3M Health Care Brings Convenience and Performance to Heel Dressings
While gathering customer feedback for its new line of foam dressing products, 3M Health Care heard one common refrain: changing heel dressings is a deceptively challenging task.
That input inspired the company to create an innovative solution that does for heel dressings what picture‐frame delivery does for 3M™ Tegaderm™ Transparent Dressings: turn an ordeal into a procedure that's almost effortless.
The new 3M™ Foam Adhesive Dressing– Heel Design has a unique delivery system that enables the caregiver to apply a heel dressing with one hand. In addition, no scissors are required for cutting, shaping or darting because the dressing easily conforms to the contours of the heel.
The fluid management properties – fast wicking, high absorbency and high evaporation – are collectively known as 3M Total Fluid Management and are found in all solutions in the 3M foam dressing line, including 3M™ Foam Adhesive Dressing– Heel Design.
In addition to the new 3M™ Foam Adhesive Dressing–Heel Design, 3M offers 3M™ Foam Dressings (non adhesive) in several shapes and sizes including a unique 4” x 24” roll; and 3M™ Foam Adhesive Dressings, which are designed to perform under both dry and moist skin conditions and are available in oval and square shapes.
For more information on the complete line of 3M Wound and Skin Care products, visit http://www.3M.com/healthcare
Technologies for the Future
In the remainder of this edition of News & Views we bring a different perspective regarding some new and emerging technologies in the field of wound care.
These technologies have been presented at recent wound care meetings and give a glimpse into the potential future of wound care.
A New Technology Combining the Benfits of Oxygen and Iodine
A new wound dressing technology based on biochemistry combines the benefits of oxygen delivery to the wound environment with the delivery of low level iodine.
Commercially available shortly, Oxyzyme is designed to deliver the optimal environment for healing.
The Oxyzyme dressing is a sterile, hydrogel for external use on chronic wounds. It is compatible with other treatments and dressings, e.g. compression bandages for venous stasis.
To activate the sophisticated biochemical action, the two hydrogel layers are simply brought together and placed on the wound.
Oxyzyme’s unique combination of features addresses the three key needs of a wound to promote successful healing: moisture balance, bacterial balance, autolytic debridement with the added benefit of active oxygenation.
The combination of these effects produces an environment that is conducive to healing, and make Oxyzyme dressings ideal for chronic wounds, acute wounds and for other dermatological conditions.
Oxyzyme is currently undergoing clinical trials in Canada and the UK and should be available commercially within 6–9 months. The Canadian trials are almost complete and the interim findings of this study were presented at the World Union meeting in Paris. To date the findings are highly positive with many of the patients progressing to healing.
For more information, contact: Insense Ltd, Colworth Science Park, Bedford, MK44 1LQ, UK; tel +44 1234 782870; http://www.insense.co.uk
A Metalloprotease Modulating Dressing Based on Tree Bark
DerMax is a wound dressing impregnated with an ointment based on an extract from the bark of the red oak tree (Quercus Rubra). Derived from an old folk remedy for chronic wounds, DerMax is suitable for medical use on these and other non‐responding wounds. The original Oak Bark Extract (OBE) consisted of a broad combination of trace minerals (metal) which also occur in serum and wound exudate. Further research has identified those key minerals, called Poly Hydrated Ionogens (PHI), provide the observed wound healing effect. These are now used in the new DerMax to provide a more pure, controlled product. The dressing material, a Cellulose Acetate mesh fabric, is impregnated with these metallic ions (PHI). The acetate dressing is an inert material, and the PHI formula is gradually delivered to the wound bed. In cases of moist or wet wounds, a secondary dressing may be applied on top of the DerMax to provide absorption. DerMax has an open weave and consequently, does not inhibit the drainage of wound exudates.
DerMax normalises the wound micro‐environment in such a manner that excessive inflammation is reduced, thereby facilitating re‐epithelialisation of the wound. DerMax also down‐regulates Matrix metalloproteïnases (MMPs), which play an important role in both epithelial degradation and regeneration. Recent research has shown that these MMPs are excessively over‐expressed in chronic wounds.
DerMax does not just simply inhibit these critical MMP enzymes, it regulates the induction of these out of control enzymes typically leading to complete re‐epithelialisation. DerMax wound dressing also protects the wound against mechanical trauma.
DerMax Wound Dressing is a CE class IIb device and is indicated for a variety of both acute and chronic wounds. DerMax is available in most European markets. For more information, please contact: Dermagenics Europe BV, Modelleur 33, 5171 SL Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands; tel +31 (0) 416 286 100; http://www.dermagenics.net
New Hydrogel Dressings which Work with the Wound Both Physically and Biologically to Modify MMP’s
Theramers™, or therapeutic polymers, are synthetic polymers that combine bioactivity with a broad range desirable mechanical and physical properties. Rimon Therapeutics Inc is commercialising a growing portfolio of these “drug‐like” materials.
One of Rimon Therapeutics’ Theramers™ induces new blood vessel development (angio‐ genesis) in wounds or other ischemic tissue.
Another Theramer™ inhibits the activity of a ubiquitous group of enzymes that are implicated in many conditions in which tissue is weakened or destroyed.
Rimon Therapeutics is also developing various “enabling” polymer technologies, including a polymer that changes from a liquid to a strong gel reversibly around body temperature (thermoreversible gel) and multi‐functional molecules that enable controlled degradation of Rimon's polymers.
The advanced polymers of Rimon Therapeutics have broad therapeutic, drug delivery, surgical and cosmetic applications. First to clini‐ cal trials will be a novel liquid dressing for chronic, difficult‐to‐heal wounds and filler for cosmetic procedures, specifically the long‐term treatment of wrinkles. For more information please contact: Rimon Therapeutics Ltd, 59 Adelaide St. East, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1K6; E‐mail: may@rimontherapeutics.com; tel +416 977 6363 (office).
Novel Hydrogel Technology Redefines Wound Dressings
Technology has made considerable progress from traditional gauze dressings and first‐generation modern products.
The characteristics of high‐absorbency sheet hydrogels are perfect as the centerpiece of the next generation of wound dressings. For post‐operative, chronic, traumatic or burns care, hydrogel sheets can outperform many aspects of hydrocolloids, foams and films.
A new proprietary hydrogel technology, from FirstWater, UK, is already being exploited in both the Professional and Consumer Wound Care markets. These developments capitalise on FW's ability to control the absorption, donation and transport properties of its various hydrogels tailoring them to the specific characteristics required for wounds of varying etiologies.
First Water's new generation of hydrogels have addressed the performance issues which made first generation hydrogels difficult to use in a practical clinical setting, as well as proving to be an efficient delivery medium for various additives.
FW now has a range of fully CE‐marked dressings available for private label and the capability to develop customised solutions in conjunction with global partners looking to produce next generation product variants.
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Hydroskin – Transparent, highly breathable, low profile PU film dressing with skin‐friendly, low trauma hydrogel adhesive.
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Hydroform Cool – High water content hydrogel cooling, absorbent slab gel for burns, scalds, post‐plastic surgery or radiotherapy and chronic leg ulcer wounds.
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Hydroform – for exuding wounds – available with or without an adhesive border.
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Hydronet – Hydrogel non adherent wound contact layer with apertures allowing for passage of wound exudate, for heavily exuding wounds such as burns, donor sites and nail avulsions.
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Hydrosponge – Foamed hydrogel with rapid absorbency for the treatment of bleeding wounds and provision of moist wound healing.
A number of other dressing gel formulations and dressing designs are in development and will be available in early 2005.
Contact: First Water Ltd, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 2RB, UK; tel: +44 (0) 1672 522133; e‐mail: mail@first-water.com
The Third Book in the Trends in Wound Care Series is Recently Launched
Following on from the marked success of Volumes 1 and 2, the third volume of Trends in Wound Care refines and focuses the coverage of previous volumes to specific key areas of topical interest. The overall theme is of improved patient outcomes and reduced morbidity associated with wounds.
This series of books are multi‐contributor text tackling the current trends in wound care. The areas highlighted include: cost effectiveness of wound management; wound colonisation and infection; development of a standardised approach to wound care in the ICU; causes of leg ulceration in the diabetic patient; applying the principles of infection control in wound care; developments in wound care for difficult to manage wounds; the importance of wound documentation and classification; the importance of patients’ nutritional status; malnutrition and pressure ulcers.
These books are edited by Dr Richard White, a freelance Medical Writer and Clinical Research Consultant. Further information can be obtained from: e‐mail: Richard@medicalwriter.co.uk