PRODUCTS FOR REDUCING TISSUE TRAUMA USING WATER-RESISTANT STRESS-DISTRIBUTING MATERIALS

A water-resistant stress-distributing layer for use in the protection of tissue of a patient during a surgical procedure, wherein the water-resistant stress-distributing layer has opposite first and second major surfaces, and includes a hydrophobic polymer, wherein the water-resistant stress-distributing layer is to be employed in a method selected from: (i) applying an incise drape to a patient over a presurgical skin preparation followed by applying the water-resistant stress-distributing layer over the incise drape; (ii) applying the water-resistant stress-distributing layer to an incise drape to provide a water-resistant stress-distributing composite and then applying the water-resistant stress-distributing composite to the patient; (iii) applying the water-resistant stress-distributing layer to the tissue of a patient over a presurgical skin preparation, followed by applying an incise drape over the water-resistant stress-distributing layer; (iv) applying a water-resistant stress-distributing layer over a presurgical skin preparation without the use of an incise drape; and (v) applying a water-resistant stress-distributing layer over a presurgical polymeric barrier film.