width or a diameter, shape, and thickness, and formed of a material, that, in combination, provide the flexible layer with characteristics that enable the flexible layer to be handled and adhesively attachable to the patient's skin over the temporary tattoo or other marking substantially without the flexible layer wrinkling during handling and attaching to the patient's skin for identifying a set up point for radiation therapy, wherein the flexible layer comprises a lower surface and an opposing upper surface, the cover further comprising an adhesive covering substantially the entire lower surface and releasably engageable with the patient's skin in a position overlying the temporary tattoo or other marking, wherein the adhesive and the flexible layer are substantially transparent and allow viewing of the temporary tattoo or other marking therethrough, and the flexible layer comprises indicia in the form of crosshairs printed on the upper surface of the flexible layer and outside the adhesive layer, wherein inner ends of the crosshairs are spaced relative to each other to define a substantially transparent portion therebetween and are configured to enable viewing the temporary tattoo or other marking through the substantially transparent portion during placement of the cover over the temporary tattoo or other marking;

• the attaching step comprising:
• (i) viewing the temporary tattoo or other marking for identifying a set-up point for radiation therapy through the substantially transparent portion;
• (ii) substantially aligning the substantially transparent portion between the inner ends of the crosshairs with the temporary tattoo or other marking;
• (iii) placing the adhesive-containing lower surface of the flexible layer of the cover onto the patient's skin and, in turn, adhesively attaching the flexible layer of the cover to the skin without substantially wrinkling the flexible layer and with the temporary tattoo or other marking visible through the substantially transparent portion between the inner ends of the crosshairs.

An apparatus including a plurality of covers that are releasably attachable to a portion of a patient's skin having thereon a temporary tattoo or other marking identifying a set-up point for radiation therapy for covering the marking and allowing the temporary tattoo or other marking to be visible therethrough, the apparatus comprising:

• a carrier substrate defining a releasable surface thereon;
• the plurality of covers comprising relatively flexible layers spaced without touching each other on the releasable surface of the carrier substrate, each flexible layer being substantially transparent and having an upper surface, an opposing adhesive lower surface releasably superimposed on the releasable surface a width or a diameter, shape, and thickness, and formed of a material, that, in combination, provide said flexible layer with characteristics that enable said flexible layer to be 1) removable from the releasable surface without substantially wrinkling;
• and 2) attachable to the patient's skin with substantially the entire adhesive lower surface adhesively engaging the skin substantially without wrinkling and in a position with the lower and upper surfaces overlying the temporary tattoo or other marking and allowing the temporary tattoo or other marking to be visible through the substantially transparent flexible layer for identifying a set-up point for radiation therapy;
• and
• indicia in the form of crosshairs printed on the upper surface of the flexible layer and outside of the adhesive lower surface, wherein inner ends of the crosshairs are spaced relative to each other and define a substantially transparent central portion therebetween and are configured to enable viewing the temporary tattoo or other marking through the substantially transparent central portion during placement of the cover over the temporary tattoo or other marking.

An apparatus including a plurality of covers that are releasably attachable to a portion of a person's skin having thereon a temporary tattoo or other marking identifying a set-up point for radiation therapy for covering the temporary tattoo or other marking and allowing the temporary tattoo or other marking to be visible therethrough, the apparatus comprising:

• a continuous carrier strip defining an uninterrupted releasable surface thereon;
• the plurality of first means axially spaced relative to, and without touching each other on the releasable surface of the carrier strip with the uninterrupted releasable surface of the carrier strip extending between adjacent first means, for releasing from the releasable surface without wrinkling, and for flexible and removable adhesive attachment on a lower side thereof to the person's skin in a position overlying the temporary tattoo or other marking substantially without wrinkling thereof and being substantially transparent for allowing the temporary tattoo or other marking to be visible therethrough for identifying a set-up point for radiation therapy;
• and
• wherein each first means includes second means printed on an upper side thereof outside the lower side for adhesive attachment for locating the temporary tattoo or other marking visible through the substantially transparent first means and including inner ends spaced relative to each other and configured to enable viewing the temporary tattoo or other marking through a substantially transparent portion between said inner ends during placement of the cover over the temporary tattoo or other marking.