Calcium zeolite hemostatic agent
A composition for promoting the formation of clots in blood comprises a binder and a zeolite disposed in the binder, the zeolite having an adjusted calcium content. A method of forming a blood-clotting composition comprises the steps of providing a zeolite, combining the zeolite with a binder, and adjusting a calcium content of the zeolite to have an amount of calcium such that upon application of the composition to a wound, a heat of hydration is reduced and thereby heat transferred to the wound is reduced. A method of clotting blood flowing from a wound comprises the steps of applying a zeolite to the wound and maintaining the zeolite in contact with the wound for a predetermined amount of time. The zeolite preferably has an adjusted calcium content and is capable of producing a controllable blood clotting effect on the wound.
1. A composition for promoting the formation of clots in blood, said composition comprising: a binder; a zeolite disposed in said binder, said zeolite having an adjusted calcium content via the addition of a calcium-containing compound to said zeolite, said calcium content being between about 75 wt. % to about 83 wt. %, said composition being operable to reduce a heat of hydration when exposed to blood.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said zeolite comprises aluminosilicate.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said adjusted calcium content is obtained via the addition of a calcium-containing compound to a starting zeolite, said calcium-containing compound being selected from the group consisting of calcium oxides, calcium sulfates, and calcium chlorides.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said zeolite is nanoporous.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said binder is clay-based.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition is of an irregularly-shaped granular form having a size distribution determined by sieving ground material with 40 mesh and 16 mesh cut-off screens.
7. A method of forming a blood-cloning composition, said method comprising the steps of: providing a zeolite; combining said zeolite with a binder; and adjusting a calcium content of said zeolite via the addition of a calcium-containing compound to said zeolite, said calcium content being about 75 wt. % to about 83 wt. % and such that upon application of said composition to a wound, a heat of hydration is reduced and thereby heat transferred to said wound is reduced.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said adjusting said calcium content of said zeolite comprises supplementing said zeolite with a calcium-containing compound such that said calcium content is about 83 wt. %.
9. A method of clotting blood flowing from a wound, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a zeolite having a calcium content adjusted via the addition of a calcium-containing compound to said zeolite, said calcium content being about 75 wt. % to about 83 wt. %, and said zeolite being disposed in a clay binder;
applying said zeolite to said wound, said zeolite being capable of producing a controllable blood clotting effect on said wound such that a heat of hydration is reduced; and
maintaining said zeolite in contact with said wound for an amount of time sufficient to cause blood flowing from said wound to clot.