Hydrogel Compositions
First Claim
1. A hydrogel composition comprised of a discontinuous hydrophobic phase and a hydrophilic phase, wherein:
- (a) the discontinuous hydrophobic phase comprises (i) a hydrophobic polymer, (ii) a plasticizer, (iii) a tackifying resin, and (iv) an optional antioxidant; and
(b) the hydrophilic phase is either discontinuous or continuous, wherein when the hydrophilic phase is continuous, the hydrophilic phase comprises a water-swellable cellulosic ester polymer composition that is insoluble in water at a pH of less than 8.5, or a water-swellable copolymer formed from two or more of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and ethyl methacrylate that is insoluble in water at a pH of less than 5.5.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hydrogel compositions are provided (a) that have a continuous hydrophobic phase and a discontinuous hydrophilic phase, (b) that have a discontinuous hydrophilic phase and a continuous hydrophilic phase, or (c) that are entirely composed of a continuous hydrophilic phase. The hydrophobic phase, if present, is composed of a hydrophobic polymer, particularly a hydrophobic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), a plasticizing elastomer, a tackifying resin, and an optional antioxidant. The discontinuous hydrophilic phase, if present, is composed of a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer, particularly a crosslinked cellulosic polymer such as crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose. For those hydrogel compositions containing a continuous hydrophilic phase, the components of the phase include a cellulose ester composition or an acrylate polymer or copolymer, and a blend of a hydrophilic polymer and a complementary oligomer capable of hydrogen bonding thereto. Films prepared from hydrogel compositions containing or entirely composed of the aforementioned continuous hydrophilic phase can be made translucent, and may be prepared using either melt extrusion or solution casting. A preferred use of the hydrogel compositions is in wound dressings, although numerous other uses are possible as well.
68 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A hydrogel composition comprised of a discontinuous hydrophobic phase and a hydrophilic phase, wherein:
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(a) the discontinuous hydrophobic phase comprises (i) a hydrophobic polymer, (ii) a plasticizer, (iii) a tackifying resin, and (iv) an optional antioxidant; and (b) the hydrophilic phase is either discontinuous or continuous, wherein when the hydrophilic phase is continuous, the hydrophilic phase comprises a water-swellable cellulosic ester polymer composition that is insoluble in water at a pH of less than 8.5, or a water-swellable copolymer formed from two or more of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and ethyl methacrylate that is insoluble in water at a pH of less than 5.5. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 62)
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- 8. The hydrogel composition of claim 8, wherein the cellulosic polymer composition is comprised of at least one cellulosic polymer containing unesterified cellulose units, cellulose acetate units, and either cellulose butyrate units or cellulose propionate units.
- 16. The hydrogel composition of claim 16, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(N-vinyl lactams), poly(N-vinyl amides), poly(N-alkylacrylamides), and copolymers and blends thereof.
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58. A wound dressing having a translucent inner region for viewing a covered wound, comprising a substrate having:
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a body facing surface; an outwardly facing surface; a peripheral skin contact adhesive on the body facing-surface providing means for affixing the wound dressing to a body surface in the region of a wound; a translucent inner region; and
,contained within the translucent inner region and on the body-facing surface of the wound dressing, a translucent hydrogel composition for absorbing wound exudate located within a central wound-contacting portion of the wound dressing. - View Dependent Claims (59)
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63. A method of forming a hydrogel film having a discontinuous hydrophobic phase comprising a hydrophobic polymer, a plasticizing elastomer, a tackifying resin, and an optional antioxidant, and a hydrophilic phase that is either discontinuous or continuous, wherein the method comprises:
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melt processing the components of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic phases through an extruder to form an extruded hydrogel composition; placing the extruded hydrogel composition on a substrate; and applying pressure to the hydrogel layer to form a hydrogel film on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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Specification