The PolyMem Story
Controlling Inflammation
Inflammation is the single greatest cause of wound pain.
PolyMem dressings help control inflammation to where it is needed — in the damaged tissues.
Controlling the inflammatory process helps reduce secondary cell damage and pain caused by the typical swelling and bruising usually observed beyond the injury site.
PolyMem has been shown to reduce secondary cell damage by reducing the recruitment of adjacent inflammatory nerve endings (also referred to as nociceptors or free nerve endings).
The populous free nerve endings, found in the epidermis, dermis, muscle, joints and viscera, are responsible for:
- Constantly monitoring and maintaining the health of the tissues they contact.
- Orchestrating all phases of injury response from hemostasis through remodeling.
- Central roles in triggering and spreading the inflammatory reaction, including into surrounding initially uninjured tissues. The spreading of inflammation is often clinically evidenced by increased temperature, bruising, swelling, increased sensitivity to stimuli, and pain beyond the immediate zone of injury.
Healing cannot progress properly if patients’ pain experience is not effectively managed
The PolyMem formulation often improves patients’ pain experience by decreasing or eliminating the nearly constant, unbearable, persistent pain.
- Controlling inflammation helps reduce the spread of inflammation into surrounding tissues, resulting in reduced persistent pain.
- Reduction of swelling and secondary injury reduces wound sensitivity to touch and manipulation during dressing changes, which often eliminates patient apprehension about dressing changes.
PolyMem dressings help reduce procedural wound pain associated with dressing changes:
- Dressings which stick to the wound bed cause pain and trauma upon removal. This trauma is also associated with delayed healing. PolyMem dressings are non-adherent to the wound bed.
- Cleansing wounds is known to cause pain during dressing changes. PolyMem usually eliminates the need for wound bed cleansing during dressing changes.
- PolyMem dressings facilitate effective autolytic debridement, reducing the need for more painful debridement options.
Cleanses
- Wound is continuously cleansed which minimizes the need for additional cleansing during dressing changes.
- Mild cleanser is activated by moisture. — Supports autolytic debridement by reducing interfacial tension between healthy tissue and non-viable tissue.
- Powerful absorbing agents help to draw the non-viable tissue from the wound into the dressing.
Increased Healing
PolyMem is a unique versatile dressing shown to reduce a patient’s total wound pain experience, while actively encouraging healing.
All PolyMem dressings effectively cleanse, fill, absorb and moisten wounds throughout the healing continuum. When you use PolyMem dressings, you eliminate the need to stock most other wound care products on your shelves, including: alginates, hydrogels, hydrocolloids, foams and much more!
Fills
PolyMem dressings are designed to be comfortable. They are available in ideal configurations that naturally conform to shallow (less than 0.5 cm), cavity, tunnel, and undermined wounds. PolyMem dressings help ensure that both full- and partial-thickness wounds can be properly addressed.
Activated by wound moisture...
- The PolyMem dressing will expand and gently fill the wound.
- The mild, tissue-friendly wound cleanser and the glycerin incorporated in the dressing will be released to the wound bed, while the superabsorbent and the matrix will bind fluid in the dressing.
- The semi-permeable film cover will control moisture-vapor transmission.
Moistens
- The built-in moisturizer (glycerin) helps establish and maintain a moist healing environment.
- Glycerin, together with the other components, ensures the dressing does not adhere to the wound.
- The hygroscopic glycerin, together with the other components, creates a “water-flux” from the deep tissues into the area of the wound. This “water-flux” is important in healing the wound as it brings healing agents, including nutritional and growth factors, from the deep tissues to the wound.
- Glycerin is also recognized to help reduce odor and hypergranulation.
Absorbs
- Wound fluid contains natural growth factors and nutrients. Superabsorbents contained in the dressing draw wound fluid to the wound site. These superabsorbents have high affinity for the watery portion of wound fluid. The net result is concentration of the larger components in the wound.
- Powerful absorption properties help draw non-viable tissue into the dressing where it is easily discarded along with the dressing.
Versatility
PolyMem helps effectively heal the majority of wounds:
- Pressure ulcers (Stage I-IV)
- Diabetic ulcers
- Venous ulcers
- Donor and graft sites
- Dermatologic disorders
- First- and second-degree burns
- Skin tears
- Surgical wounds
- Tube sites
- Full- and partial-thickness wounds
- Leg ulcers
- Acute wounds
PolyMem
- Leverages innovative formulation of the PolyMem dressing matrix
- Creates an optimal healing environment
- Simplifies wound care
- Saves caregiver time
- Reduces supply costs
- Enhances patient comfort
- Improves patient experience
PolyMem Dressings Product Selection Criteria
Use PolyMem Silver dressings when antimicrobial benefits and reduction of bioburden in the dressing are desired.
Polymem Wound Dressings
Finger/Toe Dressings
Finger/Toe Dressings
Finger/Toe Dressings
Easy to apply finger/toe dressings. Available in five sizes of both regular PolyMem and Silver.
PolyMem MAX
Finger/Toe Dressings
Finger/Toe Dressings
Industry leading PolyMem dressing with extra thickness for maximum absorbtion. Available in multiple sizes and also comes in silver.
PolyMem Ovals
Finger/Toe Dressings
PolyMem Ovals
Adhesive dressings that can be used for challenging wound sites. Available in multiple sizes, and also in silver.
PolyMem Tube
PolyMem Tube
PolyMem Ovals
PolyMem dressing specifically designed to surround port. Designed to help reduce inflammation.
PolyMem WIC
PolyMem Tube
PolyMem Rope
With no film backing, WIC expands within the wound cavity to fill dead space, keeping the wound bed clean and moisturized while absorbing excess fluid. Available in both regular and silver dressings.
PolyMem Rope
PolyMem Tube
PolyMem Rope
PolyMem product specifically designed for use with tunnels and undermining. Slot at end of Rope accomodates applicator (enclosed) to help push Rope into tunnel.