The invention concerns an absorbent for blood and serous body fluids consisting of at least two components, A and B, whereby component A is a crosslinked synthetic or natural polymer or copolymer, and component B is an organic and/or inorganic compound which is water-soluble and solid at normal temperature. The absorbent contains 25 to 98 weight % of component A and 2 to 75 weight % of component B. The invention, moveover, concerns the use of the said absorbent for absorption and/or retention of blood and serous body fluids, in particular in absorbent throwaway articles for surgical, medical and hygienic purposes.

Description

17 parts

›.[.This application is a continuation of application Ser…

.[.This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 485,128, filed on 6/15/83, now abandoned..]. .Iadd.This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 405,616, filed 9/11/89, which is a reissue of 06/928,573, filed 11/10/86, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,713, which is a continuation of 06/485,128, filed 06/15/83, now abandoned. .Iaddend.

The invention concerns absorbents for blood and other serous body fluids which are suitable for use in absorbent throw-away products for surgical and other medical purposes as well as for sanitary napkins.

In recent years was developed a number of different polymerizates which had high absorption capacity for water and body fluids. Most of these products were based on starch, such as, e.g., starch-acrylonitrile graft polymerizates (U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,484; 3,661,815; 4,155,888; 3,935,099), gelatinized starch derivatives (DE-OS No. 2,702,781), starch-acryloamideacryloamidopropane sulphonic acid graft polymerizate (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 955,827), or on cellulose, such as derivatives of alkyl or hydroxyalkyl cellulose (Jap. Pat. No. 77/125,481), carboxymethyl cellulose (Belg. Pat. No. 862,130; GBP No. 1,159,949) and on polysaccharides (DE-OS No. 2,650,377). The fully synthetic absorbents described in numerous patents comprise crosslinked acrylic or methacrylic acid polymers and copolymers (DE-OS No. 2,429,236; DE-OS No. 2,614,662; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,018,951; 3,926,891; 4,066,583; 4,062,817; DE-OS No. 2,712,043; DE-OS No. 2,653,135; DE-OS No. 2,650,377; DE-OS No. 2,813,634) or maleic acid derivatives (U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,228).

All of these products are practically insoluble in water, absorb a multple of their weight in water, urine or other aqueous solutions but are practically without absorption capacity for blood because of their low dispersibility in blood.

On first contact with blood of the polymer absorbents constituting the state of the art, a skin forms on the drop of blood which acts as barrier against the penetration of the blood towards the absorbent particles. There result non-wetted absorbent particles and a drop of blood with a solid skin which on the inside, however, is filled with liquid blood.

A partial improvement of blood dispersibility of the absorbent was obtained in accordance with DE-OS No. 2,844,956 and EUP No. 0,009,977 in that a partly synthetic or fully synthetic absorbent in powder form is subsequently treated with polyethers (DE-OS No. 2,844,956) or with fat alcohols, fatty acids or fat esters (EUP No. 0,009,977), mostly dissolved in organic solvents.

Surprisingly, it was found that addition to the polymer absorbent of an inorganic or organic water-soluble compound present at normal temperature in form of a pourable powder is capable of accelerating the capillar flow of the blood through the mass of the particulate absorbent. In this manner, rapid distribution of the blood within the entire absorbent mass is achieved so that the blood can be absorbed at a faster rate.

The subject of the invention is an absorbent for blood and serous body fluids which is characterized in that it comprises at least two components, A and B, whereby component A is at least one water-swellable synthetic or natural polymer or copolymer and component B is at least one inorganic and/or organic compound which at normal temperature is present in form of a pourable powder and is water-soluble.

Suitable as Component A are the water-swellable polysaccharide polymers, such as cellulose, cellulose derivatives, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, alkyl or hydroxyalkyl cellulose, starch and starch derivatives and natural gums (xanthan gum, alginic acid) and their salts as well as the polymers and copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrylic acid derivatives, mainly homo- or copolymers of acrylic, methacrylic, acrylamidomethylpropane sulphonic acid, the salts of the aforegoing acids; of acrylic or methacrylic amide with each other or with vinyl pyrrolidone and/or vinyl acetate. The aforementioned polymers may be cross-linked by at least one bifunctional netting agent so that they are only swellable but not soluble in water. All of the polymers are produced in accordance with known methods.

Suitable as component B are inorganic or organic compounds which are solid at ambient temperature, preferably in form of a pourable powder.

Especially suitable as Component B are water-soluble salts of organic or inorganic acids not injurious to health, inorganic acids or organic mono- or polycarboxylic acids or low-molecular polymer carboxylic or sulphonic acids, solid at normal temperature, powdered and not injurious to health or also derivatives of carboxylic acids or mono- and oligosaccharides solid at normal temperature and not injurious to health.

As salts of inorganic acids which are not injurious to health are preferred the chlorides, bromides, iodides, sulphates, hydrosulphates, phosphates, hydrogen or dihydrogen phosphates, tetraborates, nitrates, carbonates or hydrogen carbonates, as salts of organic carboxylic acids the salts of acetic, formic, adipic, citric or tartaric acids or also the salts of low-molecular polymeric carboxylic and/or sulphonic acids having molecular masses ranging from 300 to 100,000, preferably 2,000 to 20,000, or homo- or copolymerizates of unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids, sulphonic acids, aldehydes, alcohols as well as (meth)acryloamide.

Suitable salts are the ammonium, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, aluminum or iron salts of the inorganic or organic acid.

There may also be used inorganic or organic acids proper as component B, provided they are solid at normal temperature, are powdered and water-soluble. Suitable inorganic acids are boric acid or phosphoric acid. Suitable organic acids are mono- or polycarboxylic acids, such as citric, tartaric or adipic acid or low-molecular polymeric carboxylic or sulphonic acids with molecular masses ranging from 300 to 100,000 g/mole, preferably 2,000 to 20,000 g/mole based on homo- or copolymerizates of unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids, sulphonic acids, aldehydes, alcohols as well as (meth)acrylamide.

›Suitable are, furthermore, the water-soluble derivatives of carboxylic…

Suitable are, furthermore, the water-soluble derivatives of carboxylic acid, solid at normal temperature, such as amides or diamides, preferably acetamide, urea and urea derivatives, such as thiourea, methyl or ethyl urea.

Finally, there are also suitable as component B mono- or oligosaccharides, such as glucose, fructose, mannose or saccharose.

The absorbent is composed of components A and B at a weight ratio of 25 to 98 weight %, preferably 50 to 90 weight %, of component A to 2 to 75 weight %, preferably 10 to 50 weight %, of component B.

Mixing of the two components, A and B, may be obtained in that component B is already dissolved in the monomer solution prior to polymerization, or in that component B is added to the process at any time in dry or dissolved form.

The absorbent in accordance with the invention, due to its composition, is suitable to absorb and/or retain blood and other serous body fluids, in particular for use in absorbent throw-away products, such as sanitary napkins, tampons or absorbent products for surgical and medical purposes.

Depending on the intended use, the absorbent in accordance with the invention is sprinkled onto or over a textile or paper support in some suitable dosage and is fixed in or on the material by some suitable measures.

The absorbents in accordance with the invention may be mixed with perfumes, binders or other adjuvants, too, such as, e.g., disinfectants, which do not influence the absorption properties of the absorbent.

The production of component A is explained in Examples 1 to 6.

›Examples15

›EXAMPLE 1

In a polymerization vessel were dissolved in 980 g water 328 g acrylic acid, 2.6 g N,N'-methylene bisacryloamide and were adjusted to pH=4.0 by means of 127.5 g sodium hydrogen carbonate. The components of the catalyst system (0.36 g azobisamidine propane dihydrochloride, 0.73 g potassium persulfate, 1.34 g sodiumpyrosulfite and 0.06 g iron(II)gluconate) dissolved in 120 ml water were added at normal temperature whereby adiabatic polymerization was achieved. The polymer gel obtained was divided, dried and ground.

›EXAMPLE 2

In a polymerization vessel were dissolved 375 g acrylic acid and 0.75 g N,N'methylene bisacryloamide in 850 g water and neutralized to a pH=4.0 by means of 120 g of a 25% ammonia solution. The same catalyst system as in Example 1 was employed for polymerization and the polymer gel obtained was treated in the same manner.

›EXAMPLE 3

In a polymerization vessel 140 g acryloamide, 35.6 g acrylic acid in 1.8 g N,N'-methylene bisacryloamide were dissolved in 550 g distilled water and neutralized to pH=4.0 by means of 10 g sodium hydrogen carbonate. The individual components of the catalyst system (0.64 g sodium pyrosulfate, 0.36 g potassium persulfate and 0.03 g iron(II) gluconate dissolved in 60 g water were added at normal temperature whereby polymerization was started. Processing occurred as in Example 1.

›EXAMPLE 4

In a polymerization vessel 568 g acrylic acid, 0.75 g tetraallyl oxyethane and 181.5 g acryloamide propanesulfonic acid were dissolved in 1930 g water and neutralized to a pH=4.5 with 256 g sodium hydrogen carbonate. Following addition of 1.2 g azobisamidine propanedihydrochloride photochemical polymerization is obtained at normal temperature by UV light. The polymer gel was reduced, dried and ground.

›EXAMPLE 5

In a polymerization vessel 328 g methacrylic acid, 48 g vinyl pyrrolidone and 0.75 g trimethylol propanedialyl ether were dissolved in 100 g water and neutralized with 34.6 sodium hydrogen carbonate to a pH=4.2, 0.6 g azobisamidine propane dihydrochloride was added and photochemical polymerization was effected. The polymer gel was processed as in Example 1.

›EXAMPLE 6

In a polymerization vessel 320 g acrylic acid, 56 g vinyl pyrrolidone and 3.75 g N,N'-methylene bisacryloamide were dissolved in 862 g water and neutralized to a pH=4.4 by means of 100 g sodium hydrogen carbonate. The individual components of the catalyst system (0.6 g azobisamidine propane dihydroxychloride, 1.2 g sodium pyrosulfite and 0.6 g potassium persulfate) were added dissolved in 150 g water at normal temperature. Polymerization occurred practically adiabatically. The polymer gel obtained was comminuted, dried and ground.

›EXAMPLE 7

In a polymerization vessel 320 g acrylic acid, 56 g vinyl pyrrolidine, 3.75 g N,N' methylene bisacryloamide and 54 g sodium chloride were dissolved in 700 g water and neutralized to pH=4.0 with 125 g sodium hydrogen carbonate. 0.6 g azobisamidine propane dihydrochloride was added at normal temperature and polymerization was obtained photochemically (by UV light). The resulting polymer gel was comminuted, dried and ground.

›EXAMPLE 8

To the products obtained as per Examples 1 to 6 (component A) were mixed in powder form homogeneous the salts indicated in Table 1 (component B). The following testing method was employed in order to determine the speed of distribution of the blood in the absorbent and the quantity of blood retained by the absorbent:

On a filter paper layer (φ45 mm) was placed a plexiglas plate with a round cutout (φ40 mm). The absorbent to be tested was sprinkled into the opening and distributed uniformly over the entire circular surface. Thereafter, 0.5 ml human blood was placed in the center of the circle and the time in which the blood stain forming due to capillary forces attained a size of 20 mm was measured. After 60 seconds, the test specimen was covered with filter paper (φ45 mm), was weighted down with a 500 g weight (40 g/cm 2 ) and the quantity of blood absorbed due to the absorbent was determined, whereby the quantity of non-used-up absorbent as well as the blood quantity absorbed by the filter paper cover and filter base was taken into account. The results appear in Table 1.

In the same manner were also tested the absorbents in accordance with the invention which were produced from polymerizates on a natural basis (component A). The results appear in Table 2.

__________________________________________________________________________

Absorbed blood quant.

in % relative to used

Speed of blood

Component

Ratio

blood Component

distribution

A B A/B quantity

A in sec.

__________________________________________________________________________

›Example 1

-- -- 34.0 -- >60

" KCl 2:1 74.0 68 3

" KCl 3:1 74.6 85 4

" KCl 5:1 90.6 98 11

" KCl 7:1 85.2 100 12

" KCl 9:1 81.8 110 30

" KCl 19:1

64.4 140 48

" NH.sub.4 Cl

5:1 84.6 83 3

" NaCl 5:1 83.6 78 10

" Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4

5:1 77.2 100 5

" KBr 3:1 92.0 88 4

" KHSO.sub.4

3:1 89.0 95 7

" K.sub.2 SO.sub.4

3:1 91.0 105 4.5

" KNO.sub.3

2:1 89 91 11

" NaNO.sub.3

2:1 87 89 12

" NaNH.sub.4 HPO.sub.4

3:1 88 98 12

" NaPO.sub.3

3:1 90 96 18

" NH.sub.4 H.sub.2 PO.sub.4

3:1 86 102 12

" o-Phosphoric

3:1 95 135 16

acid

" m-Phosphoric

3:1 81 77 24

acid

" boric acid

3:1 45 198 48

" Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7.10

3:1 95 101 48

H.sub.2 O

" CaCl.sub.2

3:1 79 78 30

" NH.sub.4 Fe(SO.sub.4).sub.2

3:1 81 85 14

" Ca(CH.sub.3 COO).sub.2

3:1 91 110 6

" Ca(H.sub.2 PO.sub.4).sub.2

3:1 90 98 18

" CaCO.sub.3

3:1 92 85 16

" KAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2

5:1 87.3 138 18

" Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3

5:1 90.1 108 16

" CH.sub.3 COOK

5:1 82.5 194 3

" CH.sub.3 XOONa

4:1 90.7 125 4

" CH.sub.3 COONa

9:1 90.0 147 5

" (CH.sub.3 COO).sub.2 Mg

5:1 93.0 114 4

" potassium

3:1 85.0 102 18

tartrate

" sodium 3:1 91.0 110 12

citrate

" CH.sub.3 CONH.sub.2

4:1 100.0 130 5

" Saccharose

4:1 78.0 240 55

" Glucose 4:1 95.9 195 15

" Citric acid

4:1 92.6 180 13.6

citric

" acid/KCL 4:1 100.0 120 8.5

(1:1)

" urea 4:1 99.0 114 8.8

" Ethyl urea

4:1 98.1 138 12.4

›Example 2

-- 40.1 -- <60

" KCl 5:1 85.6 94 4

›Example 3

-- -- 45.0 -- <60

" NaCl 3:1 79.0 96 45

›Example 4

-- -- 53.1 -- <60

" KCl 5:1 93.5 82 3.5

›Example 5

-- -- 55.0 -- <60

" NaCl 2:1 95.0 81 15

›Example 6

-- -- 61.5 -- <60

" KCl 5:1 75.3 85 12

" NaCl 1:1 85.5 90 2

" NH.sub.4 Cl

2:1 90.1 112 15

" Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4

2:1 88.0 102 18

" Na-Polyacrylate

4:1 72.0 190 12

Mol. wt 4000

g/mol

" Na-Acrylate/

3:1 85.0 120 17

Acrylamide-Co

polymerizate

Mol. wt. 9000

g/mol

" Acrylic acid/

3:1 91.0 118 12

2-Acrylami-

do-2-methyl-

propanesulfonic

acid-Copoly-

merizate Na-

salt Mol. wt.

15000 g/mol.

›Example 7

NaCl 6:1 94.5 96 3

" NaCl/KCl 7:3 95.0 83 3

(1:1)

Polyacryl-

CH.sub.3 COONa

4:1 81.0 143 14.0

amide Mol. wt

5.10.sup.6 g/mol

Polyacryl

-- -- 42.7 94 35.0

amide Mol.

wt.

1.10.sup.6 g/mol

Polyacryl

Ethyl urea

3:1 70.0 123 14.0

amide Mol.

wt.

1.10.sup.6 g/mol

Polyacryl

CH.sub.3 COONa

3:1 58.0 84 13.2

amide Mol.

wt.

1.10.sup.6 g/mol

Acrylamide/

CH.sub.3 COONa

4:1 75.0 134 14.4

Acrylic acid

Copoly-

merizate

Mol. wt.

6.10.sup.6 g/mol

__________________________________________________________________________

Absorbed blood quant.

in % relative to used

Speed of

Component

Ratio

blood Component

blood distribution

A B A/B quantity

A in sec.

__________________________________________________________________________

crosslinked

-- -- 15.0 -- >60

starch

Arylic acid

Copolymerizate

crosslinked

KCl 2:1 37.0 180 60

starch

Arylic acid

Copolymerizate

crosslinked

KCl 1:1 55.1 250 45

starch

Arylic acid

Copolymerizate

crosslinked

KCl 1:3 85.5 380 13.5

starch

Arylic acid

Copolymerizate

Carboxy-

-- -- 18.0 -- <60

methylcellulose

Carboxy-

CH.sub.3 COONa

1:1 94.0 180 14

methylcellulose

Methylhy-

-- -- 12 -- <60

droxyethyl-

cellulose

Methylhy-

CH.sub.3 COONa

1:1 79.2 184 45

droxyethyl-

cellulose

Cellulose

-- -- 24.0 -- <60

MN 100

Cellulose

CH.sub.3 COONa

1:1 88.9 230 17.9

MN 100

starch -- -- 18.0 -- <60

" CH.sub.3 COONa

1:2 87.3 ˜150

__________________________________________________________________________

2 of 17 part labels are ours — the grant heads the rest

Claims

19 · 2 independent · depth 4

19 granted claims

›1.independentAn absorbent for blood or other serious body fluids comprising a physical mixture of components A and B wherein: component A is at least one compound …+17

›2.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein component A includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers of …d2+1

›4.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein component A includes a cross-linked polysaccharide polymer or copolymer.d2+1

›6.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein said component B includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of chlorides, bromides, i…d2

›7.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein component B includes at least one salt of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic, fo…d2

›8.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein component B includes a salt of a polymeric carboxylic or sulphonic acid having a molecular weight ranging be…d2+1

›11.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein said inorganic acid includes phosphoric acid or boric acid.d2

›12.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein said component B includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of citric, tartaric and a…d2

›13.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein said component B includes a low-molecular weight polymeric carboxylic or sulphonic acid having a molecular w…d2+2

›16.↳ 1An absorbent according to claim 1 wherein said absorbent contains from 10% to 98% by weight of component A and from 2% to 90% by weight of component B…d2+1

›18.↳ 1An article for use in absorbing blood or other serous fluids comprising a textile or paper support which carries an effective amount of an absorbent a…d2

›19.↳ 1The method for absorbing blood or serous body fluids comprising contacting the blood or serous body fluid to be absorbed with an effective amount of a…d2

›10.independentmultiple · 1, 5An absorbent according to claims 1 or 5 wherein said component B includes at least one salt selected from the group consisting of ammonium, sodium, po…

Classifications

11 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section A — Human necessities

A61L15/00
A61F13/49
A61F13/00
A61F13/15
A61F13/53
A61L15/60

Section C — Chemistry; metallurgy

C08K3/00
C08K5/00

USPC · US Patent Classification

604/368602/49604/358

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›IP5 & PCT — 7 members

Office	Publication	Kind	Published	Filed	Status	Title
US	US-4693713-A	A	15 Sep 1987	10 Jul 1982	granted	Absorbents for blood and serous body fluids
USthis patent	US-RE33839-E	E	3 Mar 1992	10 Jul 1982	granted	Absorbents for blood and serous body fluids
EP	EP-0071063-A1	A1	9 Feb 1983	10 Jul 1982	published	Absorptionsmittel für Blut und seröse Körperflüssigkeitende
EP	EP-0071063-B1	B1	11 Dec 1985	10 Jul 1982	granted	Absorbent composition for blood and serous body fluids
JP	JP-S58501107-A	A	14 Jul 1983	10 Jul 1982	published	血液および漿液性体液のための吸収体ja
JP	JP-H0581263-B2	B2	12 Nov 1993	10 Jul 1982	published	no title held
WO	WO-8300289-A1	A1	3 Feb 1983	10 Jul 1982	published	Moyen permettant d'absorber du sang et des liquides corporels sereuxfr

›Other offices — 4 members

Office	Publication	Kind	Published	Filed	Status	Title
AT	AT-E16891-T1	T1	15 Dec 1985	10 Jul 1982	granted	Absorptionsmittel fuer blut und seroese koerperfluessigkeiten.de
DE	DE-3128100-A1	A1	27 Jan 1983	16 Jul 1981	published	Absorptionsmittel fuer blut und seroese koerperfluessigkeitende
DE	DE-3267907-D1	D1	23 Jan 1986	10 Jul 1982	granted	Absorbent composition for blood and serous body fluids
DE	DE-3128100-C2	C2	22 May 1986	16 Jul 1981	granted	Absorptionsmittel für Blut und seröse Körperflüssigkeitende

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