Abstract

A flexible, transparent wound dressing product contains a clear hydrogel material in a gel-like phase. The wound dressing product is comprised of several layers including a wound dressing, removable tab and release liner. The removable tab provides a grippable surface to allow for the removal of the release liner from the wound dressing and to facilitate handling of the wound dressing during application to the wound site. The tab may be comprised of a flat, double-coated paper or other suitable material, or a flexible, V-shaped member, and is removable by peeling after the wound dressing is applied. The wound dressing comprises a transparent thin-film layer, a first adhesive layer, backing layer, second adhesive layer, support layer and a hydrogel material. The transparent layer has a center portion and a perimeter portion. The backing layer, support layer and hydrogel material, which together form a reinforced hydrogel patch, are positioned in the center portion of the transparent layer. Since the wound dressing is transparent, a grid pattern may be printed on the backing layer to permit measurement of a wound. During manufacture, the hydrogel patch is assembled in sheet form and subsequently cut to a desired size and shape.