Hemostatic devices

Abstract

Hemostatic devices for promoting blood clotting can include a substrate (e.g., gauze, textile, sponge, sponge matrix, one or more fibers, etc.), a hemostatic material disposed thereon such as kaolin clay, and a binder material such as crosslinked calcium alginate with a high guluronate monomer molar percentage disposed on the substrate to substantially retain the hemostatic material material. When the device is used to treat a bleeding wound, at least a portion of the clay material comes into contact with blood to accelerate clotting. Moreover, when exposed to blood, the binder has low solubility and retains a majority of the clay material on the gauze. A bandage that can be applied to a bleeding wound to promote blood clotting includes a flexible substrate and a gauze substrate mounted thereon.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hemostatic device comprising:
 a substrate;   a hemostatic material disposed on at least one side of the substrate; and   a water-insoluble, crosslinked, biocompatible, polymeric binder configured to immobilize the hemostatic material on the substrate such that the hemostatic material does not visibly separate from the substrate in the presence of water;   wherein the hemostatic device is not saturated in its final state before use;   wherein the binder has an effect of substantially retaining the hemostatic material on the substrate when exposed to blood;   wherein the device is configured such that when treating bleeding, application of the device is capable of causing blood to be absorbed into the substrate and causing at least a portion of the hemostatic material to come into direct contact with blood to assist in accelerating clotting.   
     
     
         2 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises rayon, polyester, or combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         4 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises high-G alginate. 
     
     
         5 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the binder includes covalent crosslinks. 
     
     
         6 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the binder includes ionic crosslinks. 
     
     
         7 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the binder includes ionic and covalent crosslinks. 
     
     
         8 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the hemostatic device is flexible to allow the hemostatic device to form to a shape of the bleeding wound and to retain a shape of the bleeding wound. 
     
     
         9 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the hemostatic material comprises alumina and silica. 
     
     
         10 . The hemostatic device of  claim 9 , wherein the hemostatic material is a clay. 
     
     
         11 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the immobilized hemostatic material is entrapped within a matrix of the binder. 
     
     
         12 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the hemostatic device is not stiff such that it can readily conform to, be packed within, and wrap around a wound surface or wound cavity without producing significant bulges, gaps, or voids. 
     
     
         13 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a salt. 
     
     
         14 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is distinct from the binder. 
     
     
         15 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises strands. 
     
     
         16 . The hemostatic device of  claim 15 , wherein the strands are formed into a gauze. 
     
     
         17 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1  in which the hemostatic device is provided in a sterilized packaging. 
     
     
         18 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a sponge. 
     
     
         19 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the hemostatic device is dried. 
     
     
         20 . The hemostatic device of  claim 19 , wherein the substrate is a non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The hemostatic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bandage with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on a skin-contacting surface of the bandage configured to adhere the bandage to the skin of a wearer.