Patent ID: 7303759

Claim:
A method for forming a bioadhesive aqueous gel or mucilage to effect a rapid hemostatic response and control hemorrhage and fluid loss from an open wound, denuded tissue, or burned skin, comprising the steps of (i) applying to the open wound, denuded tissue or burned skin an anhydrous gel-forming polymer or polymer composition selected from the group consisting of (a) a carbomer having the structural formula [CH 2 ═CHCO 2 H] n , where n is between 10,000 and 70,000, (b) a composition consisting essentially of a carbomer having the structural formula [CH 2 ═CHCO 2 H] n , where n is between 10,000 and 70,000, and a desiccated water soluble organic or inorganic base, (c) a composition consisting essentially of a carbomer having the structural formula [CH 2═ CHCO 2 H] n , where n is between 10,000 and 70,000, and a desiccated basic salt and (ii) allowing water present in blood or other body fluid at the site of the open wound, denuded tissue, or burned skin to activate an ionization reaction in situ with the carbomer of (a), (b), or (c) thereby forming an aqueous gel or mucilage having sufficient viscosity and bioadhesiveness to cover and adhere to the open wound, denuded tissue, or burned skin so that a rapid hemostatic response is effected and hemorrhage and fluid loss is controlled.