Patent ID: 7019191

Claim:
A process for the manufacture of a hemostatic wound dressing, comprising: providing a polymer solution comprising a water-soluble or water-swellable biocompatible polymer dissolved in a solvent for said polymer, providing a fabric substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing said first surface, said fabric having properties effective for use as a hemostat and comprising fibers prepared from a biocompatible polymer, contacting said fabric substrate with said polymer solution under conditions effective to distribute said polymer solution substantially homogenously on said first and second surfaces and through said fabric substrate, transferring said fabric substrate having said polymer solution substantially homogenously distributed there through to a lyophilization unit under conditions effective to maintain said homogeneous distribution on and throughout said substrate; and lyophilizing said fabric having said polymer solution distributed there through; thereby providing a porous, polymeric matrix substantially homogeneously distributed on said first and second surfaces and through said fabric substrate, said matrix comprising said lyophilized water-soluble or water-swellable polymer.