Patent ID: 7128929

Claim:
A process for making a water-insoluble alginate sponge or foam product to be utilized in the preparation of wound dressings or surgical products comprising the steps of: (I) making an aqueous solution of a water-soluble alginate composition; (II) while allowing the total composition of (I) to be mixed, adding a di- or trivalent cation metal ion salt capable of complexing the water-soluble alginate to form a water-insoluble alginate hydrogel; (III) adding to the mixture of (II), a plasticizer, a surface active agent, sodium tetraborate, ammonium hydroxide, and a suitable medicinal agent; (IV) while continuing to mix the entire composition (III), adding an effervescent compound capable of effervescense upon reaction with a water-soluble acid; (V) adding to the composition (IV) a water-soluble acid; (VI) pouring said composite mixture of (V) onto a fibrous cloth contained in or on a tray, which fibrous cloth will become affixed to the alginate composition after the aqueous component of said composite mixture has evaporated.