Liquid loaded pad for medical applications

• US 4,588,400 A
• Filed: 12/16/1982
• Issued: 05/13/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Medical Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Services Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dow, Thurman, Ring, David F., Nashed, Wilson
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaechele, Karen L.
• Application Number:
  US06/450,324
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 604/289, 604/304, 604/307, 604/308, 604/358, 604/365, 604/367-368, 604/374-376, 604/290, 604/92, 604/897, 128/155, 128/156, 424/28, 424/362, 435/101, 435/823
• US Class Current: 604/304
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/28 Polysaccharides or their derivatives A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/40 containing ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof , e.g. plant or animal extracts
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/02 Cellulose; Modified cellulose

Abstract

Liquid loaded pads useful as wound and burn dressings are prepared from pellicles of microbially-produced cellulose obtained, for example, by culturing Acetobacter xylinum. A pellicle having a thickness from about 0.1 to 15 millimeters or greater is processed to replace the culture medium with water or other physiologically compatible liquid. The liquid-loaded pellicle is sterilized prior to its use as a dressing or in other medical applications.

Claims

1. A liquid loaded pad for medical applications comprising a fibrous mass of microbially-produced cellulose fibrils and a sterile, physiologically-acceptable liquid retained within the interstices of said fibrous mass, said fibrous mass having a coherent and dimensionally stable structure.

2. A pad of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of liquid to cellulose in said fibrous mass is from about 5:

1 to 150;

1.

3. A pad of claim 1 wherein said physiologically-acceptable liquid is selected from the group consisting of distilled water, saline, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, lower alcohols, and mixtures thereof.

4. A pad of claim 3 wherein said liquid is pyrogen-free.

5. A pad of claim 1 wherein said physiologically-acceptable liquid is an aqueous gel of a crosslinked polymer.

6. A pad of claim 5 wherein said polymer is polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone or sodium acrylate.

7. A pad of claim 1 wherein said physiologically-acceptable liquid includes a medicament.

8. A pad of claim 1 wherein said pellicle is substantially free of the microbial agents responsible for the production of said cellulose.

9. A pad of claim 1 including a moisture-impervious, occlusive backing sheet.

10. A pad of claim 9 wherein said occlusive backing sheet extends beyond the edge of said fibrous mass to form an island dressing.

11. A pad of claim 10 wherein that portion of said backing sheet extending beyond the edge of said fibrous mass is adhesive-coated.

12. A pad of claim 1 wherein said fibrous mass has a thickness from about 0.1 millimeter to 15 millimeters.

13. A pad of claim 1 having a plurality of openings extending therethrough.

14. A wound, burn dressing or tissue/organ drape comprising a pad of claim 1.

15. A surgical wipe comprising a pad of claim 13.

16. A pad of claim 1 wherein said fibrous mass is coated with petrolatum.

17. A liquid loaded pad comprising a compressed pellicle of microbially-produced cellulose fibrils and a sterile, physiologically-acceptable liquid retained within the interstices of said compressed pellicle, said pellicle having a coherent and dimensionally stable structure with a thickness of less than about 1 millimeter.

18. A pad of claim 17 wherein the weight ratio of liquid to cellulose in said pellicle is from about 2:

1 to 20;

1.

19. A pad of claim 17 wherein said physiologically-acceptable liquid is selected from the group consisting of distilled water, saline, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, lower alcohols, and mixtures thereof.

20. A pad of claim 19 wherein said liquid is pyrogen-free.

21. A pad of claim 17 wherein said physiologically-acceptable liquid includes a medicament.

22. A pad of claim 17 including a moisture-impervious, occlusive backing sheet.

23. A burn dressing of claim 21 wherein said physiologically-acceptable liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, saline, water/polyethylene glycol and water/glycerol solutions.

24. A dressing of claim 23 wherein said liquid is pyrogen-free.

25. A burn dressing comprising a fibrous mass of microbially-produced cellulose fibrils and a sterile, volatile, physiologically-acceptable liquid retained within the interstices of said fibrous mass, said fibrous mass having a coherent and dimensionally stable structure.

26. A cold pack for treating burns comprising a fibrous mass of microbially-produced cellulose fibrils, a sterile,physiologically-acceptable liquid retained within the interstices of said fibrous mass, and an insulating backing material on one side of said fibrous mass, said fibrous mass having a coherent and dimensionally stable structure independent of said insulating backing material.