Non-woven fiber assemblies

• US 7,765,647 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Akron
• Original Assignee: University of Akron
• Inventors: Smith, Daniel J., Reneker, Darrell H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Shaun R
• Application Number:
  US10/510,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20060153904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,678 Days
• Field of Search: 191/45, 192/96
• US Class Current: 19/145
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0206 with absorbent fibrous layers, e.g. woven or non-woven absorbent pads or island dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0209 comprising superabsorbent material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0223 characterized by parametric properties of the fluid retention layer, e.g. absorbency, wicking capacity, liquid distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0226 characterised by the support layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0253 characterized by the adhesive material
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/225 Mixtures of macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/58 Adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 26/0052 Mixtures of macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/728 by electro-spinning electro-spinning methods and apparatus D01D5/0007
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/16 with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/608 Including strand or fiber material which is of specific structural definition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/642 Strand or fiber material is a blend of polymeric material and a filler material

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a non-woven fiber assembly comprising one or more fibers wherein each fiber contains: a hydrophilic component; and an elastomeric component, and wherein the non-woven fiber assembly further comprises an adhesive component. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to a non-woven fiber assembly comprising one or more fibers wherein each fiber contains: a hydrophilic component; an elastomeric component; and an adhesive component, wherein the hydrophilic component, the elastomeric component and the adhesive component are all contained within each fiber. Also disclosed is a method of making the afore-mentioned non-woven fiber assemblies. Additionally, a medical dressing made from the non-woven fiber assemblies of the present invention is disclosed.

Claims

1. A non-woven fiber assembly comprising one or more fibers wherein each fiber contains:

a hydrophilic component; and

an elastomeric component, and

wherein the non-woven fiber assembly further comprises an adhesive component, and wherein the assembly is capable of adhering to a dry substrate and is not capable of adhering to a wet substrate.

2. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly forms a component of a medical dressing.

3. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 1, wherein the adhesive component is selected from homo- and co-polymers of acrylates, silicones, polyvinylpyrrolidones, and mixtures thereof.

4. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric component is selected from polyurethanes, polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polyimides, and mixtures and co-polymers thereof.

5. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic component is selected from linear poly(ethylenimine), grafted cellulosics, poly(ethylene oxide), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polypropylene-oxides, polyurethanes, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), and mixtures and co-polymers thereof.

7. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber has a diameter of between about 3 nanometers and about 3000 nanometers.

10. A method of treating a patient comprising:

applying a non-woven fiber assembly of claim 1 to a predetermined area of the patient.

11. The non-woven assembly of claim 1, wherein the adhesive component is located on, or in proximity to, the one or more fibers.

6. A non-woven fiber assembly comprising one or more fibers wherein each fiber contains:

a hydrophilic component; and

an elastomeric component, and

wherein the non-woven fiber assembly further comprises an adhesive component, and wherein the composition of the one or more fibers at a first surface of the assembly is different from the composition of the one or more fibers at a second surface of the assembly.

20. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 6, wherein the assembly is capable of adhering to a dry substrate and is not capable of adhering to a wet substrate.

21. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 6, wherein the assembly forms a component of a medical dressing.

22. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 6, wherein the adhesive component is selected from homo- and co-polymers of acrylates, silicones, polyvinylpyrrolidones, and mixtures thereof.

23. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 6, wherein the elastomeric component is selected from polyurethanes, polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polyimides, and mixtures and co-polymers thereof.

24. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 6, wherein the hydrophilic component is selected from linear poly(ethylenimine), grafted cellulosics, poly(ethylene oxide), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polypropylene-oxides, polyurethanes, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), and mixtures and co-polymers thereof.

25. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one fiber has a diameter of between about 3 nanometers and about 3000 nanometers.

8. A method of making a non-woven fiber assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one fiber-forming material; and

forming at least one fiber from the at least one fiber-forming material, and

wherein the at least one fiber forming material comprises a hydrophilic component, an elastomeric component, and optionally an adhesive component, and wherein each fiber contains a hydrophilic component and an elastomeric component, and optionally contains an adhesive component, and wherein the one or more fiber-forming materials is provided in a solvent, and wherein the solvent is selected from alcohols, ethyl acetate, acetone, and tetrahydrofuran.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the relative amounts of the adhesive component, the elastomeric component, and the hydrophilic component varies over time, thereby producing a fiber assembly in which the composition of the one or more fibers at a first surface of the dressing differs from the composition of the one or more fibers at a second surface of the dressing.

12. A non-woven fiber assembly comprising one or more fibers wherein each fiber contains:

a hydrophilic component;

an elastomeric component; and

an adhesive component.

13. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 12, wherein the assembly is capable of adhering to a dry substrate and is not capable of adhering to a wet substrate.

14. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 12, wherein the assembly forms a component of a medical dressing.

15. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 12, wherein the adhesive component is selected from homo- and co-polymers of acrylates, silicones, polyvinylpyrrolidones, and mixtures thereof.

16. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 12, wherein the elastomeric component is selected from polyurethanes, polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polyimides, and mixtures and co-polymers thereof.

17. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 12, wherein the hydrophilic component is selected from linear poly(ethylenimine), grafted cellulosics, poly(ethylene oxide), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polypropylene-oxides, polyurethanes, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), and mixtures and co-polymers thereof.

18. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 12, wherein the composition of the one or more fibers at a first surface of the assembly is different from the composition of the one or more fibers at a second surface of the assembly.

19. The non-woven fiber assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one fiber has a diameter of between about 3 nanometers and about 3000 nanometers.