A material and apparel that positively affect the health and well-being of a mammal include fibers that are formed with a semiconductor. Upon contact of the material or apparel with a region of the mammal's body, a positive effect occurs that relates to the health and wellbeing of that mammal. The material includes a region that includes an expanse. The expanse is formed with a semiconductor and constructed for contact with the skin of the mammal. The apparel has a body that includes a region that has a wearable form made of a semiconductor, and is constructed for making contact with a human body when the human wears the apparel.

The present invention relates to wound dressings. In particular, the invention relates to antimicrobial wound dressings, methods of making the same and uses of the same. The wound dressing of the present invention comprises a wound contact layer and an absorption layer, wherein the wound contact layer comprises at least one antimicrobial agent and wherein the wound contact layer is compressed and/or wherein the wound contact layer has a density of greater than 0.06 g/cm.sup.3. The wound dressing of the present invention provides an absorbent, conformable and anti-microbial medical device that may be used in a variety of medical situations, including post and/or pre-operative.

The present invention relates to wound dressings. In particular, the invention relates to antimicrobial wound dressings, methods of making the same and uses of the same. The wound dressing of the present invention comprises a wound contact layer and an absorption layer, wherein the wound contact layer comprises at least one antimicrobial agent and wherein the wound contact layer is compressed and/or wherein the wound contact layer has a density of greater than 0.06 g/cm.sup.3. The wound dressing of the present invention provides an absorbent, conformable and anti-microbial medical device that may be used in a variety of medical situations, including post and/or pre-operative.

Some arrangements disclosed herein relate to devices and methods for treating a wound, comprising applying negative pressure to the wound through a cover applied over a wound, monitoring the internal pressure in the wound, and controlling the closure of the wound by controlling the amount that a wound packing material positioned under the cover collapses within the wound based on the monitored internal pressure. The wound packing material collapse can be controlled to ensure that the monitored internal pressure does not exceed a threshold value. Additionally, some embodiments or arrangements disclosed herein relate to a visualization element to visualize a location of a wound surface. The visualization element can comprise a radiopaque member that is configured to be positioned on or adjacent to a surface of an open wound.

A negative pressure wound closure system and methods for using such a system are described. Preferred embodiments of the invention facilitate closure of the wound by preferentially contracting to provide for movement of the tissue. Some embodiments may include wound closure devices built from smaller units that are modular, assemble-able and/or customizable.

A customized external cranioplasty includes a rigid section and a rim at least one of attached to or integral with the rigid section and extending at least partially around a periphery of the rigid section. The rigid section has a size and shape to substantially match a cranial defect and includes an impact-resistant material to provide protection and support to a user due to the cranial defect. The rim facilitates secure and comfortable contact of the customized external cranioplasty to the user's head. A method of producing a customized external cranioplasty includes receiving three-dimensional imaging data for at least a portion of a subject's skull that has a cranial defect: segmenting the cranial defect region from a surrounding portion of the subject's skull to obtain a surface requiring support by the customized external cranioplasty; and producing a rigid section of the customized external cranioplasty using said surface requiring support obtained from the segmenting.

A wearable device for at least one of icing, heating and compressing a user's body part is disclosed. The wearable device comprises an inner part and an outer part. The outer part is arranged with the inner part such that the outer part surrounds the inner part. A compartment is defined by the space between the outer part and the inner part and above the first attaching means. A compression force is provided by the second set of elastic properties compressing at least one of the hot element and the cold element against the user's body part thereby eliminating a second attaching means above the first attaching means within the compartment. At least one handle is in attachment with the outer part. The wearable device further comprises at least one band disposed on the outer part between the outer part upper end and outer part lower end.

A wound dressing, a method of manufacturing a wound dressing, and a method of treating a patient are disclosed. The wound dressing may include an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate; and an obscuring element for at least partially obscuring a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use.

An injury contact prevention band includes an injury cover portion, a fastening portion, and a hard cover portion. The injury cover portion covers a part of a body including an injury, has flexibility, elasticity and a thickness through which an injury opening hole cuts to expose the injury. The fastening portion fastens the injury cover portion to the body. The hard cover portion covers an outer surface of the injury cover portion, has hardness and a thickness through which an injury opening hole opening cuts. The fastening portion includes first and second fastening members and a connecting member. The first fastening member extends from an end of the injury cover portion. The second fastening member extends from another end of the injury cover portion. The connecting member detachably connects an end of the first fastening member and an end of the second fastening member to each other.

Tubular bandage, in particular a finger or toe bandage which is formed as a tube comprising an outer layer which is connected to an inner layer, and wherein the outer layer has a diameter and an elasticity such that the bandage can be clamped adhesive-free around the body part to be treated, in the particular, said finger or said toe, and wherein the inner layer is made of an elastic wound-protective material, wherein said outer layer is made of an air-permeable and water-repellent material, and wherein, at the open endings, said outer layer extends in the longitudinal direction over the inner layer over a distance of more than 0.5 mm, such that the outer layer touches the body part to be treated, in particular a finger or toe, with its endings when applied.