Abstract: A sheet-form material suitable as wound dressing and having enhanced moisture control properties is disclosed. This sheet-form material includes a porous sheet of absorbent, elastomeric segmented polyurethane having an open pore structure and an apertured adhesive facing on one side of the porous sheet. A liquid impermeable but water vapor permeable backing may be provided on the opposite side of the porous sheet, if desired. Also disclosed is a method for forming an apertured adhesive facing for the sheet-form material.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, segmented polyether polyurethane-urea that exhibits an increase in tensile strength and elongation when wet with water and is capable of forming visually clear films permeable to water vapor is disclosed.

Abstract: A microporous biocompatible material is formed by preparing a segmented polyether urethane urea solution containing 25%.+-.1.5% solids dissolved in a solvent. The solution has sufficient viscosity to be preshaped and formed into the desired thickness of the finished article, then immediately immersed into a precipitation bath in which the solvent in the solution is miscible for a time interval sufficient to cause the solution to set up into an opaque elastomeric article. The article is immediately removed from the bath, any excess solvent extracted and then dried at a temperature on the order of 35.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. followed by heat treating by annealing for approximately sixty minutes at a temperature at 100.degree. C. to 130.degree. C. The void volume of the membrane solution is controlled to within the 50% to 80% range and the pore size from ca<0.1 to several mms.

Abstract: An anti-suture looping device for prosthetic polycuspid heart valves is provided. The device comprises a frame or body portion that is attached to the heart valve assembly and a vaned insert portion that can project beyond the cusps of the heart valve. The insert portion can slide within the body portion between a retracted position where the vanes do not project beyond the free ends of the cusps of the valve and a forward position where the vanes pass between the cusps of the valve, extend beyond, and protect the cusps from interference or damage by any suture loops that may catch on the cusps when the heart valve assembly is secured into place.