SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING HEMOSTASIS WITH AN ABSORBABLE SPONGE

1 . A method of forming a clot formation accelerator loaded hemostasis material, comprising:

dissolving gelatin granules in water to form a gelatin solution;

heating the gelatin solution;

cooling the gelatin solution;

adding a cross-linking agent to the cooled gelatin solution;

mixing a clot formation accelerator into the cross-linking agent and gelatin solution to form a mixture;

adding air to the mixture to form a foam hemostasis material matrix;

drying the foam hemostasis material matrix at a temperature above freezing to form the hemostasis material.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hemostasis material is formed without freezing the foam hemostasis material matrix prior to drying.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding a polysaccharide to the gelatin solution.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the polysaccharide is chitosan.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the clot formation accelerator is a thrombogenic agent.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking agent is formaldehyde.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the clot formation accelerator is substantially dispersed throughout the hemostasis material.

8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the polysaccharide is substantially dispersed throughout the hemostasis material.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking agent is substantially dispersed throughout the hemostasis material.

10 . A method of forming a clot formation accelerator loaded hemostasis material, comprising:

dissolving gelatin granules in water to form a gelatin solution;

heating the gelatin solution;

cooling the gelatin solution;

adding a cross-linking agent to the cooled gelatin solution;

mixing a clot formation accelerator into the cross-linking agent and gelatin solution to form a mixture;

adding heat to the mixture to form a gelatin solid;

drying the gelatin solid at a temperature above freezing to form the hemostasis material.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the hemostasis material is formed without freezing the gelatin solid prior to drying.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the clot formation accelerator is substantially dispersed throughout the hemostasis material.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the cross-linking agent is substantially dispersed throughout the hemostasis material.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the gelatin solid has a solid crystalline network.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the cross-linking agent is formaldehyde.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of adding a polysaccharide to the gelatin solution.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the clot formation accelerator is a thrombogenic agent.

18 . A method of forming a clot formation accelerator loaded hemostasis material, comprising:

mixing chitosan, gelatin, and water together to form a mixture;

mixing formaldehyde and sodium hydroxide together to form a solution;

adding the mixture to the solution;

heating the combined solution and mixture;

adding thrombin to the combined solution and mixture;

mixing the combined solution, mixture, and thrombin to obtain a gelatin foam;

heating the gelatin foam in an oven at 90° F. to form the hemostasis material.