Abstract: A light guide comprising a polymeric layer at least 25 percent transmissive over at least a 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range from 180 to 280 nm over a distance of at least 100 micrometers and visible light transparent reflecting layers (UV-C mirror) that are at least 50 percent reflective over at least 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range from 180 to 280 nm over an incident light angle of 0 to 90 degrees and that are at least 25 percent transmissive of visible light over at least 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm over an incident light angle of 0 to 90 degrees. The light guide is useful, for example, for antimicrobial surfaces.

Abstract: A kit (1500) for negative pressure and immobilization therapy includes a negative pressure dressing (100) configured to define a sealed volume between a patient's skin and the negative pressure dressing when applied to the patient, a pump (200) configured to be placed in pneumatic communication with the negative pressure dressing and operable to displace air from the sealed volume, and a heat-moldable splint (900). The heat-moldable splint includes a plurality of flexible tubes formed of a first material and coupled together to form a web and a second material positioned in the flexible tubes and having a lower softening or melting point than the first material.

Abstract: A product authentication system includes one or more image capture devices that provide video data representative of an enhanced safety environment. The product authentication system can determine the continuous presence of a designated product during a time period, for example, during performance of a task in an enhanced safety environment. The video data can be spatiotemporally sliced according to multiple orientations with respect to the time axis and the two spatial axes. A plurality of data streams are created In where the slices of each respective data stream have the same orientation. The data streams are processed according to one or more machine learning models, such as convolutional neural networks trained to determine whether the designated product is continuously present in the video data. An indicator of the continuous presence of the designated product can be provided to a downstream system and used to indicate whether functions of the downstream system are to be performed.

Abstract: Medical compositions and methods of suppressing microbial virulence are provided. By suppressing virulence, administration and/or application of the medical compositions can be used to prevent, mitigate, or treat a microbial infection. More specifically, the medical compositions include a phosphonate-containing polymer. The phosphonate-containing polymers can suppress the expression of various virulence factors without destroying all microbes that may be present.

Abstract: An antiseptic composition comprising a multivalent cationic antiseptic present in an amount of 0.05 to 0.5 percent based upon the ready to use composition; an anionic compound which is water soluble in an amount of at least 0.1 grams in 100 grams water at 23 deg C., wherein the anionic compound is present at a concentration which would result in precipitation of the multivalent cationic antiseptic in the composition without a solubilizing surfactant present; wherein the composition, with the antiseptic, surfactant and anionic compound combined with each other, is free of precipitate.

Abstract: Polymeric tubing containing extractable component(s) for use in medical articles include a tube and a vapor-deposited coating of a barrier polymer covering at least a portion of the tube. The barrier polymer is derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The vapor-deposited polymer coating reduces the extraction of extractable component(s) from the tube. The barrier polymer is parylene or a copolymer of parylene. The polymer coated tubing can be used in stethoscopes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that include contacting a skin surface with a first liquid composition; and then contacting in the skin surface with a cationic coated article loaded with a second liquid composition, while at least some portion of the first liquid composition remains on the skin surface, wherein one or both of the first liquid composition or the second liquid composition includes acrylate copolymer particles dispersed therein, the acrylate copolymer particles including the reaction product of a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture including monomers, the monomers including from about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % of at least one high Tg monomer where the wt % of the high Tg monomer is with respect to the total weight of the monomers in the reaction mixture; and from about 20 wt % to about 80 wt % of at least one low Tg monomer where the wt % of the low Tg monomer is with respect to the total weight of the monomers in the reaction mixture, wherein the particles have a number average diameter of at lea

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a warming system. The warming system includes a light device having a light source configured to be positioned proximate to a patient support having a patient support surface. The light source can also be configured to generate infrared radiation. The warming system can also include a flexible sheet having a first side configured to reflect at least some of the generated infrared radiation from the light device toward a portion of the patient support surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solid composition that includes a polycarboxylic acid chelator component mixed with a water-soluble plasticizer component, and a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer dissolved and/or dispersed in the plasticizer component. The water-soluble plasticizer component has a boiling point >105° C. and has a formula weight of less than 5000 atomic mass units. The composition comprises <10 wt % of a solvent that has a boiling point ?100 degrees C. When mixed with deionized water at a 1:9 mass ratio, the composition forms an aqueous mixture having a pH of about 2.5-5.5. Articles that include a substrate with a first major surface having a layer comprising the composition adhered to the first major surface are also provided. Methods of treating a biofilm or a wound site with the articles are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosed antiseptic composition has improved stability, flow control and tinting ability is provided. The antiseptic composition comprises a cationic antiseptic, an anionic tinting agent, a polymer that serves as a stabilizer and preferably a viscosity builder, an alcohol-based solvent and optionally a plasticizer and viscosity builder.

Abstract: Compositions including a quaternary amine antiseptic component having a concentration of at least about 0.04% by weight; a poly carboxylic acid chelator having a concentration of at least about 0.05 M and/or an alphahydroxy acid buffer having a concentration of at least about 0.05 M; a (C8-C12) 1,2 alkane diol; and optionally water are provided. The compositions have a pH greater than or equal to 3.5 and less than 5.5 at 23° C. In certain embodiments, water is present in the composition at a greater weight percent than each of the quaternary amine antiseptic component; the polycarboxylic acid chelator, if present; the alphahydroxy acid buffer, if present; and the (C8-C12) 1,2-alkane diol. In certain embodiments, water is present in the composition at a greater weight percent than any other component.

Abstract: A light guide comprising a polymeric layer at least 25 percent transmissive over at least a 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range from 180 to 280 nm over a distance of at least 100 micrometers and visible light transparent reflecting layers (UV-C mirror) that are at least 50 percent reflective over at least 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range from 180 to 280 nm over an incident light angle of 0 to 90 degrees and that are at least 25 percent transmissive of visible light over at least 30 nm bandwidth in a wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm over an incident light angle of 0 to 90 degrees. The light guide is useful, for example, for antimicrobial surfaces.

Abstract: Multilayer optical film comprising at least a plurality of alternating first and second optical layers. Embodiments of the multilayer optical film are useful, for example, in UV-C shield, UV-C light collimator, and UV-C light concentrator applications.

Abstract: A copolymer composition that includes a silicone copolymer, methods of making the composition, and articles that include the composition, wherein the copolymer composition includes a silicone copolymer having a backbone composition that includes: silicone segments in an amount of 5 wt-% to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer; hydrophilic segments in an amount of 40 wt-% to 75 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer; and reinforcing segments in an amount of 5 wt-% to 30 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer, wherein the reinforcing segments are derived from the reaction of one or more chain extenders with one or more multi-functional isocyanates, multi-functional carboxylic acids, multi-functional anhydrides, multi-functional esters, and/or multi-functional acid halides; wherein the silicone segments, hydrophilic segments, and reinforcing segments are connected through urea, urethane, amide, and/or oxamide linkages; wherein the hydrophilic segments

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions, especially those useful when applied topically to tissue, such as mucosal tissues (i.e., mucous membranes), that include an antimicrobial selected from the group consisting of peroxides, C6-C14 alkyl carboxylic acids, C6-C14 alkyl carboxylate ester carboxylic acids, C8-C22 mono- or polyunsaturated carboxylic acids, and antimicrobial natural oils. The compositions can also include an enhancer component, a surfactant, a hydrophobic component, and/or a hydrophilic component. Such compositions provide effective topical antimicrobial activity and are accordingly useful in the treatment and/or prevention of conditions that are caused, or aggravated by, microorganisms (including viruses).

Abstract: A system and methods for sterilizing or disinfecting articles, particularly the hollow internal areas of medical instruments are disclosed. The system includes a plasma generator having an electrode, a shield, and a dielectric gap between the electrode and the shield. A source of electrical power is connected to the plasma generator for applying an electron energy density between the electrode and the shield. A source of gas comprising water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen provides a flow of gas between the electrode and the shield, to form a plasma containing acidic and/or oxidizing species. In the exemplary system, the temperature at the shield's surface is <150° C. when the electron energy density is >0.05 eV/molecule of the gas. Also disclosed is a method for disinfecting an article contaminated with a bio-film or spores, by exposing the contaminated article to the plasma for an exposure time sufficient to achieve at least 2-log10 reduction in colony forming units.

Abstract: Methods of delaying the onset of an infection or preventing an infection caused by a microbial organism in an internal cavity of a subject are provided. Methods of killing or inactivating microorganisms in at least a portion of the urethra of a subject are provided.

Abstract: A system and methods for sterilizing and drying contaminated articles, particularly medical articles, and more particularly the hollow internal areas of medical instruments or lumens of medical endoscopes. The system includes a plasma generator having an electrode, a shield, and a dielectric gap between the electrode and the shield. A source of electrical power connected to the plasma generator applies an electrode energy density between the electrode and the shield. A source of a sterilizing gas precursor provides a flow of the sterilizing gas precursor through the plasma generator to generate a plasma, thereby forming a sterilizing gas including acidic and/or oxidizing species. The contaminated article is exposed to the sterilizing gas for a time sufficient to achieve a desired degree of sterilization. A turbulent flow of a drying gas is used to dry the contaminated article alternately with the exposure of the contaminated article to the sterilizing gas.

Abstract: Multilayered polymer films are configured so that successive constituent layer packets can be delaminated in continuous sheet form from the remaining film. The films are compatible with known coextrusion manufacturing techniques, and can be made without adhesive layers between layer packets that are tailored to be individually peelable from the remainder of the film. Instead, combinations of polymer compositions are used to allow non-adhesive polymer layers to be combined such that irreversible delamination of the film is likely to occur at interfaces between layer packets pairs. Some of the polymer layers, including at least one embedded layer, comprise an antimicrobial agent, and these layers may be positioned at the front of each layer packet. After the antimicrobial layer of one layer packet has been used, the packet can be peeled away to expose a pristine antimicrobial layer of the next layer packet. The antimicrobial agent may be organic.

Abstract: A composite wound dressing apparatus promotes healing of a wound via the use of a micropump system. The micropump system includes a micropump that applies a subatmospheric pressure to the wound to effectively draw wound fluid or exudate away from the wound bed, or deliver fluids to the wound bed, without the need for a cumbersome external pressure (e.g. vacuum) source. Hence, the wound dressing and micropump system is portable which allows the patient mobility that is unavailable when an external vacuum source is used.