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: 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 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: 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 diagnostic test apparatus comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end; a swab or a biopsy punch mounted on the first end of a shaft; and a cap for fitting over the first end of the shaft, said cap containing at least one diagnostic test reagent; wherein the shaft comprises at least one cap engagement element located proximate to the first end, said element extending radially outwardly of the swab or the biopsy punch for engagement with the cap to retain the cap on the shaft. Also provided are diagnostic caps for use in the test apparatus having a small internal volume and at least one diagnostic test reagent located in or on an absorbent plug inside the cap. Also provided are diagnostic caps for use in the test apparatus having a housing extending from a sample receiving port, said housing defining a lateral flow path for the sample.

Abstract: A diagnostic test apparatus comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end; a swab or a biopsy punch mounted on the first end of a shaft; and a cap for fitting over the first end of the shaft, said cap containing at least one diagnostic test reagent; wherein the shaft comprises at least one cap engagement element located proximate to the first end, said element extending radially outwardly of the swab or the biopsy punch for engagement with the cap to retain the cap on the shaft. Also provided are diagnostic caps for use in the test apparatus having a small internal volume and at least one diagnostic test reagent located in or on an absorbent plug inside the cap. Also provided are diagnostic caps for use in the test apparatus having a housing extending from a sample receiving port, said housing defining a lateral flow path for the sample.

Abstract: A wound dressing for vacuum therapy comprising: a cover configured for placement over the wound to maintain a reduced pressure over the wound and adapted for communication with a source of vacuum, and a screen structure for placement between the cover and the wound, wherein the screen structure is adapted to remove or inactivate undesirable components from the wound environment and/or to concentrate desirable components present in the wound environment. Also provided are kits for the assembly of such wound dressings, and systems comprising the wound dressings in combination with a source of vacuum.

Abstract: A packaged wound dressing comprising an elongated, absorbent cavity wound dressing that is packaged in contact with two opposed sheets of microorganism-impermeable plastic sheet material, wherein the opposed sheets contact the dressing to form a microorganism-impermeable barrier around the circumference of the dressing in at least a region of the dressing. The invention also provides a method of making such a wound dressing comprising the steps of: providing an elongated microorganism-impermeable plastic sheet; providing one or more mold cavities in said elongated sheet for molding an elongated wound dressing; introducing a fluid precursor of a solid wound dressing material into said one or more mold cavities; and allowing said fluid precursor to set in said plurality of mold cavities.