Wound dressing and method for controlling severe, life-threatening bleeding

Abstract

This invention is directed to advanced hemorrhage control wound dressings, and methods of using and producing same. The subject wound dressing is constructed from a non-mammalian material for control of severe 5 bleeding. The wound dressing for controlling severe bleeding is formed of a biomaterial comprising chitosan, a hydrophilic polymer, a polyacrylic polymer or a combination thereof, The kind of severe, life-threatening bleeding contemplated by this invention is typically of the type not capable of being stanched when a conventional gauze wound dressing is applied with conventional 10 pressure to the subject wound. The wound dressing being capable of substantially stanching the flow of the severe life-threatening bleeding from the wound by adhering to the wound site, to seal the wound, to accelerate blood clot formation at the wound site, to reinforce clot formation at the wound site and prevent bleed out from the wound site, and to substantially prohibit the flow of 15 blood out of the wound site.

1 . A method comprising providing a wound dressing comprising a freeze-dried and heat-compressed structure comprising a chitosan biomaterial having a density, after being heat-compressed, of between about 0.14 g/cm 3  to about 0.6 g/cm 3 ,
 inserting the freeze-dried and heat-compressed structure into a wound site into contact with tissue for hemorrhage control, and   the freeze-dried and heat-compressed structure having a degree of adhesion to the wound site of about 40 kPa to about 500 kPa to adhere to tissue in the presence of blood flow and stanch bleeding within the wound site.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1   wherein the freeze-dried and heat-compressed structure includes a backing support material.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1   wherein inserting includes conforming the freeze-dried and heat-compressed structure into a configuration of the wound site.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1   wherein inserting includes applying pressure to the freeze-dried and heat-compressed structure