# US 10,245,346 B2 · Ion exchange absorbent systems, apparatuses, and methods

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- Number: US 10,245,346 B2
- Document ID: US10245346B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/869,649
- Filed: 2015-09-29
- Published: 2016-04-07
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-06
- Assignees: KCI Licensing, Inc.
- Applicants: KCI Licensing, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke; Brian Andrews; Timothy Mark Robinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245346B2

## CPC

- A61F 13/05: specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT]
- A61F 13/00987: {Apparatus or processes for manufacturing non-adhesive dressings or bandages}
- A61F 13/00991: {for treating webs, e.g. for moisturising, coating, impregnating or applying powder}
- A61F 13/022: {having more than one layer with different fluid retention characteristics}
- A61F 13/0276: {Apparatus or processes for manufacturing adhesive dressings or bandages}
- A61L 15/18: containing inorganic materials
- A61L 15/22: containing macromolecular materials
- A61L 15/225: {Mixtures of macromolecular compounds}
- A61L 15/24: Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)}
- A61L 15/26: Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)}
- A61L 15/28: Polysaccharides or their derivatives {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)}
- A61L 15/425: {Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges}
- A61L 15/44: Medicaments
- A61L 15/60: Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
- A61M 1/60: {Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source (containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69)}
- A61M 1/915: {Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold}
- A61M 1/982: {with means for detecting level of collected exudate}
- G05B 19/41865: {characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow}
- A61F 2013/00314: {with surface treatments}
- A61L 2300/104: Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
- A61L 2300/106: Halogens or compounds thereof, e.g. iodine, chlorite
- A61L 2300/404: Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
- A61L 2420/00: Materials or methods for coatings medical devices
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for increasing liquid absorption are described. Some embodiments may include a dressing having an absorbent layer containing super-absorbent material as well as ionic-exchange media (IEM). In some embodiments, the absorbent layer may include absorbent fibers. The absorbent fibers may each include a super-absorbent core surrounded by a water-permeable layer onto which ionic-exchange media (IEM) may be grafted. As liquid comes into contact with the IEM, its ionic nature may be reduced, therefore protecting the absorbent qualities of the super-absorbent material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fiber, comprising:
an absorbent core; and
a filter layer surrounding the absorbent core and comprising an ion-exchange media adapted to reduce an ionic concentration of a fluid prior to the fluid coming into contact with the absorbent core;
wherein the ion-exchange media comprises cation-exchange media and anion-exchange media that are dispersed throughout the filter layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1, wherein the filter layer is coated on the absorbent core.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1, wherein the filter layer encloses the absorbent core.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1, wherein the ion-exchange media comprises porous beads formed from cross-linked polymers doped or grafted with acidic polymers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fiber of claim 4, wherein the cross-linked polymers comprise polystyrene and the acidic polymers comprise poly (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) and poly (acrylamido-N-propyltrimethylammonium chloride).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1, wherein the ion-exchange media comprises an alkaline polymer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fiber of claim 6, wherein the alkaline polymer is poly(acrylamido-N-propyltrimethylammonium chloride).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1, wherein the ion-exchange media comprises a zeolite.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1, wherein the filter layer is water-permeable.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1, wherein the filter layer comprises a polymer coating.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The fiber of claim 10, wherein the polymer coating comprises at least one of cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyurethane, polyacrylamide, and polyethylene oxide.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The fiber of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises a super-absorbent material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The fiber of claim 12, wherein the super-absorbent material is a super-absorbent polymer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The fiber of claim 13, wherein the super-absorbent polymer is a hydrogel.

### Claim 15

An absorbent dressing, comprising:
an ion-exchange media adapted to reduce an ionic concentration of a fluid; and
an absorbent surrounded by the ion-exchange media, such that the ionic concentration of the fluid is reduced prior to the fluid coming into contact with the absorbent, and wherein the absorbent is adapted to absorb fluid with the reduced ionic concentration;
wherein the absorbent comprises an absorbent strand and the ion-exchange media is dispersed in strands twisted around the absorbent strand.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The absorbent dressing of claim 15, wherein the absorbent is formed into a plurality of absorbent fibers.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The absorbent dressing of claim 15, wherein the ion-exchange media comprises a cation-exchange media.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The absorbent dressing of claim 15, wherein the ion-exchange media comprises an anion-exchange media.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The absorbent dressing of claim 15, wherein the ion-exchange media is dispersed in a filter layer around the absorbent.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The absorbent dressing of claim 15, wherein the absorbent comprises a super-absorbent material.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The absorbent dressing of claim 20, wherein the super-absorbent material is a super-absorbent polymer.