Gel-forming fabric composite

Abstract

A method for the manufacture of a reinforced gel-forming fabric composite comprising a reinforcing layer and gel-forming fibre material is characterized in that the gel-forming fibre material in non-woven fabric form is needled into the reinforcing layer from one side so as to penetrate through the reinforcing layer and form a layer of gel-forming fibre material on both sides of the reinforcing layer. The resulting fabric finds use in a wound dressing.

1 . A wound dressing prepared by a process comprising the step of needling a gel-forming fibre material that is in non-woven fabric form into a reinforcing layer from one side of the reinforcing layer so as to penetrate through the reinforcing layer and form a layer of gel-forming fibre material on both sides of the reinforcing layer, wherein essentially all the fibres of the gel-forming fibre material have one or both ends only on one side of the reinforcing layer.  
     
     
         2 . A wound dressing according to  claim 1 , wherein the gel-forming fibre material is alginate fibre.  
     
     
         3 . A wound dressing according to  claim 2 , wherein the alginate fibre is a calcium alginate fibre or a sodium/calcium alginate fibre.  
     
     
         4 . A wound dressing according to  claim 3 , wherein the gel-forming fibre material is formed by non-woven carding and crossfolding of gel-forming fibre.  
     
     
         5 . A wound dressing according to  claim 4 , wherein the gel-forming fibre material is needled at a needle punch density of from 40 to 200 ncm −2 .