Abstract: An apparatus for promoting the healing of an exuding wound includes a cover layer for positioning over a wound to define a reservoir over the wound. An exudate conduit having a fibrous core includes a plurality of fibers communicates with the reservoir for wicking fluids away from the wound.

Abstract: A system to promote the healing of an exuding wound includes a wound dressing, a subatmospheric pressure mechanism, and a collection canister. The wound dressing is dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject. The subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a control unit disposed within a housing. The control unit includes a vacuum source associated with a vacuum port. The collection canister has an interior wall which defines an internal chamber. The internal chamber is in fluid communication with the vacuum source of the subatmospheric pressure mechanism through the vacuum port and with the wound dressing for collecting exudates removed for the wound bed under influence of the vacuum source. The canister including a baffle mechanism disposed within the internal chamber for dampening the movement of the collected exudates.

Abstract: A securement device for securing a catheter to a patient is provided. The securement device includes a base including a support member and at least one securement arm extending away from the support member. The support member defines a cradle portion, the cradle portion of the support member being configured to receive at least a portion of a catheter. The at least one securement arm being movable over the cradle portion to a position to secure a catheter within the cradle portion. The securement device further includes a cover member configured to be received over the base and dimensioned to secure the base to a patient.

Abstract: A system to promote the healing of an exuding wound includes a wound dressing, a subatmospheric pressure mechanism, and a collection canister. The wound dressing is dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject. The subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a control unit disposed within a housing. The control unit includes a vacuum source associated with a vacuum port. The collection canister has an interior wall which defines an internal chamber. The internal chamber is in fluid communication with the vacuum source of the subatmospheric pressure mechanism through the vacuum port and with the wound dressing for collecting exudates removed for the wound bed under influence of the vacuum source. The canister including a baffle mechanism disposed within the internal chamber for dampening the movement of the collected exudates.

Abstract: An apparatus for promoting the healing of an exuding wound includes a cover layer for positioning over a wound to define a reservoir over the wound. An exudate conduit having a fibrous core includes a plurality of fibers communicates with the reservoir for wicking fluids away from the wound.

Abstract: Articles may be formed including: at least one layer of foam, the foam layer and at least one antimicrobial agent associated with foam layer, the antimicrobial agent including PHMB, PEHMB, or derivatives thereof; at least one non-adherent layer disposed on at least a portion of the foam layer, the non-adherent layer being permeable to moisture; and a film disposed on at least another portion of the foam layer, the film being breathable to allow escape of moisture, but substantially impermeable to bacteria. Another article may include at least one layer of foam, the foam having pores of different sizes, at least some of the pores at least partially filled with at least one elutable antimicrobial agent, the pores of different sizes forming a gradient with the foam layer.

Abstract: A wound dressing includes one or more layers containing a first anti-microbial agent and/or at least one zinc-containing agent.

Abstract: A system to promote the healing of an exuding wound includes a wound dressing, a subatmospheric pressure mechanism, and a collection canister. The wound dressing is dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject. The subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a control unit disposed within a housing. The control unit includes a vacuum source associated with a vacuum port. The collection canister has an interior wall which defines an internal chamber. The internal chamber is in fluid communication with the vacuum source of the subatmospheric pressure mechanism through the vacuum port and with the wound dressing for collecting exudates removed for the wound bed under influence of the vacuum source. The canister including a baffle mechanism disposed within the internal chamber for dampening the movement of the collected exudates.

Abstract: A wound dressing includes one or more layers containing a first anti-microbial agent and at least one of: a chelating agent, and a second anti-microbial agent.

Abstract: A securement device for securing a catheter to a patient is provided. The securement device includes a base including a support member and at least one securement arm extending away from the support member. The support member defines a cradle portion, the cradle portion of the support member being configured to receive at least a portion of a catheter. The at least one securement arm being movable over the cradle portion to a position to secure a catheter within the cradle portion. The securement device further includes a cover member configured to be received over the base and dimensioned to secure the base to a patient.

Abstract: An antimicrobial fiber is described including: an inner layer and an outer layer; wherein the inner layer and the outer layer comprise at least one of the following characteristics: (I) the inner layer and the outer layer comprise of different concentrations, or different release rates, of at least one antimicrobial agent; and (II) the inner layer and the outer layer comprise different antimicrobial agents. An alternative antimicrobial fiber includes an antimicrobial agent compounded or combined with a dissolvable substance to promote release or binding of the antimicrobial agent. Related articles are also described.

Abstract: A method of treating a substrate having a charge bias with at least one antimicrobial agent to modify the release properties of the antimicrobial agent with respect to the substrate, the method includes eliminating, mitigating, or modifying the charge bias of the substrate by applying at least one first agent to the substrate, and applying the at least one antimicrobial agent to the substrate. Related articles are also described.

Abstract: An article includes a film layer; at least one layer of adhesive on at least one side of the film layer; a patch or strip comprising at least one antimicrobial agent, the patch or strip disposed on the same side of the film layer as the at least one layer of adhesive; and a relatively non-flexible sheet releasably attached to the side of the film layer opposite to the patch or strip.

Abstract: The present invention provides an indicator for visually indicating a pressure level of a fluid in a pressure source. The indicator comprises an inflatable body having a notched section with opposing edge portions that are separated by a gap when the inflatable body is in an uninflated condition. The inflatable body further includes a port for connecting the inflatable body to the pressure source whereby upon inflation of the inflatable body, there is relative movement of the opposing edge portions in a direction so as to decrease the size of the gap and thereby indicate that a predetermined pressure has been reached in the pressure source. The indicator is particularly for indicating whether a predetermined pressure has been reached in an inflation cuff of an endotracheal tube.

Abstract: An airway for both sole esophageal obturator ventilation and for combined endotracheal and esophageal obturator ventilation of a patient. The airway has two lumens one of which has an open distal end and the other of which has a closed distal end. The airway further has an inflatable distal cuff and an inflatable pharyngeal cuff. Communicating with the lumen having the closed distal end is at least one air outlet located in the airway wall between the two inflatable cuffs. To determine the position and orientation of the airway within a patient, the airway is provided with an X-ray opaque stripe that preferably axially extends in the wall, but is interrupted by at least one air outlet between the inflatable cuffs. An X-ray opaque shaft may also be present between the inflatable cuffs and is preferably attached to the wall. The airway may also be provided with monitoring lumens and deflector means in communication with the lumen that has the open distal end.

Abstract: A catheter introducer valve assembly of a catheter introducer leading to a blood vessel of a patient for positioning at least one catheter tube through the catheter introducer and its sheath to a blood vessel of a patient. The valve assembly unit has first and second valves, the first valve being for preventing or minimizing the flow of blood from the valve assembly unit when the catheter tube is absent from the catheter introducer and the second valve being for preventing or minimizing the flow of blood when the catheter tube is present in the catheter introducer. The first valve, which is made of a flexible, resilient material, is shaped as a disk having a valve slit, such a duckbill valve, positioned diametrically across the passage of the valve assembly body. The rim surface of the valve disk has a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the positioning area of the inner surface of the valve assembly body where the valve disk is located so that a cylindrical space is formed therebetween.

Abstract: A self-sealing percutaneous tube (e.g. catheter) introducer having a sealing mechanism to prevent blood or fluid leakage that includes spaced sealing gaskets adapted to surround the tube, a distal sealing element being planar and having a slit whereas the proximal sealing element being conical and having an annular opening at its distal and small end, the introducer optionally including a side arm flushing member and/or a female luer lock connection at its proximal end.