Disclosed are materials comprising a fiber material and an agent having at least one having improved tensile strength, in particular wet tensile strength, vis-à-vis fiber materials known from the art. While these fiber materials may be of use in various fields, in particular household products, hygiene products and the like, these fiber materials are of particular use in wound treatment. Also disclosed is a method for producing these materials.

Disclosed are materials comprising a fiber material and an agent having at least one having improved tensile strength, in particular wet tensile strength, vis-à-vis fiber materials known from the art. While these fiber materials may be of use in various fields, in particular household products, hygiene products and the like, these fiber materials are of particular use in wound treatment. Also disclosed is a method for producing these materials.

Disclosed are materials comprising a fiber material and an agent having at least one having improved tensile strength, in particular wet tensile strength, vis-à-vis fiber materials known from the art. While these fiber materials may be of use in various fields, in particular household products, hygiene products and the like, these fiber materials are of particular use in wound treatment. Also disclosed is a method for producing these materials.

The wound therapy apparatus may include a wound interface sealingly securable to the skin surface around a wound bed to encloses the wound bed within an enclosed space that is fluid-tight. The wound interface may be sufficiently deformation resistant to distend at least a portion of the wound bed into the enclosed space when pressure p.sub.0 within the enclosed space is less than ambient pressure p.sub.amb. Fluid may be communicated with the enclosed space when the wound interface is sealingly secured to the skin surface in order to vary a pressure p.sub.0 within the enclosed space periodically over the pressure range p.sub.min≤p.sub.0≤p.sub.max. The variation of the pressure p.sub.0 may distend the wound bed into communication with a pad received within the enclosed space and decreases the wound bed contact with the pad. Related methods of use of the wound therapy apparatus are also disclosed.

The wound therapy apparatus may include a wound interface sealingly securable to the skin surface around a wound bed to encloses the wound bed within an enclosed space that is fluid-tight. The wound interface may be sufficiently deformation resistant to distend at least a portion of the wound bed into the enclosed space when pressure p.sub.0 within the enclosed space is less than ambient pressure p.sub.amb. Fluid may be communicated with the enclosed space when the wound interface is sealingly secured to the skin surface in order to vary a pressure p.sub.0 within the enclosed space periodically over the pressure range p.sub.min≤p.sub.0≤p.sub.max. The variation of the pressure p.sub.0 may distend the wound bed into communication with a pad received within the enclosed space and decreases the wound bed contact with the pad. Related methods of use of the wound therapy apparatus are also disclosed.

A medical device comprising a device that covers at least a portion of a patient's skin and has an inner surface designed to be in contact with the patient's skin. It contains a multi-ply knit fabric that contains a first knit ply and a second knit ply. The first knit ply contains a plurality of first yarns and forms the upper surface of the fabric. The second knit ply contains a plurality of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) yarns which forms the lower surface of the fabric. The first and second ply are integrated through combined portions formed by interlacing first yarns among the PTFE yarns, interlacing PTFE yarns among the first yarns, and interlacing a plurality of third yarns among the first and the PTFE yarns. The multi-ply knit fabric also contains a composition comprising at least one silver ion-containing compound on at least the upper surface of the multi-ply knit fabric.

A medical device comprising a device that covers at least a portion of a patient's skin and has an inner surface designed to be in contact with the patient's skin. It contains a multi-ply knit fabric that contains a first knit ply and a second knit ply. The first knit ply contains a plurality of first yarns and forms the upper surface of the fabric. The second knit ply contains a plurality of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) yarns which forms the lower surface of the fabric. The first and second ply are integrated through combined portions formed by interlacing first yarns among the PTFE yarns, interlacing PTFE yarns among the first yarns, and interlacing a plurality of third yarns among the first and the PTFE yarns. The multi-ply knit fabric also contains a composition comprising at least one silver ion-containing compound on at least the upper surface of the multi-ply knit fabric.

Nonwoven fabrics are provided that include a plurality of mono-component spunbond fibers comprising a polymeric material including a polymeric blend of (i) a TS7 value of at most about 30 as determined by a Tissue Softness Analyzer (TSA) from Emtec Innovative Testing Solutions; (ii) a HF value of at least about 40 as determined by a Tissue Softness Analyzer (TSA) from Emtec Innovative Testing Solutions; (iii) a delta value of at least 20, wherein the delta value is determined by subtracting the TS7 value from the HF value; (iv) a TS7 value that is from about 5% to about 35% lower than that of an identically constructed nonwoven fabric formed from 100% polypropylene; and (v) a HF value that is from about 5% to about 35% larger than that of an identically constructed nonwoven fabric formed from 100% polypropylene.

Nonwoven fabrics are provided that include a plurality of mono-component spunbond fibers comprising a polymeric material including a polymeric blend of (i) a TS7 value of at most about 30 as determined by a Tissue Softness Analyzer (TSA) from Emtec Innovative Testing Solutions; (ii) a HF value of at least about 40 as determined by a Tissue Softness Analyzer (TSA) from Emtec Innovative Testing Solutions; (iii) a delta value of at least 20, wherein the delta value is determined by subtracting the TS7 value from the HF value; (iv) a TS7 value that is from about 5% to about 35% lower than that of an identically constructed nonwoven fabric formed from 100% polypropylene; and (v) a HF value that is from about 5% to about 35% larger than that of an identically constructed nonwoven fabric formed from 100% polypropylene.

A method of treating a fiber includes admixing a fiber comprising a polymer comprising at least one of a vinyl acetate moiety or a vinyl alcohol moiety and having a degree of hydrolysis less than 100% with a hydrolysis agent solution to form a mixture so as to increase the degree of hydrolysis of at least a portion of the fiber.