Systems, methods, and apparatuses for increasing liquid absorption are described. Some embodiments may include a dressing having an absorbent layer containing super-absorbent material as well as ionic-exchange media (IEM). In some embodiments, the absorbent layer may include absorbent fibers. The absorbent fibers may each include a super-absorbent core surrounded by a water-permeable layer onto which ionic-exchange media (IEM) may be grafted. As liquid comes into contact with the IEM, its ionic nature may be reduced, therefore protecting the absorbent qualities of the super-absorbent material.

A composition and method for chlorine dioxide production through reaction-diffusion chemistry that facilitates the in situ generation of chlorine dioxide, wherein a dry solid composition of hydroxymethanesulfinic acid monosodium salt dihydrate (abbreviated HMS) and a chlorine dioxide precursor are activated via the addition or absorption of water to produce chlorine dioxide. The dry solid chemical composition comprises dry, safe, transportable reagents that integrate with polymeric materials such as packaging and superabsorbent and stimuli-responsive hydrogel polymers to combine with water to produce chlorine dioxide.

The invention relates to electrochemical wound dressings wherein potential damage to healthy cells and granulating tissue induced by hypochlorite and/or hypochlorous acid is reduced by enabling effective removal or build-up of substantial concentrations thereof through use of catalysts and/or scavenging/sacrificing agents. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the latter materials in medical devices and articles.

The invention relates to electrochemical wound dressings wherein potential damage to healthy cells and granulating tissue induced by hypochlorite and/or hypochlorous acid is reduced by enabling effective removal or build-up of substantial concentrations thereof through use of catalysts and/or scavenging/sacrificing agents. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the latter materials in medical devices and articles.

An embodiment includes a wound dressing comprising: a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam, including open cells, having first and second states; and a hydrogel (HG) included within the cells; wherein (a) in a first position a composite, including the SMP foam and the HG, is configured to be located proximate a hemorrhagic tissue with the SMP foam in the first state; (b) in a second position the composite is configured to be expanded to the second state against the hemorrhagic tissue when the SMP foam is plasticized at 37 C. depressing a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the SMP foam to below 25 C. Other embodiments are described herein.

Peroxides and chlorine dioxide (compounds) can be stabilized for long periods of time (years) by combining the compounds with water that has been infused with dioxytetrahydride gas. Such stabilized materials can be used to infuse soft, solid substrates that can be used as sterile wipes, wound dressings, or the like.

A medical device comprising a structure formed of polyvinyl alcohol.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for increasing liquid absorption are described. Some embodiments may include a dressing having an absorbent layer containing super-absorbent material as well as ionic-exchange media (IEM). In some embodiments, the absorbent layer may include absorbent fibers. The absorbent fibers may each include a super-absorbent core surrounded by a water-permeable layer onto which ionic-exchange media (IEM) may be grafted. As liquid comes into contact with the IEM, its ionic nature may be reduced, therefore protecting the absorbent qualities of the super-absorbent material.

A method and device for local delivery of a water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the tissue of a normal or diseased body lumen is disclosed. An expandable structure of a medical disposable device, such as a balloon of a balloon catheter, is coated with a non-durable coating which includes an amphiphilic polymer or copolymer, in embodiments polyethylene glycol, having a substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent dispersed therein. In some embodiments, the coating may also include iodine. The medical disposable device is inserted into a body lumen, and expanded to contact the non-durable coating against the body lumen and deliver the substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the body lumen tissue.

The present invention concerns antimicrobial multi-layer wound dressings having an antimicrobial agent located at one or more interfaces between opposing surfaces of the layers of the wound dressing. This improves the migration of antimicrobial agent and allows the dressing to provide a higher overall concentration of antimicrobial agent throughout the dressing. This will assist clinicians when treating wounds by reducing the microbial load at the wound bed thereby reducing the risk of wound infection.