Abstract: There are described bandages which comprise a cohesive coated open cellular polymeric foam material which has a cellular surface area, at least 15% of the total surface area of the surface of the bandages comprise open cells of said open cellular polymeric foam material.

Abstract: Chlorhexidine gluconate-containing adhesives have dispersed therein solid chlorhexidiene particles which will pass through a 125 .mu.m sieve and at least about 30% of the total volume of particles has a size of not less than 5 .mu.m. The adhesive may be a vinyl ether adhesive and may be coated upon a backing layer such as a hydrophilic polyurethane to produce products suitable for use as wound dressings, IV dressing or incise drapes. The chlorhexidine gluconate may be obtained as a freeze-dried solid and added directly, in suspension, to the adhesive mass without further milling.

Abstract: An orthopaedic splinting or casting material comprises a substrate which carries a hardenable resin containing a multi-functional vinyl ether monomer, an agent which when mixed with the monomer increases the viscosity thereof and a catalyst capable of causing the resin to harden when exposed to actinic radiation.

Abstract: A conformable wound dressing is prepared by producing a sub-confluent layer of cultured mammalian cells such as epithelial cells anchored to a surface of a synthetic polymeric film which is hydrophobic, non-inhibitory to cell growth and non-cytotoxic. The polymer may be ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and polystyrene, and is preferably subjected to corona discharge to improve cell attachment. The polymeric film may be sterilized with ethylene oxide or by gamma-irradiation. Preferably, the polymeric film is a continuous film containing apertures formed by perforation before or after cell culture to provide an apertured wound dressing. In a preferred embodiment, a laminate is formed containing a sub-confluent layer of mammalian cells anchored to a surface of a continuous film of synthetic polymer having a plurality of thin and thick portions cast on and supported by a carrier layer having a plurality of raised portions.

Abstract: An adhesive dressing comprising a backing layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and a support layer attached to the non-adhesive surface of the backing layer characterized in having an additional edge strip component on the adhesive surface to aid adhesion of the dressing to the skin.

Abstract: A wound dressing containing a water-insoluble, water swellable cross-linked cellulose derivative, water and a polyol component wherein the dressing comprises a gel and the cellulose derivative comprises less than 10% by weight of the gel. The dressing is easy to apply and is believed to enhance moisture penetration of necrotic tissue and thus speed up debriding action in facilitating wound healing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a woven bandage which exhibits a crepe effect and which contains elastomeric yarns and composite warp yarns (1) wherein the composite yarns comprise a staple fibre yarn (2) and a textured filament yarn (3) twisted together. The staple fibre yarn (2) forms loops (4) which gives the bandage a crepe effect. There is also described a process for manufacture of such bandages.

Abstract: A medical adhesive product is provided comprising a substrate, a pressure sensitive adhesive on one face of the substrate and a layer of a polymer composition on the surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive wherein the polymer composition has low or no significant tack at temperatures below that of skin temperature but which is a pressure sensitive adhesive at skin temperature. The product may be moisture vapor permeable and have a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 500 g m.sup.-2 24 h.sup.-1 at 37.degree. C. and at a relative humidity difference of 100 to 10%.

Abstract: An adhesive dressing suitable for moist wounds includes a first layer comprising a substrate having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on a wound facing surface and a second layer comprising a moisture vapour permeable continuous film. The second layer is attached to the non wound facing surface of the first layer at spaced apart intervals thereby to form a plurality of discrete cellular voids between said first and second layers. The first layer has apertures therein to allow passage of liquids therethrough into the cellular voids and total area of the dressing defined by the cellular voids is from 20% to 80% of the total operable area of the dressing.

Abstract: There is described a woven bandage which exhibits a crepe effect and which contains composite warp yarns (1) and weft filaments (7) wherein the composite warp yarns (1) are formed by twisting a staple fiber yarn (2) and a textured filament yarn (3) together. The staple fiber yarn (2) forms loops (4) which gives the bandage a crepe effect. There is also described a process for the manufacture of such woven bandages and an article of manufacture which includes the composite warp yarns used in the woven bandage.

Abstract: Radiation protection gloves for surgical and medical use which have a layer of flexible polymer containing at least 25% by volume of particulate tungsten material and a radiation absorbing capacity equivalent to that of 0.13 mm of lead. The glove preferably comprises an elastomer such as ethylene propylene diene copolymer.

Abstract: A plurality of layers of a bandage can be jointed together at edges thereof to provide a casting bandage, which can then be coated/impregnated with a resin.Desirably the layers are formed from tubular members which are edge-stitched together.

Abstract: A casting system for application to a body portion, having an outer layer tubular substrate carrying a water hardenable resin wherein the substrate is at least 2 mm thick and an inner layer having an undercast padding material that includes hydrophobic fibers or yarns.

Abstract: A percutaneous anaesthetic delivery system comprises a skin conformable backing layer, an amethocaine-bearing material and a layer having little or no tendency to absorb amethocaine intermediate the backing layer and the layer of amethocaine bearing material which may be in the form of a film, mat or net.

Abstract: An absorbent device having low fluid wet-back and good surface cleanliness and resistance to staining is provided which comprises an absorbent core, a cover sheet on a body facing side thereof and an intermediate layer between the cover sheet and the core wherein the cover sheet comprises an apertured polymer film for example a flexible polymer net and the intermediate layer comprises a planar apertured polymer film for example a flexible polymer net.

Abstract: A conformable wound dressing is produced which comprises a polymeric foam absorbent layer, a continuous or discontinuous adhesive layer covering the body facing surface of the absorbent layer except for a wound contacting area which is free of adhesive and a layer of a liquid impervious moisture vapor permeable material disposed over substantially all or the entire surface of the absorbent layer opposite the body facing surface. The wound dressing may have a discontinuous intermediate layer coextensive with the absorbent layer disposed between the absorbent layer and the adhesive layer. Preferably, more than 50% of the absorbent layer is free of adhesive or when the adhesive is placed on the intermediate layer, more than 50% of the absorbent layer and the intermediate layer are free of adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a water-hardenable orthopedic splinting bandage. The substrate comprises inelastic fibers being incorporated in the substrate in the lengthwise direction. In a preferred substrate, the low modulus fiber is a multifilament polypropylene and the elastic fiber is a polyurethane yarn. Comformable orthopedic bandages employing the substrate are also described.

Abstract: A tampon applicator has an outer cylindrical member for containing a tampon and an inner arcuate member which is arranged to lie between the inner surface of the outer member and the tampon and to be slidably moved within the outer member to act as a piston for ejecting the tampon. One end of the inner member is adapted to engage the tampon and has a shoulder region. The outer member is provided with a first inward projection to engage the tampon and prevent rearward movement thereof and at least one second inward projection intermediate the first projection and the rear end of she cylindrical member to engage the shoulder region of the inner member and prevent complete withdrawal of she inner member from the outer member. The inward projections comprises at least one flap for example a pair of flaps or an inwardly deformed arcuate strip.

Abstract: An adhesive sheet material for use comprises a backing layer which has upon at least a portion of one surface a pressure sensitive adhesive layer. A removable release liner covers the adhesive layer and a support layer is attached to the backing layer on the surface remote from the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The stripping load required to separate the release liner from the adhesive layer is greater than the stripping load required to separate the support layer from the backing layer. As the release liner is stiffer than the support layer then the release liner can be removed from the adhesive without disturbing the support layer. The support layer is conformable enough to remain attached to the sheet when adhered to the skin. Adhesive sheets in the form of ostomy flanges and IV dressings are described.

Abstract: A warp knitted fabric is described in which each individual wale contains stitches formed from both elastic and inelastic yarn. The fabric is extensible in the direction of the wales and may be used as a substrate in an orthopaedic splinting bandage. Orthopaedic splinting bandages are also described which comprise the warp knitted fabric coated with a hardenable resin such as an isocyanate terminated propolymer. The lengthwise extensibility of the substrate makes the uncured bandage conformable during application to the body.