Super-absorbent advanced wound dressing with dressing full indication
View Patent ↗A wound dressing includes a hydrophilic foam layer, a drape layer, superabsorbent projections, and printed indicators. The hydrophilic foam layer is configured to engage a wound bed and has a first side and a second side, the second side configured to face the wound bed. The drape layer has a first side and a second side, the second side configured to face the first side of the hydrophilic foam layer. The plurality of non-contiguous superabsorbent projections are fixed to and extend from the first side of the hydrophilic foam layer towards the second side of the drape layer. The one or more non-contiguous printed indicators surround one or more of the plurality of superabsorbent projections.
1. A wound dressing comprising:
a hydrophilic foam layer configured to engage a wound bed, and having a first side and a second side, wherein the second side is configured to face the wound bed;
a drape layer having a first side and a second side, the second side configured to face the first side of the hydrophilic foam layer;
a plurality of non-contiguous superabsorbent projections fixed to and extending from the first side of the hydrophilic foam layer towards the second side of the drape layer; and
one or more non-contiguous, printed indicators surrounding one or more of the plurality of superabsorbent projections.
2. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent projections are configured to swell and expand towards the printed indicators upon absorption of fluid such that the printed indicators provide a visual indication as to when the superabsorbent projections have reached a maximum absorption capacity.
3. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the one or more printed indicators surround the superabsorbent projections in a central portion and one or more corner portions of the wound dressing.
4. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent projections are formed in any one or more of a plurality of shapes or patterns comprising circles, squares, hexagons, hoops, halos, stars, crosses, a range of lines, or any combination of thereof.
5. The wound dressing of claim 4 , wherein the shape of the printed indicators matches the shape of the superabsorbent projections.
6. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the printed indicators are printed onto the wound dressing by screen printing, gravure printing, or by x-y plotter printing.
7. The wound dressing of claim 6 , wherein the printed indicators are printed onto the first side of the hydrophilic foam layer.
8. The wound dressing of claim 6 , wherein the printed indicators are printed onto the second side of the drape layer.
9. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the printed indicators comprise a fluid-reactive dye.
10. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the drape layer is laminated with fusible fiber to the hydrophilic foam layer and the superabsorbent projections.
11. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic foam layer comprises a fluid reactive dye configured to provide a visual indication of fluid absorption within the wound dressing.
12. The wound dressing of claim 11 , wherein the fluid reactive dye comprises one of antherquinone, cothenile, and tartrazine.
13. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent projections comprise a flexible plasticized hydrophilic polymer matrix having a substantially continuous internal structure.
14. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent projections comprise a polymer in the form of granules.
15. The wound dressing of claim 14 , wherein the granules are contained in a water soluble carrier polymer such as polyvinylpyrrolidone.