Abstract: The present invention provides a wound dressing comprising a mixture of textile fibres and gel forming fibres wherein the dressing is a knitted fabric comprising support yarn and in-laid yarn, the support yarn being substantially free of gel-forming fibres.

Abstract: An absorbent, composite fibre comprising a matrix of from 10% to less than 50% of water insoluble alginate having dispersed therein at least 40% of another polysaccharide.

Abstract: An autoadhesive wound dressing which having a pad of highly absorbent alginate fibers, one face of which is provided with an interrupted layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive. Such a dressing has the advantages that a separate dressing need not be used to secure the autoadhesive dressing and the autoadhesive dressing may be cut to fit an irregular wound.

Abstract: A process for preparing an alginate rope, which process comprises the steps of: (a) extruding an aqueous solution of a water soluble alginate into a coagulation bath; (b) contacting the extruded water soluble alginate with a source of a cation capable of forming a water insoluble alginate salt so as to produce a tow of water insoluble alginate fibers; (c) twisting the water insoluble alginate fibers of the tow; and (d) stretching the fibers up to 250% of their original length. The alginate rope prepared according to the process of the invention may be used as a surgical pack material or in the treatment of cavity wounds.

Abstract: Alginate fabrics have, in conjuction with charcoal cloth, been used in wound dressings for malodorous wounds and there are commercial examples of such wound dressings. A problem associated with known alginate wound dressings which employ charcoal cloth is that the dressing is a relatively rigid structure. Furthermore, the known dressings have been constrained to the use of charcoal cloth which limits the absorptive properties thereof for wound odorants due to the fixed surface area of the cloth. We have now developed an alginate fabric which alleviates the above problems, and there is provided by the present invention an alginate fabric having particulate charcoal dispersed therein.

Abstract: Alginate fibres comprising at least one medicament incorporated into the structure thereof, the medicament being present at a level of at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the alginate fibre with no incorporated medicament.

Abstract: A non-immunogenic, bioerodible implantation composition which comprises alginate fibres.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with alginate fibres, and in particular the use thereof as a wound dressing and a method of preparing the same. There is provided alginate fibres for use in the absorption of at least 10% by weight based on the weight of the alginate fibres of proteinaceous material from a wound environment into the structure of the fibres.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric of alginate staple fibres, characterized in that the absorbency of the fabric is greater than 25.0 grams of deionised water or 19.0 grams of saline water per gram of fabric as measured with reference to the test method depicted in FIG. 1, is prepared by a modified needle-tacking process. The fabric is useful for the preparation of wound and burn dressings.