ABSORBENT MATERIALS

Abstract

The present invention provides dry-creped absorbent material comprised of gelling fibres intended for use particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, as wound dressings or as a component (absorbent substrate) of a wound dressing, as well as wound dressings comprising the absorbent material.

Claims

1. A dry-creped absorbent material comprised of gelling fibres.

2. A material as claimed in claim 1 having a compaction ratio of 80 to 40%.

3. A material as claimed in claim 1 having a stretch ratio of 30 to 100%.

4. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gelling fibres comprise alginate fibres.

5. A material as claimed in claim 4 wherein the alginate fibres incorporate carboxymethyl cellulose.

6. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gelling fibres comprise carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl viscose or carboxymethyl chitosan.

7. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gelling fibres are sulphonated fibres.

8. A material as claimed in claim 7 wherein the sulphonated fibres comprise sulphonated cellulose or sulphonated viscose.

9. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gelling fibres comprise super absorbent fibres.

10. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gelling fibres incorporate an antimicrobial agent.

11. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gelling fibres have a length of 25 to 100 mm.

12. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gelling fibres have a thickness of 1.5 to 5.0 dtex.

13. A material as claimed in claim 1 further comprising up to 50% by weight of non-gelling fibres.

14. A material as claimed in claim 13 wherein the non-gelling fibres have a length of 25 to 100 mm.

15. A material as claimed in claim 13 wherein the non-gelling fibres have a thickness of 1.5 to 5.0 dtex.

16. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the absorbent substrate is a non-woven material.

17. A material as claimed in claim 16 wherein the non-woven material is a felt.

18. A material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material does not incorporate stitching.

19. A wound dressing comprising an absorbent material as claimed in claim 1.

Description

[0035] Thus, in line with the above discussion, the present disclosure provides the following numbered embodiments: [0036] 1. A dry-creped absorbent material comprised of gelling fibres. [0037] 2. A material as described in embodiment 1 having a compaction ratio of 80 to 40%. [0038] 3. A material as described in embodiment 1 or 2 having a stretch ratio of 30 to 100%. [0039] 4. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 3 wherein the gelling fibres comprise alginate fibres. [0040] 5. A material as described in embodiment 4 wherein the alginate fibres incorporate carboxymethyl cellulose. [0041] 6. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 3 wherein the gelling fibres comprise carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl viscose or carboxymethyl chitosan. [0042] 7. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 3 wherein the gelling fibres are sulphonated fibres. [0043] 8. A material as described in embodiment 7 wherein the sulphonated fibres comprise sulphonated cellulose or sulphonated viscose. [0044] 9. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 3 wherein the gelling fibres comprise super absorbent fibres. [0045] 10. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 9 wherein the gelling fibres incorporate an antimicrobial agent. [0046] 11. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 10 wherein the gelling fibres have a length of 25 to 100 mm. [0047] 12. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 11 wherein the gelling fibres have a thickness of 1.5 to 5.0 dtex. [0048] 13. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 12 further comprising up to 50% by weight of non-gelling fibres. [0049] 14. A material as described in embodiment 13 wherein the non-gelling fibres have a length of 25 to 100 mm. [0050] 15. A material as described in embodiment 13 or 14 wherein the non-gelling fibres have a thickness of 1.5 to 5.0 dtex. [0051] 16. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 15 wherein the absorbent substrate is a non-woven material. [0052] 17. A material as described in embodiment 16 wherein the non-woven material is a felt. [0053] 18. A material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 17 wherein the material does not incorporate stitching. [0054] 19. A wound dressing comprising an absorbent material as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 18.