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The advent of modern wound care management constitutes one of the most innovative applications of medical device technology. The foundation for wound care recent advances has been built upon the developments achieved in polymer technology over the last three decades. New and unique materials have been engineered to provide properties with significant technical and clinical benefits. These new wound care products were made possible by the convergence of three interrelated disciplines: (1) more complete understanding of the underlying principles of dermal wound healing processes, (2) new elastomeric polymers capable of being fabricated into protective dressings, and (3) advances in breathable adhesive technology. The following discussion provides a critical review of the current status of technology and the worldwide opportunities for improved wound management products. Particular attention is focused on the clinical applications of the newer, breathable dressing products, which approximate a temporary synthetic artificial skin.

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Polyurethanes have unique mechanical and biologic properties that make them ideal for many implantable devices. However, certain polyurethanes are affected by some in vivo degradation mechanisms. For example, poly(ester)urethanes are subject to hydrolytic degradation and are no longer used in long-term implanted devices. Poly(ether)urethanes while hydrolytically stable, are subject to oxidative degradation in several forms, including environmental stress cracking and metal ion oxidation. We have developed a second-generation poly(carbonate)urethane with superior biostability. This material has been fabricated by our patented method into small diameter microporous vascular grafts. We evidenced the biodurability of our vascular graft by in vitro qualification tests which compared the poly(carbonate)urethane with a traditional poly(ether)urethane. This poly(carbonate)urethane graft has also proven to be biodurable in in vivo experimental implants up to twenty months duration with no evidence of hydrolysis or environmental stress cracking (ESC).

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