Medical dressings with stiffening systems

A medical dressing comprising:

• a backing layer comprising a first major surface, a second major surface, and a perimeter defining a geometric center of the backing layer;
• adhesive on at least a portion of the first major surface of the backing layer, wherein the backing layer and the adhesive provide a contact transparent adhesive composite;
• and
• a stiffening system fixedly attached to the backing layer, wherein the stiffening system comprises a plurality of nested stiffening elements positioned on the backing layer, wherein each stiffening element of the plurality of nested stiffening elements defines a ring having a radial width less than a ring length, wherein the radial width is defined along a radial axis extending outwardly from a center of the ring and the ring length is defined along a line following a center of the radial width.

A medical dressing comprising:

• a backing layer comprising a first major surface, a second major surface, and a perimeter defining a geometric center of the backing layer;
• adhesive on at least a portion of the first major surface of the backing layer, wherein the backing layer and the adhesive provide a contact transparent adhesive composite;
• and
• a stiffening system fixedly attached to the backing layer, wherein the stiffening system defines a stiffening axis extending across the backing layer in a selected direction, the stiffening system comprising a plurality of stiffening elements on the backing layer, wherein each stiffening element of the plurality of stiffening elements comprises:
• a first end and a second end defining a length along a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second ends and a width measure transverse to the longitudinal axis;
• wherein the first end and the second end are spaced inwardly from the perimeter of the backing layer;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal axis is aligned with the stiffening axis of the stiffening system.