Abstract: A novel wound dressing includes a fibrous absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, an odor layer for absorbing odor and a barrier layer interposed the fibrous absorbent and barrier layers. Preferably the barrier layer is vacuum perforated and the fibrous absorbent layer is of highly absorbent fibres capable of absorbing 25 grams of exudate per gram of dressing.

Abstract: An absorbent wound filler having high capacity for absorbing wound exudate comprising a polymeric matrix having absorbing powders dispersed within the matrix and method of treating an exudating wound by applying the wound filler to the wound. The absorbing powders contain sodium calcium alginates and also may contain cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, absorbent polyacrylates and water soluble hydrocolloids.

Abstract: Novel fibrin monomer compositions which are solutions including additional coharvested components, such as prothrombin and Factor XIII, are useful in fibrin sealant applications. Preferably, the compositions are autologous to the patient receiving the sealant and these compositions may also include coharvested plasminogen, Factor X, antithrombin III and/or fibronectin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wound dressing comprising a mixture of textile fibres and gel forming fibres wherein the dressing is a knitted fabric comprising support yarn and in-laid yarn, the support yarn being substantially free of gel-forming fibres.

Abstract: A histamine H2 antagonist incompatible with acidic materials is incorporated in an effervescent composition and is stable therein provided the acidulant employed in the effervescent couple is a non-hydroxy group containing acidulant and such acidulant is employed as substantially the entire amount of the acidulant present in the formulation. Preferably the composition is devoid of hydroxy group containing acidulant. Adipic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid and succinic anhyride may be employed as the acidulant. Adipic acid is preferred.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to fibrin sealants. More specifically, the subject invention relates to the use of a fibrin sealant wherein a composition comprising fibrin monomer or a composition comprising noncrosslinked fibrin is utilized as a component of the fibrin sealant.

Abstract: There is disclosed a waste prevention system which avoids the discharge, inadvertent or otherwise, of laboratory waste, into a public sewage system and subsequently into the natural environment. The system employs, in combination, a laboratory sink having cooperatively connect thereto a carboy for collecting pollutants. The carboy is provided with elements to permit removal of samples of materials delivered thereto from the sink for testing of the same to determine the presence of pollutants. In the event no pollutants are present, the carboy may simply be opened and any wash or rinse water from the sink can be delivered into a public sewage system and then to the environment.

Abstract: An applicator and an electro-mechanical applicator drive system for automatically emptying the liquid components from respective syringes in a controlled manner for co-applying fibrin sealant components with a gas to form a spray. The applicator drive system includes a piston elevator section which moves the syringe pistons of the respective syringes in unison. The applicator drive system further includes at least one syringe piston force sensor which senses a force required by the piston elevator section to move at least one of the syringe pistons forward and outputs a force sensor signal. A controller is provided which controls movement of a piston elevator of the piston elevator section based on the force sensor signal.

Abstract: An improved wound dressing is provided which comprises a backing layer bearing a reference marking, a hydrocolloid layer and a release layer. The hydrocolloid swells in use. This swelling can be seen or felt through the backing layer. When the swelling extends to or beyond the reference marking, the dressing should be changed to prevent leaking. Thus, the dressing can be left in place for as long as possible, but not so long as to damage the underlying skin.

Abstract: A laparoscopic applicator device for the selective directional application of one or more liquids to a surgical site is disclosed. The device comprises a handle with liquid inlets at one end, discrete channels within one or more tubes connecting with said inlet and exteding through said handle to a nozzle, and a dual injection shaft at the nozzle end for inserting the shaft and nozzle through a surgical trocar. The dual shaft comprises s rigid portion immediately adjacent the handle and a flexible portion near the nozzle tip. Means are provided, preferably within the handle, for the controlled articulation of the flexible shaft/nozzle assembly, thereby providing application of the liquids in a desired direction. The present invention is particularly useful in the application of surgical sealants, e.g., fibrin sealants. Methods of applying such components are also a part of the invention.

Abstract: Novel methods and devices which provide enhanced mixing and application of two liquid components to form a biomaterial with minimized aerosols is achieved using air flow rates below about 1.25 liters/minute in combination with a ratio of air flow to total liquid flow of from about 150:1 up to about 1500:1. Preferably the air flow is below about 1 liter/minute and the ratio of air flow to total liquid flow is from about 200:1 to about 1200:1. The parameters are ideally suited for the spray application of components which form a surgical sealant, e.g., a fibrin sealant. Also a part of the present invention are novel application methods for biomaterial, e.g., surgical sealant, components at liquid flows below 1.9 ml/minute, novel methods involving the mixing of such components on the exit surface of a spray tip or nozzle, novel spray tips and biomaterial applicators and methods for making such applicators.

Abstract: The invention provides a vessel for biological materials comprising a multilayer polymeric barrier material that has very low permeability to small molecules, such as water and oxygen, high flexibility and softness, and is resistant to tearing. The invention is particularly useful for forming vessels that receive biological fluids, such as ostomy bags and bags for storing blood, blood products, and IV solutions. The vessel comprises a flexible, multilayer, polymeric barrier material comprising (1) a first sandwich polymer layer, (2) at least one sandwiched, oriented liquid crystal polymer layer, and (3) a second sandwich polymer layer, the first and second sandwich layers disposed to sandwich the liquid crystal layer therebetween.

Abstract: A water soluble film having a thickness of from 0.03 mm to 0.5 mm comprising a water soluble polymer and an active substance.

Abstract: An absorbent, composite fibre comprising a matrix of from 10% to less than 50% of water insoluble alginate having dispersed therein at least 40% of another polysaccharide.

Abstract: A low overhead controller for microstepping a stepper motor and a low overhead method for microstepping a stepper motor. The reduction in overhead in system processor is accomplished by the control circuit which dynamically interpolates motor positions between steps commanded from the processor. Also, the reduction in overhead is accomplished by a microstepping method used to effect microstepping resolution control by employing a stored look-up table which gives a resolution value at a given speed according to a predetermined function.

Abstract: An apparatus is adapted to centrifuge and furthermore automatically handle a container (10) for separating a component, such as fibrin monomer, from plasma. The container (10) comprises a cylindrical member (11) and a piston (25) displaceable therein and comprising a tubular piston rod (12), which extends through the top wall. The piston (25) divides the cylindrical member (11) into a first chamber positioned above said piston (25) between said piston and said top wall and a second chamber positioned below said piston (25). The apparatus comprises a supporting turntable (1) with means for releasably retaining the cylindrical member (11), said supporting turntable being connected to a first activating mechanism (5) for rotating the supporting turntable (1) with the container (10) about the central axis thereof. The apparatus comprises furthermore a rotatably journalled piston activating mechanism (13, 15, 16) adapted to activate the piston by means of a second activating means (21).

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a blood component, e.g., fibrin monomer, from blood or plasma comprises a container (110) with a reaction chamber for receiving the plasma, where said reaction chamber is defined by an outer wall and comprises means for supplying said reaction chamber with an agent for converting the fibrinogen content of the plasma into a non-cross-linked fibrin polymer. The apparatus comprises furthermore a device for centrifuging the reaction chamber with the plasma and said agent to a degree sufficient for separating the non-cross-linked fibrin polymer from the plasma, for depositing said polymer on the outer wall of the reaction chamber, and for expelling the remaining plasma from the reaction chamber. The container (110) comprises means for supplying the reaction chamber with a solvent for dissolving said non-cross-linked fibrin polymer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to fibrin materials for use in fibrin compositions and methods that avoid the need to use thrombin as an activating agent for fibrin monomer-based sealants. The invention provides for substantially pure fibrin chains, fibrin chain precursors, fibrin chains with other N-terminal extensions, fibrin monomer, fibrin-homolog and fibrin-analog. The invention further provides for variant fibrin .gamma.-chains. The variant gamma-chain contains one or more mutations and/or deletions in the C-terminal region following the coiled-coil forming region such that, when incorporated into fibrin-homolog, the homolog lacks the ability to self-polymerize but has the ability to form non-covalent bonds, and thereby form mixed polymers useful as sealants, with fibrinogen. The invention also provides nucleotide sequences encoding fibrin chains or fibrin chain variants and cells expressing fibrin chains, fibrin chain variants, fibrin monomer, fibrin precursor or fibrinogen-analog.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to fibrin sealants. More specifically, the subject invention relates to the use of a fibrin sealant wherein a composition comprising fibrin monomer or a composition comprising noncrosslinked fibrin is utilized as a component of the fibrin sealant.