IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,210,206
Granted Patent B2
US 7,210,206 · App. 10/490,813 · Granted May 1, 2007

Gel-forming fabric composite

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,210,206
App. No.
10/490,813
Filed
Mar 25, 2004
Granted
May 1, 2007
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3765
USPC
28/107
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.

Claims (15)

1. A method for the manufacture of a reinforced gel-forming fabric composite having a reinforcing layer and gel-forming fibre material, comprising the step of needling the gel-forming fibre material in non-woven fabric form 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.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gel-forming fibre is alginate fibre.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the alginate is a calcium alginate or sodium/calcium alginate.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the gel-forming fibre material is formed by non-woven carding and crossfolding of gel-forming fibre.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the gel-forming fibre material is needled at a needle punch density of from 40 to 200 ncm −2 .

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the reinforced fabric is manufactured by a single pass through a single-board needle loom.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the reinforcing layer is selected from a group consisting of a woven cellulosic fibre layer, a non-woven cellulosic fibre layer, a knitted cellulosic fibre layer, and a synthetic fibre layer.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing layer is selected from a group consisting of a lyocell fibre layer, a nylon fibre layer, a polyester fibre layer, and a polyethylene fibre layer.

9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing layer is sputtered, coated or impregnated with silver prior to the gel-forming fibre being needled into and through it.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gel-forming fibre material is formed by non-woven carding and crossfolding of gel-forming fibre.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gel-forming fibre material is needled at a needle punch density of from 40 to 200 ncm −2 .

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforced fabric is manufactured by a single pass through a single-board needle loom.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing layer is selected from a group consisting of a woven cellulosic fibre layer, a non-woven cellulosic fibre layer, a knitted cellulosic fibre layer, and a synthetic fibre layer.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the reinforcing layer is selected from a group consisting of a lyocell fibre layer, a nylon fibre layer, a polyester fibre layer, and a polyethylene fibre layer.

15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing layer is sputtered, coated or impregnated with silver prior to the gel-forming fibre being needled into and through it.