Herein is disclosed a composition for application to a wound comprising: a first layer comprising a skin adhesive, wherein the first layer has a wound-facing side and a non-wound-facing side and, in a first area, apertures extend through the first layer from the wound-facing side to the non-wound-facing side; and a second layer disposed on a non-wound-facing side of the first layer, the second layer comprising a polymeric film that is continuous in that it extends over and covers each of the apertures of the first layer, the second layer having a moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 500 g/m.sup.2/24 hours, measured in accordance with BS EN 13726-2:2002, wherein the composition further comprises a third layer disposed between the first layer and second layer, the third layer being a supporting layer for the first layer, the third layer having apertures therethrough, substantially corresponding to the apertures in the first layer. A method of making such a composition is also disclosed.

Non-adhesive articles include an elastomeric layer, where the elastomeric layer has a plurality of cuts arrayed in a pattern. The cuts are gaps, but the gaps are not visible to the naked eye when the article is in an unstressed state, and in a stressed state, at least some of the cuts become gaps that are visible to the naked eye. The gaps are perforations in the elastomeric layer and are apertures through which one can view through the elastomeric layer. The perforations indicate the presence of stress in the article, and the elastomeric layer has a lower effective modulus of elasticity in at least one axis than an identical elastomeric layer without the plurality of cuts.

A porous wound dressing for use in negative-pressure therapy is proposed. The wound dressing has an outer edge which defines a substantially oval or rectangular outer shape of the wound dressing with a major axis and a minor axis. The wound dressing has one or more incisions or perforations which together form one or more arc-shaped lines and serve for cutting the wound dressing to size in order to adapt the wound dressing to the shape and/or size of a wound. The one or more arc-shaped lines each extend asymmetrically with respect to the major axis and/or to the minor axis and each enclose, together with a portion of the outer edge, a segment of the wound dressing that is designed for separation from the wound dressing.

Herein is disclosed a composition comprising: a layer of water-swellable hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel has embedded therein a reinforcement sheet of liquid-water-permeable material, wherein the layer of hydrogel has a wound-facing side and a non-wound-facing side and apertures extend through the layer of hydrogel from the wound-facing side to the non-wound-facing side and through the reinforcement sheet, wherein the mean area of the apertures on at least one of the wound-facing side and non-wound-facing side of the hydrogel is at least 5 mm.sup.2.

A vented wound dressing barrier includes one or more membrane layers with a plurality of vents. The vents are cut along a perimeter of the vents through the one or more membrane layers. Each vent having a connection portion uncut relative to the one or more membrane layers thereby forming a hinge configured to allow the vents to open for drainage when exposed to fluid underlying the vented wound dressing barrier. The plurality of vents is each cut along the perimeter without removal of any of the membrane layer. The one or more membrane layers with the plurality of vents has a surface for covering a wound, the surface area in the absence of a fluid pressing on the vents having no openings or voids which reduce the surface area of a vented wound dressing barrier area covering a wound.

An improved abdominal hernia repair system is presented comprised of a silicone layer backed up with a knitted or woven polypropylene fabric layer, the silicone layer possessing a regular pattern of slits that permit equilibration of fluid pressure across the device. A variety of therapeutic substances can be applied to the hernia repair device to promote healing, including aloe and other medicinal preparations. A layer of water soluble or water insoluble anti-scar compound is also present, the preferred compound being Salinomycin. An improved inguinal hernia repair system is presented that is identical to the above except it does not contain the hydrophobic silicone component.

One subject of the present invention is a dressing essentially consisting of: an absorbent nonwoven compress formed from a mixture: of bicomponent thermal bonding non-absorbent fibers, of core-shell type, said core being made of polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, PET) and the shell being made of polyethylene; of bicomponent superabsorbent fibers of core-shell type with a core made of polyacrylonitrile and a shell made of polyacrylate; and a net fabric made from a hydrocolloid elastomer mass partially covering the face of the compress intended to come into contact with the wound. This product is especially intended to promote the healing of chronic wounds by optimizing the debridement.

Herein is disclosed a composition for application to a wound comprising: a first layer comprising a skin adhesive, wherein the first layer has a wound-facing side and a non-wound-facing side and, in a first area, apertures extend through the first layer from the wound-facing side to the non-wound-facing side; and a second layer disposed on a non-wound-facing side of the first layer, the second layer comprising a polymeric film that is continuous in that it extends over and covers each of the apertures of the first layer, the second layer having a moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 500 g/m.sup.2/24 hours, measured in accordance with BS EN 13726-2:2002, wherein the composition further comprises a third layer disposed between the first layer and second layer, the third layer being a supporting layer for the first layer, the third layer having apertures therethrough, substantially corresponding to the apertures in the first layer. A method of making such a composition is also disclosed.

A bandage for protecting a wound site in the extremity of an animal such as a dog or pet, has a body in the form of an inverted cup with a transverse wall and one or more access openings therein, a lip on the cup to fit against the animal's fur around the wound site, and a cover piece to enable selective covering of the access opening. The cup has a roughened exterior surface texture that is extremely irritating to the animal's tongue or lip, wherein the animal is discouraged from continuous licking and/or chewing on the body, and thereby inadvertently dislodging it from the wound site.

Wound dressings for use in cases of a patient suffering a penetrating chest trauma. The wound dressing includes a base layer having a lower surface facing the wound and an upper surface facing away from the wound, and an aperture therethrough for locating over the wound, and a top layer extending over the aperture and at least a part of the upper surface. The base layer is connected to the top layer such that the wound dressing can transition from an open configuration in which the aperture and an area external to the wound dressing are in fluid communication via at least one opening at a perimeter between the base layer and the top layer, to a closed configuration in which the top layer forms a seal over the aperture.