The present invention is produced as a polymerized peptide prepared by oxidatively cross-linking collagen-like peptides having the triple-helical structure containing three peptide chains each containing multiple cysteine (Cys) residues. This polymerized peptide can be processed into a hydrogel and a thin membrane sheet before use, and is capable of imparting a particular physiological function such as cellular adhesion by incorporating functional amino acid sequences present on biological polymers. Further, the present invention provides a method for producing the abovementioned polymerized peptide and the like; and use applications employing the same, such as cell culturing, wound dressing, and compositions including regenerative medical materials and research materials.

The present invention relates to an expandable plug body for use in a vagina which is expandable at a predetermined value in an aqueous solution and has an expansion value of 1 to 30 at saturated water absorption. Effective components may be immersed in the interior of the expandable plug body, or dissolved and dispersed in the material wrapping the expandable plug body. The expandable plug body is primarily used in the vagina. The present invention provides an expandable plug body having some unique physical properties such as expanding at a predetermined expansion value, expanding at a specific pH value, and periodically expanding, so that it has a good performance when used as a medicine, a cosmetic, and a disinfection product. After the application of the original liquid of the expandable plug body onto the vagina for 35 min, antibacterial rates of which on E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans are all in the range of 8995%.

A package comprises: wrapped absorbent articles comprising: an absorbent article having an absorber; and a wrapper for individually wrapping the absorbent article, the absorbent article being placed on the wrapper and folded together with the wrapper, and the absorbent article being wrapped individually by the wrapper; and a bag containing the plurality of wrapped absorbent articles, wherein the wrapped absorbent articles are provided with a perfume, at least one surface of the bag comprises: aperture through which the perfume of the wrapped absorbent articles contained in the bag can pass; and a perfume indicator for indicating an existence of the perfume, a compressibility of the package is 10% or more when a load of 1.35 kg in weight is applied in an area of 100 mm200 mm of the package for ten seconds, and a compression resilience of the package is 95% or more after ten seconds has passed after removal of the load.

To provide a disposable diaper enabling reduction in re-wet amount and having an excellent speed of incorporating liquid regardless of concentration and configuration of a water-absorbing agent in an absorbent material.

A water-absorbing agent having excellent Gel Capillary Absorption (GCA) and Free Gel Bed Permeability (FGBP) is obtained by crushing a crosslinked hydrogel polymer obtained in a polymerization step to have a specific weight average particle diameter while fluid retention capacity and a surface tension of a water-absorbing agent are adjusted in a specific range, drying the crushed crosslinked hydrogel polymer, and then adding a liquid permeability enhancer thereto during surface crosslinking or after surface crosslinking.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for modulating proteases including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), elastase, and bacterial protease in a negative pressure therapy system are described. A mesh having a sacrificial substrate is included. The sacrificial substrate includes a plurality of collagen fibers reinforced with a supporting material and intersecting with each other to form a network of collagen fibers having a plurality openings. The openings of the plurality of openings have an average area between about 0.5 mm.sup.2 and about 20 mm.sup.2 to permit the flow of negative pressure through the mesh. The sacrificial substrate can also include oxidized regenerated cellulose.

A method to stop bleeding at a puncture site of an artery on a patient's arm includes wrapping a flexible band of a hemostatic device around at least a portion of the patient's arm, wherein the hemostatic device also comprises a more rigid member that is more rigid than the flexible band, a balloon, and a visually identifiable marker. The method also involves wrapping the flexible band around at least the portion of the patient's arm while the balloon is in an uninflated state and while an introducer sheath is in place at the puncture site. The visually identifiable marker is used to position the balloon in overlying relation to the puncture site while viewing the puncture site through the balloon and through the more rigid member. Fluid is introduced into the balloon to inflate the balloon to apply a compression force against the puncture site.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a neutralized matrix of non-antigenic collagenous material comprising the steps of: a) preparing an acidic solution of non-antigenic collagenous material, b) pouring the solution of a) into a mold in order to form a layer, c) lyophilizing the layer of b) in order to obtain an acidic matrix of non-antigenic collagenous material, d) sterilizing the acidic matrix obtained in c) with ethylene oxide in order to obtain a neutralized matrix of non-antigenic collagenous material. The invention also relates to the matrices obtained and to surgical implants comprising such matrices.

A wound care product is provided. It comprises a sealed chamber in which a wound care article is arranged around a support member in such a manner that a curved portion of the wound care article is in contact with the support member. The curved portion interconnects two other portions on opposite sides of the support member.

A plaster dispenser for holding a plaster pack from which plasters may be removed individually. A rear wall of the dispenser limits movement of the plaster pack in a rearward direction; and first and second shoulders of an openable and closeable gate limit movement of the pack in a forward direction. When the gate is opened, movement of the pack is no longer limited in the forward direction, to make it possible to remove the plaster pack from the dispenser. The dispenser may from part of a first aid kit container.

The invention provides a solution to the drawbacks associated with conventional alginate dressings. This invention features improved alginate dressings or bandages as well as a fabrication process that results in an alginate sheet that is preloaded with drug, can be stored in a freeze-dried state, and is compliant and ready to use at the time of administration.