Versiva^® XC^™ Gelling Foam Dressings Manage Exudate and Minimize Pain

Versiva^® XC^™ (ConvaTec, Princeton, NJ) Gelling Foam Dressings with Hydrofiber® are now available in both adhesive and nonadhesive formulations for treating acute and chronic wounds.

Two recently published Phase II studies concerning leg and pressure ulcer management have shown the dressings to be effective in promoting wound healing by managing exudates, protecting the surrounding skin, and minimizing patient discomfort.

Versiva’s adhesive and nonadhesive dressings consist of: a waterproof polyurethane foam/film layer that protects the wound from external contaminants while managing moisture vapor transmission, an absorptive fibrous layer that gels on contact with the wound bed that provides a moist healing environment, and a wound contact layer that consists of a hydrocolloid adhesive border that gels on contact with wound fluid to support moist wound healing.

Visit http://www.convatec.com for more information.

Briggs Medical Supply Company Unveil New Digital Wound Imaging System

Briggs Medical Supply Company (Des Moines, Iowa) unveiled its new Patient Photo Record System (PPRS). PPRS combines Canon^® imaging technology with the company’s Medirule^® measurement overlay grids and other image documentation and storage products.

PPRS’s features include an automatic digital wound measurement grid, electronic capability to electronically archive and transmit images to physicians, and a security system that further prevents the digital manipulation of images after a photograph is taken.

Briggs estimates converting from a film-based system to a digital PPRS system may potentially save healthcare facilities more then $1600 annually.

Visit http://www.briggscorp.com for more information.

Study Shows BIOPATCH^® Effectively Combats Bacteria

The Johnson & Johnson (Langhorne, Pa) BIOPATCH^® Protective Disk is effective against several significant microbes, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

A recent in-vitro study compared antimicrobial properties of the BIOPATCH with 4 silver dressings and assessed the dressings efficacy against organisms primarily associated with catheter-related infections. Tests performed up to 7 days were tested against 7 different bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant species. The BIOPATCH, which contains the broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antifungal agent chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), prevented growth of 5 of the 7 microbes for the entire the test period.

Visit http://www.ethicon.com for more information.