A WOUND DRESSING
The present invention relates to an impregnated wound dressing having an outer membrane overlay layer and to a method of production thereof. In particular the dressing comprises a core layer that has been impregnated with a wound healing agent, such as honey, and an outer membrane overlay layer.
1 . A wound dressing including a core layer impregnated with a wound healing agent and at least one outer membrane overlay layer.
2 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the overlay membrane layer is selected from a cured carboxymethylcellulose layer, a silicone comprising layer, a polytetrafluoroethylene comprising layer, a silicone and polytetrafluoroethylene comprising layer, and a cross-linked polyurethane layer or combinations thereof.
3 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane overlay layer comprises a cured carboxymethylcellulose layer.
4 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the carboxymethylcellulose is sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
5 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane overlay layer comprises a silicone and polytetrafluoroethylene blend layer.
6 . The wound dressing as claimed in claims 1 wherein the wound healing agent is selected from a silver comprising agent or a honey comprising agent.
7 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 6 wherein the wound healing agent comprises honey derived from the Leptospermum species.
8 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 7 wherein the wound healing agent comprises a honey derived from Leptospermum scoparium.
9 . The wound dressing as claimed in any one of claim 1 wherein the membrane overlay layer further comprises a plasticizer.
10 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plasticizer is selected from glycerin, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, monoacetin, triacetin, triethyl citrate, sorbitol, 1,3-butanediol, D-glucono-1,5-lactone, and combinations thereof.
11 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 10 wherein the plasticizer is glycerin.
12 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the core layer is selected from an alginate or a superabsorbent material.
13 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the core layer comprises a polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer fiber.
14 . The wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane overlay layer does not absorb any of the wound healing agent impregnated into the core layer.
15 . A method of producing a wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 , the method including the step of impregnating a core layer with a wound healing agent and then overlaying at least one surface of the impregnated core layer with an overlay layer.
16 . The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the method includes the further step of fenestration or penetration of the membrane overlay layer.
17 . A method of treating a wound, including the step of placing a wound dressing as claimed in claim 1 onto a wound to facilitate the healing of the wound.