A bandage for use at an aggressive bleeding site of a patient is disclosed. The bandage includes a stretchable wrap, an auxiliary strap, a primary absorbent body, and at plural secondary absorbent bodies. The primary absorbent body is located on the inner surface of the wrap. The wrap is arranged to be wrapped about and tightly encircle a portion of the body of a patient at which the bleeding site is located to cause the primary absorbent body to apply pressure thereto. The auxiliary strap is secured to the wrap and is normally held in stowed position on the wrap, but arranged to be moved to an extended position whereupon the secondary absorbent bodies overlies said primary absorbent body and apply pressure thereto and to the underlying aggressive bleeding site.

A water resistant light compression and/or retention bandage for retaining an orthopedic splint, padding or medical device against a body part, includes a knitted fabric formed of synthetic yarns having a moisture vapor transmission rate from an inner face of the bandage to an outer face of the bandage of at least 500 g/m.sup.2 per 24 hours.

A dressing or device to distribute pressure for the purpose of prevention and treatment of wounds and intact skin is provided. The pressure distributing properties are achieved by a closed cell foam material that is in direct contact with the intact skin or wound and that can also have the ability to manage and absorb moisture. These unique characteristics creates a flexible, and easy to use dressing that can be cut to size and applied to any desired location on a patient.

Included are articles such as garments including polymer film compositions to alter the stress profile of the garment which is exhibited during wear of the garment. The polymer film may be bonded to the fabric to provide a fabric/film laminate.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wound dressing with elastic properties for use with a human or an animal. The wound dressing includes a plurality of individual segments, each segment connected to at least one other segment by an elastic connector, and each segment having at least two perforated layers, with at least one layer having a plurality of protrusions. The wound dressing further includes a plurality of spacing elements, with each spacing element disposed between adjacent segments and retained by either the adjacent segments or the elastic connector.

A reduced-pressure, wound closure system is presented that generates a closing force on a surface wound and optionally provides reduced pressure to a body cavity or tissue site. The sealed contracting member, when placed under reduced pressure, generates the closing force. One illustrative system includes a first attachment member and a second attachment member, a sealed contracting member coupled to the first attachment member and the second attachment member, and wherein the closing force is generated between the first attachment member and the second attachment member when reduced pressure is supplied to the sealed contracting member. Other systems and methods are presented.

The present invention relates to dressings such as bandages or tapes having improved extensibility and conformability to human skin and joints.

The present invention relates to dressings such as bandages or tapes having improved extensibility and conformability to human skin and joints.

The present invention relates to dressings such as bandages or tapes having improved extensibility and conformability to human skin and joints.

The present invention relates to dressings such as bandages or tapes having improved extensibility and conformability to human skin and joints.