Tegaderm Matrix and Tegaderm CHG will provide region's patients safest, most effective wound dressings available

Dubai, UAE, 29th March 2009 - 3M Health Care division, a leading provider of medical and oral care, drug delivery and health information systems - part of 3M, the technology company that produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse industries, announced today that it will be launching two wound dressing innovations in the first quarter of 2009. Tegaderm Matrix Dressing with PHI™ is designed to offer support faster healing in difficult to heal wounds, while the Tegaderm CHG dressing integrates the powerful effectiveness of the CHG antimicrobial activity with the simplicity of a Tegaderm dressing to support  IV securement .

When the body's own healing process is out of balance, wounds heals very slowly and sometimes not at all.There are many possible causes for this .Recent studies has shown that the bioburdern and excess of protease enzymes in particular the  imbalance between MMP and Tissue Inhibitor Metalloproteinases (TIMP) production slows down or stalls the healing process.  3M Tegaderm Matrix, an advanced wound dressing supports faster healing in chronic wounds , it normalizes the wound environment , regulates MMPs in the wound bed and facilitates re-epithelialization.

3M's introduction of the 3MTegaderm™ CHG dressing offers a new look at IV site protection . This new IV dressing offers the infection prevention specialists and health care professionals a novel, all in one technology that of  IV site securement  with a continuous antimicrobial activity.

3M Tegaderm CHG provides an antimicrobial  reservoir for persistent  and continuous coverage over time of IV inswrtion. 3M Tegaderm CHG begins to attack skin flora immediately upon application, it does not require moisture for  activatation, so even dry sites will receive antimicrobial benefit. The integrated design of a dressing and CHG gel pad reduces application steps and minimizes potential for application error & guarantees  conformity  to the catheter and skin, maintaining intimate contact between skin and CHG for the duration of dressing wear time. The novel composition of the gel pad also absorbs a variety of fluids, including blood, saline and exudates (up to eight times its weight in fluid).  

Rita Habash marketing manager of 3M's Healthcare Division commented: "At 3M Health Care, we remain committed to discovering, designing and producing innovative health care technologies that not only aid medical professionals in their work, but that offer greater protection and safety to patients, to expedite healing and recovery. Application of the Tegaderm Matrix Dressing with PHI™ or the Tegaderm CHG Dressing will offer a manifold improvement on all existing methods of wound protection currently available and used in the medical world." 

Drawing on its rich technology base, 3M Health Care applies innovation systematically to anticipate and respond to its customers' needs. For more than a century, 3M has been developing products and ideas that solve problems and make lives easier. From hospitals to wound clinics to oral care offices, 3M is a trusted partner dedicated to supplying essential products designed to meet the unique needs of healthcare professionals, thereby helping advance the practice, outcome and quality of care. 

-Ends-

Sudarshan C. Raman
3M Gulf Ltd.
Tel: +971 4 367 0777
Sudarshan@mmm.com

Robyn Creer
Manning, Selvage and Lee
Tel: +971 4 367 6151
Robyn.creer@dubai.mslpr.com 

© Press Release 2009