The present invention is directed to topical enzymatic wound debriding compositions with enhanced enzymatic activity. These compositions comprise a dispersed phase comprising at least one proteolytic enzyme and at least one hydrophilic polyol; and a continuous phase comprising a hydrophobic base.

An improved fibrinogen-based tissue sealing patch having a degradation time of less than two weeks is disclosed. The patch comprises a polyethylene glycol-caprolactone-lactide (PEG-CL-LA) triblock copolymer film in which the PEG-CL-LA units are preferably connected by urethane linkages and into a surface of which a fibrinogen-based sealant comprising less than 8 mg/cm.sup.2 fibrinogen and less than 10 IU/cm.sup.2 thrombin has been incorporated. In preferred embodiments, the polymer film comprises PEG having a molecular weight of between 3000 and 3500 and a CL:LA:PEG ratio of 34:2:1. Methods of production and use of the patch are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein are materials and structural elements for absorbent articles that incorporate at least one component of a chemiluminescent system configured to produce light upon contact with an aqueous system. This disclosure also relates to absorbent articles that incorporate materials or structural elements. This disclosure also relates to formulations and methods for treating materials or structural elements with one or more components of such a chemiluminescent system. Representative absorbent articles include disposable diapers and adult incontinence products. Representative chemiluminescent systems include bioluminescent systems.

Disclosed herein are materials and structural elements for absorbent articles that incorporate at least one component of a chemiluminescent system configured to produce light upon contact with an aqueous system. This disclosure also relates to absorbent articles that incorporate materials or structural elements. This disclosure also relates to formulations and methods for treating materials or structural elements with one or more components of such a chemiluminescent system. Representative absorbent articles include disposable diapers and adult incontinence products. Representative chemiluminescent systems include bioluminescent systems.

Fibrin Sealant products are used for topical hemostasis and tissue adherence. They are composed of two main reagents, fibrinogen and thrombin. When mixed in solution fibrinogen is converted to fibrin upon the addition of activated thrombin. Therefore typically these two components are stored separately in a lyophilized or liquid state, and mixed, upon or immediately before, application to a patient. While effective, these products require significant preparation that must take place immediately before application, thus delaying treatment and limiting the use of these haemostatic products to the treatment of mild forms of low pressure and low volume bleeding. Attempts to eliminate this delay and expand the usefulness and effectiveness of these products have resulted in products produced by processes that require the separation of these components and their deposition in distinct layers within the product. The processes described herein permit the mixing of fibrinogen and thrombin during product manufacture, without excessive fibrin formation. The resulting pre-mixed fibrin sealant material can then be stored in either a frozen or dried state, or suspended in a non-aqueous environment. Activation of the material to form therapeutic fibrin sealant is accomplished by permitting the product to thaw (if frozen) or by the addition of water or other aqueous fluid, including blood, or other bodily fluids, if dried or suspended in a non-aqueous environment. The resulting material can be used to make a product in which a pre-mixed form of activatable fibrin sealant is a desired component.

Fibrin Sealant products are used for topical hemostasis and tissue adherence. They are composed of two main reagents, fibrinogen and thrombin. When mixed in solution fibrinogen is converted to fibrin upon the addition of activated thrombin. Therefore typically these two components are stored separately in a lyophilized or liquid state, and mixed, upon or immediately before, application to a patient. While effective, these products require significant preparation that must take place immediately before application, thus delaying treatment and limiting the use of these haemostatic products to the treatment of mild forms of low pressure and low volume bleeding. Attempts to eliminate this delay and expand the usefulness and effectiveness of these products have resulted in products produced by processes that require the separation of these components and their deposition in distinct layers within the product. The processes described herein permit the mixing of fibrinogen and thrombin during product manufacture, without excessive fibrin formation. The resulting pre-mixed fibrin sealant material can then be stored in either a frozen or dried state, or suspended in a non-aqueous environment. Activation of the material to form therapeutic fibrin sealant is accomplished by permitting the product to thaw (if frozen) or by the addition of water or other aqueous fluid, including blood, or other bodily fluids, if dried or suspended in a non-aqueous environment. The resulting material can be used to make a product in which a pre-mixed form of activatable fibrin sealant is a desired component.

Disclosed are solid and frozen haemostatic materials and dressings consisting essentially of a fibrinogen component and a fibrinogen activator. Also disclosed are methods of treating internal wounded tissue in a mammal by applying one or more of these haemostatic materials and dressings, particularly for the treatment of injured tissue via endoscopic or minimally-invasive surgical techniques.

Disclosed are solid and frozen haemostatic materials and dressings consisting essentially of a fibrinogen component and a fibrinogen activator. Also disclosed are methods of treating internal wounded tissue in a mammal by applying one or more of these haemostatic materials and dressings, particularly for the treatment of injured tissue via endoscopic or minimally-invasive surgical techniques.

The invention relates to an indicator dressing with a carrier element, which is, at least in regions, provided with a marker material, which material, in a specific microbial contamination, changes a color. According to the invention, a first marker material is provided, which, in a first specific microbial contamination, changes color, and at least one second marker material is provided which changes color in a second specific microbial contamination, which material differs from the first microbial contamination. The invention moreover includes a method for indicating a contamination with this indicator dressing.

The invention relates to an indicator dressing with a carrier element, which is, at least in regions, provided with a marker material, which material, in a specific microbial contamination, changes a color. According to the invention, a first marker material is provided, which, in a first specific microbial contamination, changes color, and at least one second marker material is provided which changes color in a second specific microbial contamination, which material differs from the first microbial contamination. The invention moreover includes a method for indicating a contamination with this indicator dressing.