Component for a wound dressing

1. An absorbent component for a wound dressing, the component comprising a wound contacting layer comprising gel forming fibres consisting essentially of carboxymethylcellulose fibres, cellulose ethyl sulphonate, pectin fibres, alginate fibres, composite fibres of alginate and polysaccharide, chitosan fibres, polysaccharide fibres, fibres derived from gums or a mixture thereof, bound to a foam layer comprising an absorbency of 10-20 g/g when measured by the free swell absorbency method, wherein the foam layer is bound directly to the wound contacting layer by adhesive, polymer based melt layer, flame lamination or ultrasound, wherein the wound contacting layer is configured to absorb exudate by gelling and provides containment of lateral spread of the exudate and the foam layer is configured to absorb exudate but readily releases it through moisture vapour transmission.

2. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the absorbent component is in sheet form.

3. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gel forming fibres are woven, non-woven and/or knitted.

4. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the foam layer is an open cell foam.

5. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the foam layer is a hydrophilic foam.

6. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the foam layer comprises a thickness of 0.25 mm to 5 mm.

7. An absorbent component for a wound dressing, the component comprising a wound contacting layer comprising gel forming fibres consisting essentially of carboxymethylcellulose fibres, cellulose ethyl sulphonate, pectin fibres, alginate fibres, composite fibres of alginate and polysaccharide, chitosan fibres, polysaccharide fibres, fibres derived from gums or a mixture thereof, bound to a foam layer comprising a thickness of 0.25 mm to 5 mm, wherein the foam layer is bound directly to the wound contacting layer by adhesive, polymer based melt layer, flame lamination or ultrasound, wherein the wound contacting layer is configured to absorb exudate by gelling and provide containment of lateral spread of the exudate and the foam layer is configured to absorb exudate but readily releases it through moisture vapour transmission.

8. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the absorbent component is in sheet form.

9. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the gel forming fibres are woven, non-woven and/or knitted.

10. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the foam layer is an open cell foam.

11. The absorbent component for a wound dressing as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the foam layer is a hydrophilic foam.

12. A wound dressing comprising an absorbent component having a wound contacting layer with gel forming fibres consisting essentially of carboxymethylcellulose fibres, cellulose ethyl sulphonate, pectin fibres, alginate fibres, composite fibres of alginate and polysaccharide, chitosan fibres, polysaccharide fibres, fibres derived from gums or a mixture thereof, bound to a foam layer comprising a thickness of 0.25 mm to 5 mm, wherein the foam layer is bound directly to the wound contacting layer by a first adhesive, polymer based melt layer, flame lamination or ultrasound, wherein the wound contacting layer is configured to absorb exudate by gelling and provide containment of lateral spread of the exudate and the foam layer is configured to absorb exudate but readily releases it through moisture vapour transmission; and a second adhesive for holding the absorbent component in contact with the wound.

13. The wound dressing as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the absorbent component is capable of forming an island in direct contact with the wound surrounded by a periphery of the second adhesive.

14. The wound dressing as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the second adhesive is a silicone adhesive.

15. The wound dressing as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the dressing is covered by a film layer on a surface of the dressing furthest from the wound.