Wound dressing

Abstract

A wound dressing comprises in combination (i) a first wound contact layer which preferably has a positive effect on the healing of the wound, and (ii) a second layer of greater hydrophilicity than the first layer.

1 - 19 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         20 . A wound dressing comprises in combination 
 (i) a first wound contact layer of a woven, non-woven or knitted fibrous material,    (ii) a second layer of greater hydrophilicity than the first layer, and    (iii) a breathable film having an increased MVTR capability in the presence of liquid water as compared to moisture vapour alone.    
     
     
         21 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the hydrophilicity of layer (ii) is at least twice that of layer (i).  
     
     
         22 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the hydrophilicity of layer (ii) is 3 to 5 times that of layer (i).  
     
     
         23 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein layer (i) has a thickness of 50 to 1,000 microns.  
     
     
         24 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein layer (i) is a non-woven fibrous material.  
     
     
         25 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein layer (i) delivers a component to the wound.  
     
     
         26 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein layer (i) comprises calcium alginate, zinc alginate, silver alginate, chitosan, pectin, silver N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan, or silver O-carboxymethyl chitosan.  
     
     
         27 . A dressing as claimed in claims  20  wherein layer (ii) is a woven, non-woven or knitted fibrous material.  
     
     
         28 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 27  wherein layer (ii) is a non-woven fibrous material.  
     
     
         29 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein layer (ii) has a thickness of 1,000 to 5,000 microns.  
     
     
         30 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein layer (ii) is a felt comprised of sodium alginate/calcium alginate, sodium calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium zinc carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium calcium polyacrylate or sodium calcium carrageenin.  
     
     
         31 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein layer (i) comprises a non-woven fibrous material, layer (ii) comprises a non-woven fibrous material, and said layers (i) and (ii) are needle punched together.  
     
     
         32 . A dressing as claimed in claims  20  wherein the film has an MVTR in the presence of moisture vapour alone of 2,000 to 2,500 g m −2 24 hr −1 .  
     
     
         33 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the film has an MVTR in the presence of liquid water of 6,000 to 30,000 g m −2 24 hr −1 .  
     
     
         34 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the film has a thickness of 30-70 microns.  
     
     
         35 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the film is of a polyurethane.  
     
     
         36 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein an adhesive is provided on the film for bonding the latter to skin around the wound.  
     
     
         37 . A wound dressing comprising in combination: 
 (i) a first non-woven fibrous wound contact layer which comprises an alginate,    (ii) a second non-woven fibrous layer of greater hydrophilicity than the first layer applied to said first wound contact layer, and    (iii) a breathable film associated with said first wound contact layer and said second layer having an increased MVTR capability in the presence of liquid water as compared to moisture vapor alone.    
     
     
         38 . A dressing as claimed in  claim 37  wherein said layers (i) and (ii) are needle punched together.