3M Health Care launches new foam adhesive dressings for acute and chronic wounds

3M Health Care today announced the introduction of a full line of new, innovative Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Adhesive Dressings. In clinical and laboratory tests, these new adhesive foam wound dressings outperform other leading foam adhesive dressings in managing the full range of low- to high-moisture conditions that can be present in chronic and acute wounds.

“Clinical performance studies following the improvement of an adhesive foam wound dressing”

"Drawing upon direct input from clinicians and leveraging 3M's core technologies in adhesives and thin films, 3M scientists created a full line of foam adhesive dressings that offer higher fluid handling capacity and longer wear times as compared to other leading brands, offering a reduced risk of maceration and potential for greater cost savings," said Paul Keel, president of 3M Skin & Wound Care Division.

In 2009, 3M conducted a global, independent survey of more than 300 wound care professionals who were using a variety of leading foam adhesive dressing brands. The survey concluded that clinicians' needs were not being met in the areas of 'absorbency', 'length of wear time' and 'prevention of maceration.' Based on this insight, 3M modified its existing foam adhesive dressings to significantly improve the fluid management properties to be less evaporative under low moisture conditions, which helps prevent wounds from drying out, yet have extremely high evaporation when there is excess moisture, helping to prevent maceration.

This innovative, new technology was validated in laboratory bench tests and clinical studies on human subjects comparing Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Adhesive Dressings with foam adhesive dressings from five other leading manufacturers. Results demonstrated that the 3M dressings managed significantly greater amount of fluid before failure and significantly longer wear time.

At the annual Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society / World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WOCN/WCET) joint conference in Phoenix, Arizona, June 12-16, 2010, 3M will present a poster on the new Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Adhesive Dressing. The poster, "Clinical performance studies following the improvement of an adhesive foam wound dressing" (poster #4716) will be presented on Tuesday, June 15, from 7-9 a.m. (MDT) in the Phoenix Convention Center, North Building Ballroom Lobby.

For more information about 3M™ Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Adhesive Dressing, please visit www.3m.com/TegFoam-PR or call the 3M Health Care Helpline at 800-228-3957.