Abstract: A moisture vapor permeable, water impervious padding including sheets or strips of a lofted non-woven fabric having wax, silicone resin or fluorinated polymer at a surface layer thereof. The sheet or strip may be formed into a tube and contain an elastic component in the circumference to result in an elastically extensible tubular undercast padding.

Abstract: A tampon for hygienic use which comprises an absorbent core of general cylindrical shape having a liquid pervious cover layer is disclosed. The cover layer is a plastics material which comprises parallel ribs in one direction interconnected by a plurality of fibrillated strands in the transverse direction. The ribs of the cover layer lie in a direction which is in a direction parallel to the main axis of the tampon.

Abstract: An absorbent device which comprises an absorbent layer having an apertured contoured polymer film attached to a surface, wherein this surface is provided with a plurality of depressions which communicate directly with the apertures in the film. The device may be produced by separating the polymer film and a carrier material which have been formed into a laminate having impressed therein raised areas defining, for example, the strands of net and depressed areas such that upon separation the depressed areas of the film remain attached together with associated portions of the attached absorbent, to the carrier, leaving the raised areas attached to the remainder of the absorbent.

Abstract: Gloves, especially those of the type worn by surgeons, and fabricated from elastomeric materials have a hand conducting surface comprising an ionic polyurethane to render the glove hypoallergenic. The surface modifying composition may comprise a blend of an ionic polyurethane and a second polymer, e.g. another polyurethane or an acrylic polymer wherein the particle size of the second polymer are greater than that of the base ionic polyurethane. The use of blends enables donning of the glove to be effected without the aid of donning powder such as starch or talc.

Abstract: Antimicrobial gloves such as those made of natural rubber latex may be manufactured by incorporating an antimicrobially effective amount of a non-ionic, sparingly water soluble antimicrobial agent, such as 2,4,4'-tricloro-2'-hydroxyphenyl ether, into the glove material prior to forming the glove. The antimicrobial agent may be present in amounts ranging from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the antimicrobial agent. The wearer contacting surface of the glove may also be dusted with a powder containing an antimicrobial effective amount of an antimicrobial agent such as chlorhexidine digluconate. The powder may comprise a complex of chlorhexidine digluconate and cyclodextrin.

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.

Abstract: An adhesive dressing comprises a backing layer having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer over one surface thereof, a removable protector comprising two parts which covers the adhesive layer and extends beyond the backing layer at one or more edges and a conformable, support layer which is reversibly attached to the non-adhesive surface of the backing layer and extends beyond the backing layer at one or more of said edges. The product comprises two parts, the first being V-shaped and having portion extending away from the adhesive surface while the second part, also has a portion extending away from the adhesive surface and which overlies the V-shaped part.

Abstract: Tubular articles such as condoms or catheters are rendered antimicrobially effective by incorporating therein an effective amount of a non-ionic sparingly water soluble antimicrobial agent. Preferably the antimicrobial is triclosan and the tubular article is a condom made from natural rubber latex. A method of manufacturing the tubular articles is described in which the anti-microbial agent is incorporated into the material forming the article before the article is formed.

Abstract: Fibrous dressings employed as wound contacting materials, may be rendered hypoadherent by coating the body contacting surface with a polymeric coating of a material such as a siloxane block copolymer or a blend thereof with an amine extended polyurethane.

Abstract: An adhesive dressing comprises a backing layer having over one surface a pressure sensitive adhesive layer. A removable protector covers the adhesive layer and a handling means is present at one edge of the backing layer. The dressing has a fold in a direction substantially parallel to the handling means so that the backing layer is on the outside of the fold. The portion of the dressing beyond the fold is releasably attached to the portion of the dressing before the fold preferably by means of a double-sided tape. In use the protector may be peeled from the adhesive layer up to the fold when peeling will stop. The protector and handling means may be used to position the dressing on the skin. Application of a further force peels the protector from the rest of the adhesive surface. The dressings are for use as I.V. dressings.

Abstract: Antimicrobial gloves such as those made of natural rubber latex may be manufactured by incorporating an antimicrobially effective amount of a non-ionic, sparingly water soluble antimicrobial agent, such as 2,4,4'-tricloro-2'-hydroxyphenyl ether, into the glove material prior to forming the glove. The antimicrobial agent may be present in amounts ranging from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the antimicrobial agent. The wearer contacting surface of the glove may also be dusted with a powder containing an antimicrobial effective amount of an antimicrobial agent such as chlorhexidine digluconate. The powder may comprise a complex of chlorhexidine digluconate and cyclodextrin.

Abstract: A substrate suitable for use in a water hardenable orthopaedic splinting bandage is formed from a knitted fabric in which the yarn running along the length of the substrate is from a heat shrinkable yarn so that after heat treatment the substrate is stretchable in the lengthwise direction. The heat shrinkable yarn is suitably a polyester or polyamide and the non-heat shrinkable yarn is suitably a different polyester or polypropylene. Preferably the substrate has a lengthwise extension of not less than 5% and not more than 30%. A water hardenable orthopaedic bandage in which the substrate is impregnated with a water curable resin particularly an isocyanate-containing resin is also described.

Abstract: Wound dressing systems, comprising a transparent translucent dressing e.g. a pressure sensitive adhesive dressing, and at least one further transparent or translucent layer having reference marks which are capable of being used to monitor the wound. The translucent or transparent layer may form part of the dressing as applied to the wound or may be one of the protectors for the dressing, or may be removable support layer over the non-adhesive coated surface of the dressing.

Abstract: An adhesive coated thin film dressing (1) in combination with an applicator (4) to facilitate its application is described. The applicator (4) comprises a pair of superimposed laminar members (5,6) hinged at one end. The lower member (6) is adapted to be grasped at the end (13) remote from the hinge (7). The upper member (5) supports the thin film dressing and is in releasable contact with a major portion of the adhesive surface (3) of the thin film (2). A protector (11) is in releaseable contact with the remaining portion of the adhesive surface (3) and extends beyond the hinged end of the upper member (5). In one preferred form the dressing has a medicated pad or a medicated area located on the adhesive side of the coated film.