Wound dressing

Abstract

A wound dressing comprising a breathable film, a fluid-absorption layer and a fluid-wicking layer, use of the wound dressing for treating or preventing wounds and/or for securement of a device that has been at least partially inserted in the skin, and methods of making said wound dressings.

1 . A wound dressing comprising:
 a breathable film;   a fluid-absorption layer; and   a fluid-wicking layer for directing fluid towards the absorbent layer;   wherein the fluid-absorption layer has a saline absorption capacity of at least about 50 wt % based on the weight of the fluid-absorption layer;   wherein the fluid-absorption layer is positioned laterally to the fluid-wicking layer and breathable film.   
     
     
         2 . The wound dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the breathable film is transparent. 
     
     
         3 . The wound dressing of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the fluid-wicking layer is transparent. 
     
     
         4 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein at least part of the wound dressing is transparent and the transparent part of the wound dressing enables observation of the wound. 
     
     
         5 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the breathable film has a moisture vapour transmission rate equal to or greater than about 400 g/m 2 /24 h. 
     
     
         6 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the breathable film comprises one or more polymeric layers. 
     
     
         7 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the breathable film has a thickness ranging from about 5 μm to about 300 μm, for example from about 15 μm to about 50 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-absorption layer is positioned between the breathable film and fluid-wicking layer; 
     
     
         9 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-absorption layer has a saline absorption capacity of at least about 100 wt %, for example at least about 200 wt % based on the weight of the absorbent layer. 
     
     
         10 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-absorption layer is a hydrocolloid, a foam, a hydrogel, a foamed hydrogel, a sponge, a superabsorbent polymer or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-absorption layer is a polyurethane foam or a PVA foam. 
     
     
         12 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-absorption layer is positioned at a peripheral area of the wound dressing. 
     
     
         13 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-absorption layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-absorption layer has a surface area of at least about 5% of the total surface area of the wound dressing. 
     
     
         15 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 4  to  14 , wherein the transparent part of the wound dressing is positioned at a central area of the wound dressing. 
     
     
         16 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-absorption layer is a continuous layer. 
     
     
         17 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 4  to  16 , wherein the fluid-absorption layer encloses the transparent part of the wound dressing that enables observation of the wound. 
     
     
         18 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 4  to  17 , wherein the fluid-absorption layer is annular and the transparent part of the wound dressing that enables observation of the wound is in a central position to the fluid-absorption layer. 
     
     
         19 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein the fluid-absorption layer comprises two or more portions. 
     
     
         20 . The wound dressing of  claim 19 , wherein the transparent part of the wound dressing that enables observation of the wound is positioned between the two or more portions of the absorbent layer. 
     
     
         21 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein at least about 10% of the surface-area of the wound dressing is transparent. 
     
     
         22 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-wicking layer has a saline absorption capacity equal to or less than about 100 wt % based on the weight of the fluid-wicking layer. 
     
     
         23 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-wicking layer is a mesh, for example a hydrophilic mesh. 
     
     
         24 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 1  to  23 , wherein the fluid-wicking layer comprises a patterned hydrophilic adhesive. 
     
     
         25 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 1  to  22 , wherein the fluid-wicking layer is a polymer layer having a plurality of channels formed therein. 
     
     
         26 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, further comprising an adhesive layer, for example a breathable adhesive layer, to adhere the breathable film and fluid-absorption layer together and/or to adhere the fluid-absorption layer and fluid-wicking layer together. 
     
     
         27 . The wound dressing of any preceding claim, further comprising a non-absorbent waterproof layer located on a wound-facing side of the fluid-absorption layer that at least partially covers the fluid-absorption layer but does not completely cover the fluid-wicking layer. 
     
     
         28 . The wound dressing of  claim 27 , wherein the non-absorbent waterproof layer completely covers the fluid-absorption layer. 
     
     
         29 . The wound dressing of  claim 27  or  28 , wherein the non-absorbent waterproof layer is located on a wound-facing side of the transparent fluid-wicking layer. 
     
     
         30 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 27  to  29 , wherein the non-absorbent waterproof layer does not cover the transparent part of the wound dressing that is for observation of the wound. 
     
     
         31 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 1  to  30  for treating or preventing a wound. 
     
     
         32 . The wound dressing of any one of  claims 1  to  30  for securement of a device that has been at least partially inserted through the skin. 
     
     
         33 . A method of treating or preventing a wound, the method comprising applying a wound dressing of any one of  claims 1  to  30  to the wound. 
     
     
         34 . A method of securing a device that has been at least partially inserted through the skin, the method comprising applying a wound dressing of any one of  claims 1  to  30  to the skin where the device has been at least partially inserted. 
     
     
         35 . A method of making a wound dressing of any one of  claims 1  to  30 , the method comprising providing a breathable film, a fluid-absorption layer, a fluid-wicking layer, optionally one or more adhesive layers and optionally a non-absorbent waterproof layer and adhering the layers to each other to form a multilayer structure.