Spandra: a sustained release battlefield wound dressing.

In 1981, our laboratories developed a family of elastomers which could be cured by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Curing by UV radiation was a significant advance in chemistry, since it allowed ultra-fast curing of elastomers in a matter of seconds, as compared to several hours at 110 degrees C for conventional heat curing. We applied for a patent based on this technology, and the patent was allowed in mid-1984 [29]. Based on this technology, Thermedics submitted a proposal to the US Army for the development of a sustained-release battlefield wound dressing containing antibiotics and coagulants. The drugs were evenly distributed in the oligomer matrix, and subsequently cured in seconds under UV illumination, without the use of heat, organic solvents or water. Because delicate drugs are not subjected to heat, organic solvents or water, the pharmacological activity of the drugs is insured. Therefore, theoretically any drug may be incorporated into our dressing. Sustained release dressings were first developed at Thermedics in 1983, spurred by a contract from the US Army Medical Research and Development Command. Under this contract, the Company developed a new type of wound dressing capable of accelerating the healing process, retarding infection, and minimizing pain. Based on our TECOFLEX materials technology, the dressing performs like temporary artificial skin. Its transmission properties for oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor are similar to those of intact skin. Thus, while excluding bacteria from the wound site, the dressing maintains an optimal moist environment for the promotion of rapid healing. The new drawing shown in Figure 10 minimizes pain during healing by preventing dehydration and shrinkage in the wound. Patient comfort is also enhanced by the incorporation of a special fabric which imparts flex properties to the bandage that are almost identical to those of human skin, with greater stretch in one direction than in another. This also facilitates application to complex body contours by only one attendant, an important feature in both hospital and emergency situations. Materials currently in use in hospitals are difficult to handle, requiring two or three nurses to apply large dressings. Thermedics' military wound dressing not only has the significant advantage of ease of application, but this dressing can also be used for delivery of drugs to a specific site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)