Abstract: A wound dressing material comprising a solid substrate having interstitial spaces therein, wherein said substrate is a hydrophilic open-cell foam material, and wherein said interstitial spaces are at least partially filled by a hydrophilic polyurethane foam different from said substrate foam material. Also provided is a method of making a porous wound dressing material comprising the steps of: providing a substrate of a solid hydrophilic first foam material; applying a fluid or gel polyurethane foam prepolymer mixture to at least one surface of said solid substrate; and curing said prepolymer in contact with said solid substrate.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: an air-impermeable backing sheet having an aperture for attachment of a suction element; an air-permeable screen layer on a wound facing side of the backing sheet; and a substantially air-impermeable hydrogel layer extending across a wound facing side of said screen layer and joined in substantially airtight fashion to a periphery of said backing sheet around said screen layer. Also provided is a wound treatment system comprising a wound dressing according to the invention and a source of suction in fluid communication with said aperture.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: a water-absorbent fabric comprising at least about 10 wt. % of hydrogel-forming absorbent fibers based on the dry weight of the fabric; and an adhesion-resistant, water-permeable wound contacting surface textile layer that is substantially continuously bonded to at least one surface of said fabric. The surface textile layer may be formed by surface treatment of the fabric, or by bonding a suitable textile web to the surface of the fabric.

Abstract: Use of a moulding composition comprising a polymer and a setting agent for wound debridement, wherein said use comprises adding water to said moulding composition to form a moulding fluid, applying said moulding fluid to a surface of a wound, allowing said moulding fluid to set in contact with said surface to form a solid covering on said surface, followed by removing said solid covering from the wound. The alginate composition adheres strongly to bacterial biofilms on the wound, whereby the biofilms are removed with the alginate composition. The moulding composition may be used in conjunction with a staining agent that undergoes a color change in the presence of bacteria or bacterial polysaccharides to show the presence and removal of the biofilm. Also provided are methods of treating wounds using the compositions.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: an air-impermeable backing sheet having an aperture for attachment of a suction element; an air-permeable screen layer on a wound facing side of the backing sheet; and a substantially air-impermeable hydrogel layer extending across a wound facing side of said screen layer and joined in substantially airtight fashion to a periphery of said backing sheet around said screen layer. Also provided is a wound treatment system comprising a wound dressing according to the invention and a source of suction in fluid communication with said aperture.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: a water-absorbent fabric comprising at least about 10 wt. % of hydrogel-forming absorbent fibers based on the dry weight of the fabric; and an adhesion-resistant, water-permeable wound contacting surface textile layer that is substantially continuously bonded to at least one surface of said fabric. The surface textile layer may be formed by surface treatment of the fabric, or by bonding a suitable textile web to the surface of the fabric.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: an air-impermeable backing sheet having an aperture for attachment of a suction element; an air-permeable screen layer on a wound facing side of the backing sheet; and a substantially air-impermeable hydrogel layer extending across a wound facing side of said screen layer and joined in substantially airtight fashion to a periphery of said backing sheet around said screen layer. Also provided is a wound treatment system comprising a wound dressing according to the invention and a source of suction in fluid communication with said aperture.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: an air-impermeable backing sheet having an aperture for attachment of a suction element; an air-permeable screen layer on a wound facing side of the backing sheet; and a substantially air-impermeable hydrogel layer extending across a wound facing side of said screen layer and joined in substantially airtight fashion to a periphery of said backing sheet around said screen layer. Also provided is a wound treatment system comprising a wound dressing according to the invention and a source of suction in fluid communication with said aperture.

Abstract: Use of a moulding composition comprising a polymer and a setting agent for wound debridement, wherein said use comprises adding water to said moulding composition to form a moulding fluid, applying said moulding fluid to a surface of a wound, allowing said moulding fluid to set in contact with said surface to form a solid covering on said surface, followed by removing said solid covering from the wound. The alginate composition adheres strongly to bacterial biofilms on the wound, whereby the biofilms are removed with the alginate composition. The moulding composition may be used in conjunction with a staining agent that undergoes a colour change in the presence of bacteria or bacterial polysaccharides to show the presence and removal of the biofilm. Also provided are methods of treating wounds using the compositions.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: an air-impermeable backing sheet having an aperture for attachment of a suction element; an air-permeable screen layer on a wound facing side of the backing sheet; and a substantially air-impermeable hydrogel layer extending across a wound facing side of said screen layer and joined in substantially airtight fashion to a periphery of said backing sheet around said screen layer. Also provided is a wound treatment system comprising a wound dressing according to the invention and a source of suction in fluid communication with said aperture.

Abstract: A wound dressing material comprising a solid substrate having interstitial spaces therein, wherein said substrate is a hydrophilic open-cell foam material, and wherein said interstitial spaces are at least partially filled by a hydrophilic polyurethane foam different from said substrate foam material. Also provided is a method of making a porous wound dressing material comprising the steps of: providing a substrate of a solid hydrophilic first foam material; applying a fluid or gel polyurethane foam prepolymer mixture to at least one surface of said solid substrate; and curing said prepolymer in contact with said solid substrate.

Abstract: A shut-off valve assembly (1) comprising: a body (2) having a chamber (20) with an inlet (21) and outlet (22) for fluid; a valve seat (3); a baffle housing (4); and a valve member (10) having a sealing member (101) for sealing the valve seat (3) and a piston (102) extending from the sealing member (101). The sealing member (101) is movable between a shielded position, whereby the sealing member (101) seals the baffle housing (4) in a fluid-tight manner and an unshielded position whereby the sealing member (101) does not seal the baffle housing (4) and is movable by the fluid stream against the valve seat (3), and a drive comprising a first solenoid (11) that, when energised, moves the sealing member (101) from the shielded position, and a second solenoid (12) that, when energised, moves the sealing member (101) from the valve seat (3).

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: a water-absorbent fabric comprising at least about 10 wt. % of hydrogel-forming absorbent fibers based on the dry weight of the fabric; and an adhesion-resistant, water-permeable wound contacting surface textile layer that is substantially continuously bonded to at least one surface of said fabric. The surface textile layer may be formed by surface treatment of the fabric, or by bonding a suitable textile web to the surface of the fabric.

Abstract: An apparatus and method using a program protection engineering (P2E) toolkit to provide program protection engineering, security management, and report preparation for sensitive and classified projects. The P2E toolkit is an implementation of security policies, procedures, and methodologies associated with acquisition programs. Acquisition programs may range from large-scale classified systems for the government to sensitive corporate acquisition programs focusing on company proprietary or intellectual property issues. Specifically, the P2E toolkit provides end-to-end program protection engineering, security management, and report preparation for sensitive and classified programs throughout the program lifecycle, and assists security professionals and program managers to make appropriate decisions to protect their acquisition programs from compromise due to foreign intelligence threats or corporate/industrial espionage.

Abstract: A shut-off valve assembly for regulating the flow of fluid through or from a fluid line. The assembly comprises: a body attachable to or within a fluid line and having a chamber therein with inlets and an outlet for fluid from the fluid line; a valve seat that provides the outlet; a baffle arrangement including a baffle housing; a valve member having a sealing member movable between a shielded position, whereby the sealing member is substantially shielded by the baffle housing from a fluid stream moving from the inlets to outlet, and an unshielded position, whereby the sealing member can be forced by the fluid stream against the valve seat to seal the outlet; and a solenoid-spring drive for moving the sealing member between the shielded and unshielded positions.

Abstract: A shut-off valve assembly for regulating the flow of fluid through or from a fluid line The assembly comprises: a body attachable to or within a fluid line and having a chamber therein with inlets and an outlet for fluid from the fluid line; a valve seat that provides the outlet; a baffle arrangement including a baffle housing; a valve member having a sealing member movable between a shielded position, whereby the sealing member is substantially shielded by the baffle housing from a fluid stream moving from the inlets to outlet, and an unshielded position, whereby the sealing member can be forced by the fluid stream against the valve seat to seal the outlet; and a solenoid-spring drive for moving the sealing member between the shielded and unshielded positions.