Method of manufacturing a wound dressing

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a wound dressing having microscopic web-like interconnections and a porous structure of continuous pores throughout the wound dressing. In the first embodiment of the method, the dressing is produced by the steps of heating while simultaneously stirring a biocompatible material and solvent to form a homogenous solution; cooling while simultaneously stirring the homogenous solution to form a gel made of a dispersion of gel particles of the biocompatible material and freeze-drying the gel. In a second embodiment of the method, the wound dressing is produced by heating while simultaneously stirring a biocompatible material and the solvent to form a homogenous solution, cooling while simultaneously stirring the homogenous solution to form a gel made of a dispersion of gel particles of the biocompatible material; warming while simultaneously stirring the gel, allowing the warm gel to cool to form a soft gel and freeze-drying the soft gel. Finally, in a third embodiment of the method, the steps of heating while simultaneously stirring a biocompatible material and the solvent to form a homogenous solution, adding a liquid which inhibits the freezing of the homogenous solution, cooling while simultaneously stirring the homogenous solution to form a gel comprising a dispersion of gel particles of the biocompatible material and freeze-drying the gel.