Moisture barrier for indwelling catheters and the like

A moisture barrier for an area exposed to moisture comprising:

• an outer moisture resistant layer having a first peripheral edge that includes means for adhering the first edge to the area while forming an outer seal to impede the passage of moisture, and
• an inner moisture resistant layer below the outer moisture layer, the inner layer having a second peripheral edge that surrounds an interior region, the second peripheral edge including means for adhering the second edge to the area in series with the first edge while forming an inner seal in series with the outer seal to impede the passage of moisture, the second peripheral edge being spaced inwardly from the first peripheral edge to create a gap between the inner and outer seals, and
• moisture absorbing material located in the region between the inner and outer layers for absorbing moisture that enters the gap.

A moisture barrier for the exposed end of an indwelling catheter comprising

• moisture resistant barrier means that includes a generally light-transmissive portion, the barrier means defining an interior region that is shaped to cover the exposed catheter end, the barrier means including adhesive means for adhering the barrier means to the skin over the exposed catheter end while forming seal means for impeding the passage of moisture into the interior region,
• moisture sensing means visible through the generally light-transmissive portion of the barrier means for contact with moisture that penetrates the seal means, the moisture sensing means displaying a first visible characteristic when out of contact with the moisture, thereby indicating that moisture has not penetrated the seal means, and for displaying a second visible characteristic when in contact with the moisture, thereby indicating that the moisture has penetrated the seal means.

A moisture barrier for the exposed end of an indwelling catheter comprising:

• an outer moisture resistant layer having a first peripheral edge that includes means for adhering the first edge to the area while forming an outer seal to impede the passage of moisture, and
• an inner moisture resistant layer below the outer moisture resistant layer, the inner layer having a second peripheral edge that surrounds an interior region that accommodates the exposed catheter end, the second peripheral edge including means for adhering the second edge to the area in series with the first edge while forming an inner seal in series with the outer seal to impede the passage of moisture, the second peripheral edge being spaced inwardly from the first peripheral edge to create a gap between the inner and outer seals, and
• moisture absorbing material located in the region between the inner and outer layers for absorbing moisture that enters the gap.

A moisture barrier for the exposed end of an indwelling catheter comprising

• moisture resistant barrier means that includes a peripheral lip having a generally light-transmissive portion, the barrier means defining an interior region that is shaped to cover the exposed catheter end,
• adhesive means on the lip for adhering the barrier means to the skin over the exposed catheter end while forming seal means for impeding the passage of moisture into the interior region, and
• moisture sensing means on the lip visible through the generally light-transmissive portion for contact with moisture that penetrates the seal means, the moisture sensing means displaying a first visible characteristic when out of contact with the moisture, thereby indicating that moisture has not penetrated the seal means, and for displaying a second visible characteristic when in contact with the moisture, thereby indicating that the moisture has penetrated the seal means.

A moisture barrier for the exposed end of an indwelling catheter comprising

• moisture resistant barrier means that includes a peripheral lip having a generally light-transmissive portion, the barrier means defining an interior region that is shaped to cover the exposed catheter end,
• adhesive means on the lip for adhering the barrier means to the skin over the exposed catheter end while forming seal means for impeding the passage of moisture into the interior region, and
• means defining a pocket within the interior region for holding the exposed end of the indwelling catheter in a coiled condition, wherein the seal means includes an outer seal region on the lip spaced from the interior region and an inner seal region on the lip next to the interior region, and further including moisture absorbing means positioned between the inner and outer seal regions.