Abstract: Thin film adhesive dressings comprise a support layer having a continuous coating on one side thereof of a gel adhesive. The adhesive is non self-adherent and preferably comprises a hydrophilic gel containing polyurethane residues. The dressings may be highly water absorbent and are moisture vapor permeable, having a moisture vapor transmission rate of not less than 300 gm m.sup.2 hr.sup.-1 at a relative humidity difference of 10 to 100% when in contact with moisture vapor.

Abstract: A radiation curable composition for an adhesive includes a polyurethane, for example a polyurethane comprising residues of a polyether diol or a polyester diol, capped with residues of a hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate and non-polymerizable residues of a primary or secondary alcohol. The compositions may be cured to form a pressure sensitive adhesive and can be employed to produce adhesive dressings by coating a suitable substrate with the composition and thereafter curing the coated composition by, for example, electron beam or ultra violet irradiation.

Abstract: Skin friendly pressure sensitive adhesives in the form of inherently tacky polyurethane-containing gells may be prepared by reacting an isocyanate prepolymer, which is itself the reaction product of poly-functional isocyanate and polyoxyalkylene diol monoalkyl ether, with a hydroxyl-containing ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid and optionally other hydroxyl containing compounds and then cross-linking the polymer so formed by means of irradiation. The proportion of acrylate chosen is such that it will react with at least 15 to 25% of the free isocyanate groups in the prepolymer and the remainder react with the other hydroxyl containing compound. The adhesives are capable of absorbing up to 95%, typically from 35 to 95% by weight of water when hydrated. The use of the adhesive in highly moisture vapor permeable dressings is also disclosed.

Abstract: Skin friendly pressure sensitive adhesives in the form of inherently tacky polyurethane-containing gells may be prepared by reacting an isocyanate prepolymer, which is itself the reaction product of poly-functional isocyanate and polyoxyalkylene diol monoalkyl ether, with a hydroxyl-containing ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid and optionally other hydroxyl containing compounds and then cross-linking the polymer so formed by means of irradiation. The proportion of acrylate chosen is such that it will react with at least 15 to 25% of the free isocyanate groups in the prepolymer and the remainder react with the other hydroxyl containing compound. The adhesives are capable of absorbing up to 95%, typically from 35 to 95% by weight of water when hydrated. The use of the adhesive in highly moisture vapor permeable dressings is also disclosed.