Abstract: A wound closure system (10) for closing a wound on a patient comprises an elongated flexible backing strip (12) having a length and width sufficient to secure facing edges of the wound in close juxtaposition to one another, the backing strip comprising a first portion disposed between the ends and adapted to overlie the facing edges of the wound, and second and third portions disposed on either side of the first portion and each provided with a predetermined number of spaced-apart apertures extending through the backing strip from one surface thereof to the other; and a first pressure-sensitive adhesive (18) coated on at least part of the first surface of the backing strip (12) including the second and third portions thereof, to adhere the backing strip to the patient with the facing edges of the wound being in close juxtaposition.

Abstract: A biocompatible monomer composition includes: (A) at least one monomer, which forms a medically acceptable polymer, (B) at least one plasticizing agent present in the composition in an amount of from 0.5 wt. % to 15 wt. % of the composition; and (C) at least one acidic stabilizing agent having a pKa ionization constant of from about 1 to about 7. The composition can be applied to a variety of materials and is particularly suitable as in vivo tissue adhesive. A method of joining together in vivo two surfaces, e.g.