Abstract: A wound dressing adapted for preventing pooling of wound exudate and for promoting healing comprises, in order:(a) a layer consisting essentially of hydrogel for placement on a wound, the hydrogel being characterized as being wound friendly and for absorbing and acting as a reservoir for wound exudate;(b) an intermediate layer disposed over said hydrogel layer. The intermediate layer comprises a tacky hydrogel or hydrocolloid adhesive, the tacky hydrogel or hydrocolloid adhesive characterized as having a greater absorbent capacity that does the hydrogel in the hydrogel layer; the underlying hydrogel layer is characterized as being more friendly and consequently more suitable for direct wound contact than the overlying adhesive hydrogel of greater absorbent capacity; the intermediate layer having sufficient moisture permeability therethrough to the surface of the dressing;(c) an outer oxygen- and vapor-permeable layer adapted for transpiration of at least a portion of fluid diffusing through the dressing.

Abstract: Novel wound dressings comprising the following essential elements, in order:a thin outer vapor-permeable layer; an absorbent adhesive layer for adhering the wound dressing to the skin and for acting as a reservoir for wound exudate; and a layer of collagen for placement directly on the wound, said collagen layer being of smaller dimensions than said absorbent adhesive layer whereby areas of said absorbent adhesive layer extending beyond the periphery of said collagen layer can be applied to the skin surrounding the wound.