GB748135A - Improvements in and relating to tampons, pads and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A tampon or wad for use in medical practice comprises a mass of fibres or fibrous material which is soluble in water or body fluids loaded with an ion-exchange agent or a mixture of ion-exchange agents adapted to modify the chemical characteristics of a liquid in an area to which the tampon or wad is applied. The mixture may be of anion exchanger and cation exchanger in predetermined proportions. Particles of ion-exchange resin or natural ion-exchange material, which may be in a moist and expanded condition, are sprayed on to a thin layer of, e.g., water-soluble alginate or cellulose ether fibres, or both. The layer may then be cut into sections and rolled or wrapped in a covering, e.g. a film of water-soluble material. Alternatively a covering for a tampon or wad may be formed by evaporating water from a gelatinous film, e.g., cellulose ether, on to which granules of ion-exchange material have previously been dusted or sprayed. The dried film is used as a covering for a mass of water-soluble fibrous material, optionally impregnated with an ion-exchange agent, to form a tampon or wad. The product may be used to eliminate the calcium ion with marked biological effects. Specification 722,629, [Group VI], is referred to.ALSO:A tampon or wad for use in medical or surgical practice comprises a mass of fibres or fibrous material which is soluble in water or body fluids loaded with one or more ion-exchange agents adapted to modify the chemical characteristics of a liquid in an area to which the tampon or wad is applied. The agent may be a mixture in predetermined proportions of an anion-exchanger and a cation-exchanger. Particles of ion-exchange resin or natural ion-exchange material, which may be in a moist and expanded condition, are sprayed onto a thin layer of, e.g., water-soluble alginate or cellulose ether fibres, or both. The layer may then be cut into sections and rolled or wrapped in a covering, e.g. a film of water-soluble material. Alternatively a covering for a tampon or wad may be formed by evaporating water from a gelatinous film of, e.g., cellulose ether, onto which granules of ion-exchange material have previously been dusted or sprayed. The dried film is used as a covering for a mass of water-soluble fibrous material, optionally impregnated with an ion-exchange agent, to form a tampon or wad. When the material is applied to the human body and comes into contact with any body fluid the insoluble particles of ion-exchange material will be adequately suspended in and subsequently carried away from the body area of use in the gelatinous mass to which the soluble fibres have expanded. The material may be used as a temporary filling in a tooth cavity where by eliminating decay organisms it can prevent further decay. According to the Provisional Specification filter pads or papers comprising insoluble fibres incorporating ion-exchange material may be used for removing calcium from milk to aid digestion or for removing sodium from broth without removing therefrom the taste of common salt of which the sodium forms part. Specification 722,629 is referred to.