Dressings and bandages comprising same

Abstract

The dressings of the invention comprise at least two components: an absorbent substrate having a first skin-facing surface and a second opposing surface; and a discontinuous coating of a semi-solid composition having an ointment-like feel overlying a portion of the first surface of said absorbent substrate. The absorbent substrate is useful as a passive dispenser of at least one active ingredient that may be contained therein. The discontinuous coating is essentially non-adherent to the skin and is useful as an active dispenser of at least one active ingredient that may be contained therein. In preferred embodiments the dressing of the invention contains at least one and more preferably at least two active ingredients intended to provide therapeutic benefit to the skin.

Description

[0001] The present invention is directed to a dressing, particularly for wounds, which comprises an absorbent substrate and a discontinuous coating of a composition having an ointment-like feel. The dressing is useful for absorbing bodily exudates, particularly wound exudates, and for dispensing active ingredients, for example, therapeutics, to the skin with no substantial loss of absorption capacity. The dressings of the invention and bandages derived therefrom may be easily and comfortably removed from the skin when desired without re-traumatizing a wound site.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART[0002] Bandages and wound dressings typically comprise an absorbent pad to absorb exudate from a wound. The absorbent pad is typically constructed of a fibrous nonwoven material. One problem with such absorbent bandages is that the fibers of the absorbent pad may become embedded in the healing wound, making it difficult to painlessly remove the bandage without traumatizing the wound. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a dressing that has a soothing effect on wounds.

Problems solved by technology

One problem with such absorbent bandages is that the fibers of the absorbent pad may become embedded in the healing wound, making it difficult to painlessly remove the bandage without traumatizing the wound.

While effective at promoting wound healing, a problem with such treatment regimens is that they are relatively inconvenient and messy.

While these support materials may have some absorptive capacity, the presence of the occlusive composition overlying the support material tends to block the support and prevent it from absorbing moisture-containing fluids such as wound exudate.

However, the use of an adhesive material in the wound area of a wound dressing would be expected to be undesirable because contact of the wound with an adhesive composition would be expected to re-traumatize the wound when the dressing is removed.

While the dressings disclosed in the '620 patent may possess good hemostatic properties, they are not expected to have the soothing properties of ointment-containing dressings.

Furthermore, any actives present in such dressing would not be expected to be readily available to a wound without moisture such as that which is contained in wound exudate.

Furthermore, the '339 dressing would not be expected to have the wound soothing properties of ointment-containing dressings.

This means that the dressings of the invention would not sufficiently adhere to skin to remain in place during use without additional components such as a gauze wrap or an adhesive-coated backing.

Such ready flow might compromise sterility or otherwise adversely affect the absorptive characteristics of the dressing.

However, the flowability should not be so great as to permit the compositions to migrate from their desired positions on a dressing while the dressing is in use on a wound.

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