Ion exchange absorbent systems, apparatuses, and methods
View Patent ↗Systems, methods, and apparatuses for increasing liquid absorption are described. Some embodiments may include a dressing having an absorbent layer containing super-absorbent material as well as ionic-exchange media (IEM). In some embodiments, the absorbent layer may include absorbent fibers. The absorbent fibers may each include a super-absorbent core surrounded by a water-permeable layer onto which ionic-exchange media (IEM) may be grafted. As liquid comes into contact with the IEM, its ionic nature may be reduced, therefore protecting the absorbent qualities of the super-absorbent material.
1. A system for treating a tissue site, comprising:
a reduced-pressure source;
an absorbent layer adapted to be in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure source, the absorbent layer comprising:
an absorbent material adapted to absorb fluid from the tissue site, the absorbent material comprising a plurality of fibers, and
an ion-exchange media disposed around an absorbent core of each of the fibers and adapted to reduce an ionic concentration of the fluid; and
a drape adapted to cover the absorbent layer.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a container having an absorbent sheet disposed therein, and adapted to be in fluid communication with the tissue site and the reduced-pressure source.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a manifold adapted to be positioned between the absorbent layer and the tissue site.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ion-exchange media comprises porous beads formed from cross-linked polymers doped or grafted with acidic polymers.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the cross-linked polymers comprise polystyrene and the acidic polymers comprise poly (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) and poly (acrylamido-N-propyltrimethylammonium chloride).
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ion-exchange media comprises an alkaline polymer.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the alkaline polymer is poly(acrylamido-N-propyltrimethylammonium chloride).
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ion-exchange media comprises a cation-exchange media.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ion-exchange media comprises an anion-exchange media.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent layer further comprises
a filter layer disposed around the absorbent core of each of the fibers and comprising the ion-exchange media.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the filter layer of each of the plurality of fibers is coated on the absorbent core of each of the plurality of fibers.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the filter layer of each of the plurality of fibers encloses the absorbent core of each of the plurality of fibers.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the ion-exchange media comprises:
cation-exchange media;
anion-exchange media; and
the cation-exchange media and the anion-exchange media are dispersed throughout the filter layer of each of the plurality of fibers.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the filter layer of each of the plurality of fibers is water-permeable.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the filter layer of each of the plurality of fibers comprises a polymer coating.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the polymer coating comprises at least one of cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyurethane, polyacrylamide, and polyethylene oxide.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material comprises a super-absorbent material.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the super-absorbent material is a super-absorbent polymer.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the super-absorbent polymer is a hydrogel.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the absorbent material is dispersed in a plurality of absorbent strands; and
the ion-exchange media is dispersed in strands twisted around the absorbent strands.
21. A method for treating a tissue site, comprising:
disposing an absorbent layer proximate to the tissue site, wherein the absorbent layer comprises:
an absorbent material comprising a plurality of fibers, and
an ion-exchange media disposed around an absorbent core of each of the fibers and adapted to reduce an ionic concentration of a fluid drawn into the absorbent layer
attaching the absorbent layer to the tissue site with a drape.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
disposing a manifold between the tissue site and the absorbent layer;
fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure source to the manifold; and
supplying reduced pressure to the tissue site to draw fluid from the tissue site to the absorbent layer.
23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising fluidly coupling a container between the manifold and the reduced-pressure source, wherein a second absorbent layer is positioned in the container.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the ion-exchange media comprises:
a cation-exchange media; and
an anion-exchange media.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the absorbent layer further comprises
a filter layer disposed around the absorbent core of each of the fibers and comprising the ion-exchange media.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the filter layer of each of the plurality of fibers encloses the absorbent core of each of the plurality of fibers.
27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the ion-exchange media comprises an alkaline polymer.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the alkaline polymer is poly(acrylamido-N-propyltrimethylammonium chloride).
29. A system for treating a tissue site, comprising:
a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure;
a fluid storage member adapted to be in fluid communication with the tissue site and the reduced-pressure source to collect fluid from the tissue site;
a manifold adapted to receive reduced pressure and distribute the reduced pressure across the tissue site;
a drape adapted to cover the manifold and provide a substantially fluid-tight seal at the tissue site; and
an absorbent layer adapted to be in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure source, comprising:
a carrier, and
a plurality of multi-layer fibers, wherein each multi-layer fiber comprises an ion-exchange media disposed around an absorbent core.
30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the ion-exchange media comprises:
a cation-exchange media; and
an anion-exchange media.