ABSORBENT WOUND DRESSINGS

1 . An absorbent wound dressing comprising a superabsorbent material that, in use, is in fluid communication with the surface of a wound to which the dressing is applied, wherein the superabsorbent material is enclosed in an envelope having a wound-facing surface knitted or woven from a yarn comprising gelling fibres.

2 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the envelope is assembled from two sheets of material, with the superabsorbent material between them.

3 . A dressing according to claim 2 , wherein the non wound-facing surface is a polyester film or web.

4 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the outward facing surface of the envelope is the outermost layer of the dressing.

5 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the envelope is formed by welding.

6 . A dressing according to claim 5 , wherein the welding is heat welding.

7 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent material is a polymeric superabsorbent material.

8 . A dressing according to claim 7 , wherein the superabsorbent material is sodium or calcium alginate.

9 . A dressing according to claim 7 , wherein the superabsorbent material is sodium polyacrylate polymer.

10 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent material is in the form of particles.

11 . A dressing according to claim 10 , wherein the superabsorbent material particles are encapsulated between two layers of a carrier material.

12 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the wound-facing surface is knitted.

13 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the gelling fibre has an absorbency of at least 2 g/g.

14 . A dressing according to claim 13 , wherein the absorbency is at least 5 g/g, at least 10 g/g, at least 15 g/g, or at least 25 g/g.

15 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the gelling fibres are pectin fibres, alginate fibres, fibres made from alginate and another polysaccharide, chitosan fibres, hyaluronic acid fibres, fibres of other polysaccharides or derived from gums, chemically-modified cellulosic fibres or a combination or blend of these fibres.

16 . A dressing according to claim 15 , wherein the gelling fibres are alginate fibres or pectin fibres.

17 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the yarn comprises a blend of gelling fibres and non-gelling fibres.

18 . A dressing according to claim 17 , wherein the yarn comprises at least 50% w/w gelling fibres.

19 . A dressing according to claim 17 , wherein the non-gelling fibres are lyocell fibres.

20 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the dressing comprises a backing layer that has a moisture vapour transmission rate of at least 300 g/m 2 /24 h at 37° C.

21 . A dressing according to claim 20 , wherein the backing layer is a polyurethane film.

22 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the backing layer is larger in size than the envelope.

23 . A dressing according to claim 22 , wherein the backing layer forms a border around the envelope.

24 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the surface of the dressing that, in use, contacts a patient's skin is provided with a skin contact adhesive.

25 . A dressing according to claim 24 , wherein the skin contact adhesive is a soft silicone adhesive.

26 . A dressing according to claim 24 , wherein the skin contact adhesive is provided only at the border of the dressing.

27 . A dressing according to claim 24 , wherein the skin contact adhesive is provided across the full extent of the dressing.

28 . A dressing according to claim 1 , wherein

the wound-facing surface of the envelope is knitted from yarn comprising a blend of gelling and non-gelling fibres;

the superabsorbent material is in the form of particles encapsulated between sheets of a carrier material;

the dressing comprises a backing layer that forms a border around the envelope; and

a soft silicone skin contact adhesive is provided on at least the border of the surface of the dressing that, in use, contacts a patient's skin.

29 - 30 . (canceled)