Adhesive bandages, wound dressings, sutures, drapes orthodontic rubber bands, toothbrushes, and the like

Abstract

An adhesive bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape for use over a wound is made from a laminate structure of flexible rubber, a hydrophilic hydrogel polymer bonded to one side of the flexible rubber, and an adhesive bonded to the hydrophilic hydrogel polymer along at least a first section of the adhesive bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape. The adhesive is preferably a hydrogel adhesive with a cellulosic, polyurethane or polyacrylate base, while the flexible rubber is preferably rubber which is pretreated with hydrogel polymer prior to curing. A medicament such as CPC or BAK can be bonded to the hydrophilic hydrogel polymer along the non-adhesive portion of the adhesive bandage, wound dressing or surgical drape to provide slow release medication, and if desired, removable plastic may be provided to cover the adhesive portions. The bandage, wound dressing, suture-like mechanism, or surgical drape may take various shapes, sizes, and arrangements. Orthodontic rubber bands, toothbrushes, dental floss and sutures are also disclosed having a similar arrangement except that the flexible rubber in the case of the toothbrush, dental floss and suture is replaced with bristles, floss thread, and suture thread, and a preferably slow-release medicament is applied to the hydrophilic hydrogel polymer instead of an adhesive.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.