Abstract: A unitary adhesive retractor is provided for supporting a patient's excess/redundant tissue to maintain the excess/redundant tissue away from an incision or other existing wound. The retractor defines a top-to-bottom length and a side-to-side width greater than one-half the top-to-bottom length, and comprises a stretchable, air-permeable fabric layer adherable directly to the excess/redundant tissue by means of a silicone gel adhesive which coats at least a substantial portion of a bottom surface of the fabric layer. When the retractor is placed in tension upon application of the retractor to a patient, due to the weight of the excess/redundant tissue, forces generated by the weight of the excess/redundant tissue are transferred through the gel adhesive to the fabric layer, such that the gel substantially protects the dermis of the patient from sheer forces generated by the weight of the excess/redundant tissue being evenly distributed to the dermis of the patient.

Abstract: A multi-ply adhesive retraction device is provided which comprises a top layer, a backing layer and a stretchable middle layer between the top and backing layers. A middle-ply adhesive applied to substantially the entirety of the middle layer bottom surface to removably adhere the backing layer to the middle layer bottom surface. The device includes at least one bottom ply tab integral with the device which is operable to remove at least a portion of the backing layer from the middle layer to expose the adhesive of the middle layer. Additionally, the device includes at least one top ply tab which is operable to remove the top layer from the middle layer. The device can be applied pre-operatively, and then the top layer can be removed post-operatively to remain in place during healing of, for example, an incision site.

Abstract: A wound exposure device is disclosed that can be applied to a patient having excessive or redundant tissue (i.e., a panniculus) to retain the excessive or redundant tissue away from (off of) a wound to allow air so that the excessive or redundant tissue will not cover the wound while the wound is healing. The wound exposure device is wearable and highly conformable when applied to a patient to support/hold/retract redundant and/or excessive tissue off or away from a wound site for extended periods of time. The ability to wear the wound exposure device for extended periods of time facilitates better healing of wounds which would otherwise be covered by the redundant flesh.

Abstract: A die-cuttable retractor/stabilizer for repositioning and stabilizing excessive and/or redundant tissue comprises a top layer and a backing layer. An adhesive on the top layer is exposed when the backing layer is separated from the top layer to enable the top layer to be applied to a surface. The retractor/stabilizer comprises a body having a top edge, side edges and a bottom edge. A tab portion is associated with the removable panel, such that the backing layer remains with the tab portion and the tab portion can be used to remove at least a portion of the backing layer from the retractor/stabilizer body. The retractor/stabilizer additionally includes at least one protected grasping/holding area located at an edge or corner of said retractor/holding area as the backing layer is removed from the body to provide a protected holding area once the backing layer has been removed from the body.

Abstract: A method for retracting/stabilizing excessive and/or redundant tissue or for compressing redundant tissue including adhering a tension member made of a sheet of material having a surface coated with an adhesive which will adhere to the dermis of a patient to a patient. The step of adhering the tension member to the patient includes: adhering a first portion of the tension member to redundant and/or excessive tissue of the patient and adhering a second portion of the tension member to an anchor point on the patient which is spaced from the redundant and/or excessive tissue such that the tension member is adhered to the patient substantially over the entire surface area of the tension member. When the tension member is applied to the patient, the excessive or redundant tissue pulls against the second portion of the tension member thereby placing the tension member in tension.

Abstract: A die-cuttable retractor/stabilizer comprising a top layer having an adhesive applied one side thereof and a backing layer which covers the adhesive and which is removable from the top. The retractor/stabilizer includes a dividing cut in the backing layer which extends the width of the backing layer to separate the backing layer into an upper panel and a lower panel. A first lower panel back cut in the backing layer lower panel extends from the bottom edge of the backing layer to a point proximate the dividing cut to divide the lower panel in to at least a lower panel positioning portion and a lower panel second portion.