Multilayer wound dressing
View Patent ↗A flexible, multilayer wound dressing with antibacterial and antifungal properties, together with methods for making the dressing. The dressing includes a layer of silver-containing fabric, a layer of absorbent material, and (optionally) a layer of a flexible air-permeable and/or water-impermeable material. The dressing can be used for prophylactic and therapeutic care and treatment of skin infections and surface wounds (including surgical incisions), as a packing material, and as a swab for surface cleaning.
1. A wound dressing comprising:
at least one conformable layer comprising woven fibers uniformly and individually coated with an amount of an anti-microbial metal sufficient to provide the conformable layer with a specific resistance no greater than approximately 5 ohms/cm 2 .
2. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial metal comprises silver.
3. The wound dressing of claim 2 , wherein the silver is releasably attached to said fibers.
4. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the conformable layer has a specific resistance of no greater than approximately 1 ohm/cm 2 .
5. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the conformable layer comprises at least approximately 5 wt. % silver.
6. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise cotton or nylon.
7. The wound dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a second layer.
8. The wound dressing of claim 7 , wherein the second layer comprises a moisture-absorbent material.
9. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the wound dressing causes dedifferentiation of mammalian cells.
10. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the wound dressing inhibits bacterial growth.
11. The wound dressing of claim 10 , wherein the wound dressing inhibits E. coli, P. aeruginosa, E. faecalis, S. aureas , or S. pyrogenes.
12. A method of treating a wound comprising applying the wound dressing of claim 1 to the wound.
13. A wound dressing comprising:
a conformable fabric comprising woven fibers uniformly and individually coated with an amount of silver sufficient to provide the conformable fabric with a specific resistance no greater than approximately 1 ohm/cm 2 .