SUPER-ABSORBENT ADVANCED WOUND DRESSING WITH DRESSING FULL INDICATION

1 .- 26 . (canceled)

27 . A method of making a wound dressing comprising:

providing a hydrophilic foam layer configured to engage a wound bed, and having a first side and a second side, the second side configured to face the wound bed;

preparing and applying a slurry comprising a superabsorbent material onto the first side of the hydrophilic foam layer in the form of a plurality of non-contiguous deposits;

printing one or more non-contiguous indicators onto the first side of the hydrophilic foam layer, such that the indicators surround one or more of the plurality of deposits; and

placing a drape layer, having a first side and a second side, atop the hydrophilic foam layer.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the deposits are configured to swell and expand towards the indicators upon absorption of fluid such that the indicators provide a visual indication as to when the deposits have reached a maximum absorption capacity.

29 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising printing the one or more indicators to surround the deposits in a central portion and one or more corner portions of the wound dressing.

30 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the indicators comprise a circular ring and have a line width substantially within a range of between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm.

31 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the indicators have a diameter substantially within a range of between 8 mm and 10 mm.

32 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the deposits have a diameter substantially within a range of between 4 mm to 6 mm.

33 . The method of claim 27 , wherein a ratio of a diameter of the deposits to a diameter of the indicators is substantially within a range of 1:1.6 to 1:2.

34 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising printing the indicators onto the first side of the hydrophilic foam layer by screen printing, gravure printing, or by x-y plotter printing.

35 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the indicators comprise a fluid reactive dye.

36 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising laminating, via a fusible fiber, the drape layer to the hydrophilic foam layer.

37 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the deposits are operable to draw a wound exudate fluid through the hydrophilic foam layer.

38 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the hydrophilic foam layer comprises a fluid reactive dye configured to provide a visual indication of fluid absorption within the wound dressing.

39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the fluid reactive dye comprises one of antherquinone, cothenile, and tartrazine.

40 . A method of treating a wound, comprising:

providing a dressing configured to cover the wound, the dressing comprising a hydrophilic foam layer having a plurality of non-contiguous superabsorbent deposits and one or more non-contiguous printed indicators surrounding a corresponding one or more of the superabsorbent deposits;

observing, on the dressing, an amount of swelling of the superabsorbent deposits in response to the absorption of exudate from the wound; and

replacing the dressing when edges of the swollen superabsorbent deposits approach the printed indicators within a predetermined range.

41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the one or more printed indicators comprise a circular ring and have a line width substantially within a range of between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm.

42 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the printed indicators have a diameter substantially within a range of between 8 mm and 10 mm.

43 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the superabsorbent deposits have a diameter substantially within a range of between 4 mm to 6 mm.

44 . The method of claim 40 , wherein a ratio of a diameter of the superabsorbent deposits to a diameter of the printed indicators is substantially within a range of 1:1.6 to 1:3 prior to the swelling of the superabsorbent deposits.