Abstract: A pressure gradient wound therapy apparatus (50) including a pump assembly (10). The pump assembly (10) includes a diaphragm (12) comprising a magnetic material (16), an electromagnetic actuator (18) switchable between two or more operational states and a valve arrangement (24) including an inlet valve (26) and an outlet valve (28) for the introduction and/or removal of fluid into a fluid chamber (30) of the pump assembly (10). The actuator (18) is configured to move the diaphragm (12) with respect to the actuator (18) between a first position corresponding to a first operational state of the actuator (18) and a second position corresponding to the second operational state of the actuator (18).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coupling assembly (12) for an ostomy appliance (10) comprising a clamp arrangement (60), a first coupling and a second coupling. The clamp arrangement (60) comprises a clamp ring (61) mounted to the first and/or second coupling and a clamp locked mounted to the clamp ring (61). The clamp ring (61) comprises an inner circumference (62) adjustable between clamped and unclamped configurations. In the clamped configuration the clamp ring (61) is for maintaining the first and second couplings (20, 40) in a coupled configuration. The clamp lock (80) is adjustable into a locked configuration to lock the clamp ring (61) in the clamped configuration. The clamp lock (80) comprises a clamp actuator (81) moveable radially relative to the inner circumference (62) to unlock the clamp lock (80) from the locked configuration.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance that has inner and outer walls of flexible sheet material joined together to define a cavity for containing a stomal output, the inner wall having an inlet for receiving the stomal output into the cavity, a retractable drain being slidably movable between an extended configuration for draining the stomal output from the cavity and a retracted configuration for storage of the drain, and a guide panel arranged on the inner wall or the outer wall, thereby defining a channel for receiving the retractable drain.

Abstract: A filter adaptor includes a body that defines an internal passageway disposed between an inlet and an outlet, the passageway configured to permit passage of a fluid in a first direction defined by the inlet and the outlet; and a filter disposed within the passageway and oriented to define a volumetric direction that is different than the first direction. Another filter adaptor includes a body that defines an internal passageway disposed between an inlet and an outlet, and a filter disposed within the passageway, wherein the filter comprises a gelling absorbent material that, when in a dry state, is permeable to gas and that, when contacted by an aqueous fluid, converts to a gel. Such filter adaptors may be used for negative pressure wound therapy, dressing, or as syringe filters.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance comprising a main body portion comprising an inner wall and an outer wall of flexible sheet material joined together to define a cavity for containing a stomal output; the inner wall comprising an inlet for receiving the stomal output into the cavity; the ostomy appliance further comprising an outer comfort layer overlying at least a portion of the outer wall; wherein the outer comfort layer comprise a first part and a second part which are joined to the outer wall so that the first part partially overlaps the second part in an overlap region, wherein the first part and the second part are separable from each other in the overlap region to form a window opening for viewing the cavity; wherein the overlap region is angled obliquely to a horizontal direction when the ostomy appliance is orientated as it would be in use.

Abstract: A urinary catheter wetting apparatus (121) has a chamber defined by a forward section (123) opposite to a rearward section (125) each having an aperture (143,153) of which are axially aligned. A catheter tube is connected to a connector (161), the latter of which spans the chamber and initially seals the two apertures. The connector is slideable through the first facial surface (129) of forward section and the second end wall (131) of the rearward section so the catheter tube can be drawn through the chamber. A wetting applicator (151) holding a wetting agent is disposed in the chamber. Upon use, the connector passes through the chamber, applying pressure to the wetting applicator, thereby releasing the wetting agent from the wetting applicator and onto the catheter tube as it follows the connector through the chamber.

Abstract: A dressing for negative pressure wound therapy includes an absorbent layer comprising a gelling absorbent material for absorbing exudate, a peripheral adhesive skin contact layer comprising a hydrocolloid adhesive and defining a window through which the absorbent layer is able to contact a wound, and a cover layer that is water impermeable and air permeable. The cover layer defines an aperture to be used with a pump assembly to provide negative pressure to a wound site.

Abstract: An antibacterial wound dressing is based on or derived from gel-forming fibers such as carboxymethyl cellulose or alginate fibers having silver ions linked thereto at some but not all of the exchangeable sites such that the distribution of silver ions over the exchangeable sites is substantially uniform. The silvered fibers for the wound dressing can be prepared by contacting an assembly of precursor gel-forming fibers having exchangeable sites under conditions which do not cause irreversible gelling of the fibers with an amount of a solution containing silver ions so as to link silver ions at some but not all of the exchangeable sites, the whole of the assembly of precursor gel-forming fibers being contacted essentially simultaneously with the entire solution containing silver ions.

Abstract: An antibacterial wound dressing is based on, or derived from, gel-forming fibres such as carboxymethyl cellulose or alginate fibres having silver ions linked thereto at some but not all of the exchangeable sites such that the distribution of silver ions over the exchangeable sites is substantially uniform. The silvered fibres for the wound dressing can be prepared by contacting an assembly of precursor gel-forming fibres having exchangeable sites under conditions which do not cause irreversible gelling of the fibres with an amount of a solution containing silver ions so as to link silver ions at some but not all of the exchangeable sites, the whole of the assembly of precursor gel-forming fibres being contacted essentially simultaneously with the entire solution containing silver ions.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprises a wound-contacting layer composed of a mixture of honey and a moisture-absorbing agent; a water-permeable fabric backing layer; and an intermediate layer comprising water-permeable fabric impregnated with a mixture of honey and a moisture-absorbing agent.

Abstract: A fabric comprises first and second webs of gel-forming fiber needled to the first and second sides respectively of a textile fiber scrim. Such fabrics find application as wound dressings, in particular for packing cavity wounds.

Abstract: Wound dressings in the form of a body-shaped component are composed of body-shaped cellulosic fabric which has been carboxymethylated at the woundcontacting surface. The body-shaped component composed of a fabric comprising a cellulosic material is subjected to a carboxymethylation process to carboxymethylate the cellulosic material at the wound-contacting surface.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a reinforced gel-forming fabric composite comprising a reinforcing layer and gel-forming fibre material is characterized in that the gel-forming fibre material in non-woven fabric form is needled into the reinforcing layer from one side so as to penetrate through the reinforcing layer and form a layer of gel-forming fibre material on both sides of the reinforcing layer. The resulting fabric finds use in a wound dressing.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a reinforced gel-forming fabric composite comprising a reinforcing layer and gel-forming fibre material is characterized in that the gel-forming fibre material in non-woven fabric form is needled into the reinforcing layer from one side so as to penetrate through the reinforcing layer and form a layer of gel-forming fibre material on both sides of the reinforcing layer. The resulting fabric finds use in a wound dressing.

Abstract: An elasticated bandage has knitted therein a geometrical pattern comprising two components which adopt recognizable configurations when the bandage is extended to corresponding predetermined degrees. Preferably, the two components are alternating large and small rectangles arranged with colinear short edges. When the bandage is stretched, the short sides of the rectangles become lengthened. In each case, a point is reached at which the short and long sides of the rectangle becomes square, and this indicates that a pre-determined tension has been reached.