Abstract: The invention provides wound dressings, in particular wound dressings of low- or non-exuding wounds a bleeding wounds. The wound dressings are of the island type, having as adhesive-coated backing sheet (6) and an absorbent island (9) supported on the backing sheet. The island (9) comprises a layer (2) of liquid absorbent material enclosed in an envelope of textured perforated thermoplastic film. The film (3) at one side of the island (9) presents a ribbed or embossed perforated surface having low adherency to the wound. The film island an the rear surface of the envelope is perforated and smoothed to provide good attachment to the backing sheet (6) and controlled water vapor transmission rate. The invention also provides a method of manufacture of the wound dressings according to the invention, according to which the absorbent layer (2) is wrapped in a textured perforated thermoplastic film, and the film on the rear face of the envelope is then preferably smoothed by blowing hot air onto it.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a polyurethane foam suitable for use as a wound-contacting layer, said method comprising: mixing 1 part by weight of an isocyanate-capped prepolymer having from 0.5 to 4.8 meq. NCO groups/g with from 0.4 to 1.0 parts by weight of water and an effective amount of a nonvolatile pharmaceutically acceptable acid to form a prepolymer mixture; allowing said prepolymer mixture to cure to form a foamed product; followed by drying the foamed product. The invention also provides acidified polyurethane foams obtainable by this method, and wound dressings comprising such foams.

Abstract: The invention provides a sterile freeze-dried sponge, wherein at least 80% by weight of the sponge consists of collagen and oxidized regenerated cellulose in the weight ratio 60:40 to 40:60, wherein the sponge has a dry tensile strength of more than 3N and/or a wet tensile strength of more than 1 N. Preferably, the collagen has a degree of denaturation less than 20% and the sponge is substantially free of chemical cross-links. The invention also provides methods for the manufacture of sponges according to the invention.

Abstract: A pressurizer device (1) is provided with a body (6) in the form of a collar and a surrounding radially extending flexible flange (8). A prosthetic component to be disposed in a cemented bone cavity is inserted through the central opening (50) in the body (6). Pressure in the bone cement is maintained during insertion of the prosthetic component by the flange (8) being held down around the prosthetic component during insertion.