Gel materials, medical articles, and methods

Abstract

A gel material and medical articles including such material, wherein the transparent gel material includes a polymerized poly(alkylene oxide) macromonomer that, prior to polymerization, is free-radically polymerizable, multifunctional (preferably difunctional), and has an average molecular weight of at least about 2000.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 121,518, filed Apr. 12, 2002, now allowed.BACKGROUND [0002] The present invention is directed to gel materials and medical articles incorporating such materials, particularly medical articles useful as wound dressings. More particularly this invention is directed to gel materials prepared from a multifunctional poly(alkylene oxide) macromonomer. [0003] Historically, exudate from a wound has been treated by absorbing it using a dressing containing an absorbent material. Typical such dressings contain a padded absorbent material attached to an adhesive tape backing. The padded absorbent material is applied to the wound to absorb the wound exudate. A difficulty with this type of dressing is that the scab typically forms in and as part of the pad as the wound heals. Thus, when the dressing is removed, the scab is removed. This problem has been addressed by providing a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] This invention provides medical articles and polymeric gel materials for use therein, which are preferably absorbent, and more preferably absorbent and transparent. By “gel” (or “polymer gel” or “polymeric gel material” or “hydrophilic gel”) it is meant a gel material capable of swelling on contact with (or water-based fluids such as body fluids including blood, plasma, and intracellular fluid or fluids similar to body fluids such as physiological saline), but does not dissolve in, water. The gels are substantial

Problems solved by technology

A difficulty with this type of dressing is that the scab typically forms in and as part of the pad as the wound heals.

Such a material typically has poor transparency so the treatment state cannot be observed from the outside.

Also, such a material can partially lose its integrity after absorbing wound fluid.

Flexibility of hydrocolloid dressings can be poor, which makes it difficult to apply the dressing to a bend portion of a body, such as a joint, etc.

There are known hydrophilic gel materials useful in medical applications such as wound dressings, however, many of them do not have the appropriate balance of absorption and cohesive strength often needed.

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