WEINHEIM - Freudenberg Performance Materials presented a hydrophilic foam for wound cleansing for the first time the Compamed exhibition in Düsseldorf this week.
The foam is said to enable more effective wound cleansing and increases patient comfort during the cleansing process. Freudenberg is also showcasing flexible foams for wound dressings with a direct coating of silicone adhesives, which are more effective than conventional foam-silicone constructions.
Up to now, wound cleansing (debridement) has been performed using fibre-based products or simply cotton gauze. “Our goal was to develop a more efficient product that cleans wounds more effectively and thus has a positive effect on wound healing," said Dr. Henk R. Randau, General Manager Business Division Healthcare. "Our continuous, close cooperation with wound experts was decisive in being able to achieve this outstanding development result."
According to Freudenberg, hydrophilic debridement foam for wound cleansing is ideal for use in wound cavities. Because the foam is soft and flexible throughout, including at the edges, it is ideal for cleansing deep and hard-to-reach wounds.
It is also said to offer better cleansing results and reduced risk. Thanks to its large pores, the foam also easily picks up fibrin coatings and dried exudate. Furthermore, unlike conventional textile constructions, there is no risk of fibres being left behind in the wound.
The company also notes that practical tests have shown that the hydrophilic PU foam achieves a better cleansing result, even when used with reduced pressure.
In collaboration with wound experts and scientists, Freudenberg developed its own test method specifically for this product, which substantiates the performance capability of the new debridement foam. The benchmark for the test was a product that offered the best performance achieved so far in the market (gold standard).
Freudenberg is also exhibiting foams with a direct coating of silicone adhesives. The adhesive properties of silicone make it easier to fix the foam bandage and at the same time allow painless removal achieve a wound de-adhesive effect. Wound dressings with a direct coating of silicone adhesives from Freudenberg are significantly more effective than those with conventional coatings, the company says. "They are much more flexible, adapt better to the wound bed and enable antibacterial agents to act more effectively," the company says. "This technology also fulfills Freudenberg’s consistent sustainability strategy. By reducing the number of process steps at the wound dressing manufacturer and thereby reducing production complexity, waste is avoided, energy is saved and the supply chain simplified."
