Abstract: A ventilation system is disclosed for a cast of the type which encompasses a limb with a rigid material such that an inside surface of the cast faces the limb while an outside surface of the cast is spaced outwardly from the inside surface. The ventilation system includes a tube insertable through the cast so that one end of the tube is open to the limb while the other end of the tube is open to the outside surface of the cast. A source of pressurized air is then fluidly connected to the other or outside end of the tube thus forcing air flow through the tube and into the area between the inside surface of the cast and the limb.

Abstract: An adhesive composition or structure is proposed for use in skin application, e.g. drug delivery wound care, or for attaching devices to collect body waste to the wearer. The composition comprises (a) a polymer or mixture of polymers which act as a pressure-sensitive adhesive present in an amount 20-60 parts by weight of the adhesive composition; and (b) a water-swellable polymer present in an amount 20-80 parts by weight of the adhesive composition. The polymer is one which will absorb from 50 to 500 grams of pure water per 100 grams of water-swellable polymer.Additionally there may be present up to 30 parts by weight (of the adhesive composition) of a water-soluble polymer.The water-swellable polymer may be provided as a coating on non-water-soluble and non-water-swellable fibers which limit swelling of the coating to be radial of the fibers. By arranging or aligning the fibers, the direction of swelling of the composition or structure can be controlled.