Multilayer wound dressing
A flexible, multilayer wound dressing with antibacterial and antifungal properties, together with methods for making the dressing. The dressing includes a layer of silver-containing fabric, a layer of absorbent material, and (optionally) a layer of flexible air-permeable and/or water-impermeable material. The dressing can be used for prophylactic and therapeutic care and treatment of skin infections and surface wounds (including surgical incisions), as a packing material, and as a swab for surface cleaning.
1. A wound dressing comprising:
at least one, conductive, conformable layer of fabric comprising an amount of fibers uniformly and individually coated with silver worked into the fabric or forming the fabric to passively release an effective amount of silver from the wound dressing into a wound at a steady rate for as long as three days,
wherein the conformable, conductive, layer of fabric has with a specific resistance no greater than approximately 5 ohm/cm 2 ; and
a second layer.
2. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises an outer layer constructed from plastic.
3. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the conformable, conductive layer is perforated.
4. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a perforation.
5. The wound dressing of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive.
6. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the conformable layer has a specific resistance of no greater than approximately 1 ohm/cm.
7. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the conformable layer comprises at least approximately 5 wt. % silver.
8. The wound dressing of claim 7 , wherein the silver is releasably attached to said fibers.
9. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise cotton or nylon.
10. The wound dressing of claim 1 , where the second layer comprises a moisture-absorbent material.
11. The wound dressing of claim 10 , wherein the moisture-absorbent material absorbs wound exudate through the conformable, conductive layer.
12. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the wound is a traumatic wound.
13. The wound dressing of claim 12 , wherein the traumatic wound is a decubital ulcer.