Abstract: A reinforced suture strip that incorporates resilient bands oriented parallel to one another along a longitudinal axis of the suture strip. Each band includes a semirigid strip of resilient material, said strip generally extending substantially the length of the suture strip, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suture strip. The reinforced suture strip inhibits or minimizes both abductive and transverse movement by the opposing sides of flesh about an incisive wound. The present invention also comprises in some of its embodiments methods and processes for treating wounds using reinforced suture strips as described herein.

Abstract: A dressing that comprises a contact layer for contacting a wound, with the contact layer including silicone; a foam-based hydrophilic middle layer that carries a metal-based antimicrobial agent; and a backing layer that prevents moisture within the dressing from escaping into the air through evaporation. Silicone in the contact layer interacts with the wound to minimize the appearance of scar tissue. Moisture, either applied beforehand or from the wound exudate, travels through the porous contact layer into the foam middle layer. There, the moisture acts to release metal ions from controlled-release mechanisms, such as zeolites containing the metal ions. The ions then travel within the moisture into the wound, where they act to kill bacteria and other infectious microorganisms and to prevent infections from gaining a foothold. Many embodiments, for the metal-based antimicrobial agent, use silver ions or a combination of silver ions and other metal ions.

Abstract: An antimicrobial dressing comprising a hydrophobic, porous, meshy, silicone-coated contact layer and a fibrous substrate layer that carries and releases a metal-based antimicrobial agent to prevent infection. In some embodiments, the contact layer comprises a mesh of silicone-coated polyethylene fibers. The silicone in the contact layer helps to reduce the appearance of scars as wounds heal. In some embodiments, the substrate layer comprises a fibrous mesh in which some or all of the fibers are coated in a zeolite carrying metal ions. When the dressing encounters moisture, and moisture penetrates to the substrate layer, the moisture acts to release the antimicrobial metal ions from the zeolites. The ions then migrate through the porous, meshy contact layer into the wound, where they kill microorganisms that cause infection.