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Publication Number
US-9486553-B2
Publication Date
2016-11-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a wound dressing or the like comprises the steps of a) providing a layer of substrate material; b) extruding a curable hydrophobic gel precursor composition onto that substrate material via one or more mobile applicators; and c) causing or allowing the hydrophobic gel precursor composition to cure to form a hydrophobic gel. Wound dressings or the like that can be manufactured by such a method comprise a layer of substrate material, the wound facing surface of which carries bands of hydrophobic gel that are intermingled in a lattice-like arrangement.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a wound dressing or the like by providing a layer of substrate material and extruding a curable hydrophobic gel precursor composition onto an upper surface of the substrate material via one or more mobile applicators. The extruding is performed such that the upper surface of the substrate material is partially coated with precursor composition while part of the upper surface is not coated, and the hydrophobic gel precursor composition is caused or allowed to cure to form a partial coating of hydrophobic gel.
In the described embodiments, the curable hydrophobic gel precursor composition is formed from silicone components, including a silicone gel precursor with vinyl substituted silicone and hydride-containing silicone. The manufacturing forms a partial coating structure using a coating pattern that includes intermingled lattice-like bands of cured hydrophobic gel while leaving uncoated regions.
The substrate material is selected to be a vapour permeable and/or breathable material, including foam or films, and may further include an optional liquid-impermeable vapor-permeable backing layer. The applicator can include an elongate cylindrical applicator housing with inlet ports and outlet ports, an internal reservoir, and a supply conduit and/or flexible material conduit for precursor delivery.
The curing is performed by medium-wave infrared heaters for a defined curing time range, resulting in a wound dressing structure intended to address drawbacks of prior incomplete-coating methods and to improve performance related to pain-free removal and vapor transmission/moisture management.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is clm-00001. It covers one primary inventive combination with two inventive features: mobile-applicator extrusion of a curable hydrophobic gel precursor onto a substrate surface, and curing to form a partial hydrophobic gel coating while leaving part of the surface uncoated.
Mobile applicator partial coating leaving uncoated surface
Extruding a curable hydrophobic gel precursor composition onto an upper surface of substrate material via one or more mobile applicators such that the upper surface is partially coated and part of the upper surface is not coated with precursor composition.
Curing forms partial hydrophobic gel coating with uncoated region
Causing or allowing the hydrophobic gel precursor composition to cure to form a partial coating of hydrophobic gel on the upper surface such that part of the upper surface remains not coated with hydrophobic gel.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on manufacturing a wound dressing or the like by mobile-applicator extrusion of a curable hydrophobic gel precursor onto a substrate to produce a partial coating, then curing to obtain a partial hydrophobic gel coating while maintaining uncoated regions.
Stated Advantages
Improved vapor transmission/moisture management
Pain-free removal
Reduced manufacturing drawbacks of prior incomplete-coating methods
Delamination reduction
Documented Applications
Manufacturing a wound dressing or the like using partial coating of a cured hydrophobic gel on a substrate.
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