BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is widely recognised that wound pain is one of the major problems associated with wounds or ulcers. Wounds are by definition divided into two categories: Acute and chronic wounds. Acute wounds may be wounds such as burns and surgical wounds, while chronic wounds may be in the form of pressure sores, leg ulcers and diabetic ulcers. Pain can be associated with both chronic and acute wounds although the influence on patients well-being will be more pronounced when the wound is chronic.

Pain can be divided into three categories: Acute pain, non-malignant pain and cancer pain. Wound pain will often be either acute or non-malignant dependent on the character of the actual wound and whether the wound is being manipu- lated or not e. g. during a dressing change. Furthermore, the pain will in general have nociceptive or neurogen origin.

The actual kind of wound pain can be divided into three classes: - Non-cyclic acute wound pain, which may occur during for instance at debride- ment of necrotic tissue in a wound or removal of drainage.

-Cyclic acute wound pain, which may occur during for instance dressing changes or in some cases debridement.

-Chronic wound pain, which is a persistent pain that occur even without manipu- lation of the involved skin or tissue, i. e. pain between dressing changes.

In the following we will primarily address relief of the persistent pain or the chronic pain associated with wounds between dressing changes. However,

treatments suitable for this purpose may also be able to relieve pain during dressing change and debridement as described below.

Pain in itself is of course a major discomfort for the patient and will therefore af- fect patients quality of life. In addition, pain stimulates catecholamine release and as a result of that local vasoconstriction arises and a reduced oxygen supply to a cutaneous wound will occur. This may affect wound healing and resistance to in- fection of the wound. Furthermore, wound healing may also be delayed due to the general influence pain may have on the patient, such as loss of appetite, less mobility, worse overall condition and lack of enthusiasm. However, the possible effect of pain on wound healing has not been proven in the literature and is there- fore speculative. In contrast, it is well recognized that pain has an impact on the health related quality of life (HQoL) for patients.

Wound pain has proven to be decreased by modern moist wound healing princi- ples. Moist wound healing dressings keep the environment under the dressing moist but are at the same time capable of absorbing considerable amounts of exudate from the wound, in order to protect the periulcer skin and to avoid leak- age. During the wear time of a moist wound healing dressing, tissue and nerve endings remain moist. Such dressings, e. g. hydrocolloid dressings will be sooth- ing and less painful than traditional dry gauze dressings during application and in situ. Debridement will often also be less painful as the wound bed will be kept in a moist condition and thus no painful drying out is seen.

Although moist wound healing has been proven to improve healing rates, relieve pain in situ, prevent the wound bed from drying out, decrease the discomfort with wound debridement and overall improve the quality of life for the patient, added benefits in terms off a more direct way of addressing the local wound pain be- tween dressing changes associated with wounds are still needed.

It is well known in the art to incorporate analgesics or anaesthetics into topical products for treatment of pain or to produce anaesthesia in intact skin surfaces or systemically in the body. These products may be in the form of trans-dermal dressings or patches, creams, gels or ointments. In order to enhance the rate at

which the drug passes through the skin to reach the systemic circulation from e. g. the trans-dermal patch or to achieve an appropriate formulation for intact skin surfaces it is often desirable or even necessary to incorporate other compo- nents. These components will interfere with an open wound setting in terms of producing possible irritation, sensibilisation or even toxicological effects in the open wound setting and to the often very fragile periulcer skin around the open wound.

In International Patent Application No. WO 94/23713 is disclosed a trans-dermal anti-inflammatory compositions. The compositions may be used for topical and trans-dermal application, such as ointments and dressings and the anti- inflammatory composition is preferably NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs).

However, delivering drugs to intact healthy skin and to the systemic circulation is very different from delivering drugs locally to open wounds or damaged skin. The skin provides an effective barrier between the drug and the underlying tissue and blood circulation in trans-dermal delivery, and therefore, the drug has to be for- mulated in such a way that it is capable of overcoming this barrier. Also the con- centration of the drug in the trans-dermal formulation has to be higher in order to overcome the skin barrier and reach the systemic circulation in a plasma-concen- tration high enough for systemic effect. A wound is provided with little or no bar- rier, and furthermore, the wound will often exudate and may be contaminated.

Furthermore, a wound dressing often needs to be provided with wound exudates handling means in order to give optimal comfort for the patient. The barrier for the release of the drug for local use in an open wound will be the medical device and not the intact skin. The medical device may absorb and retain the exudate from the wound and therefore prevent maceration of the surrounding skin and the wound tissue that is often fragile and vulnerable. As a result the wound manage- ment and patient comfort is increased. A trans-dermal patch or a topical cream or ointment will not be able to handle wound exudate and neither the adhesive nor the other components of the patch may be designed to an open wound setting and to contact with the very fragile skin surroundings. Also the drug concentration

in a trans-dermal system or a topical ointment, gel or cream may be to high to be used in an open wound where no absorption barrier is seen. Furthermore, addi- tives such as penetration enhancers comprised in the creams, gels or ointments or trans-dermal patches will make them unsuitable for use in an open wound, as these additives often are too aggressive or even toxic for introducing directly into an open wound.

Most wound care products are prepared without such additives as these addi- tives may interfere with the wound healing and influence the well being of the pa- tient. Examples are hydrogels made especially for e. g. debridement in open wounds and for application under a dressing and other devices for moist wound healing like dressings comprising foams, alginates or hydrocolloids.

A controlled release of drugs is often desired both in trans-dermal delivery and open wound treatment. However, the release mechanisms may be quite different in the two systems. In a trans-dermal device such as a patch, cream, ointment or gel, the skin barrier may serve as the controlling release layer. The additives may further control the release. In a wound care device, the release may be controlled in other ways, e. g. by the amount of exudate from the wound, or by using con- trolled release matrices.

Analgesics in a broad term can relieve pain in open wounds without seriously in- terfering with the sense perception. In contrast, anaesthetics interfere with sense perception when applied locally, and can result in loss of consciousness when used centrally. Loss of sense perception in a wound and surroundings is consid- ered to be irrationally and inconvenient since the patient loose the ability to feel possible injury and change in the wound. Therefore it may be preferred to use analgesics in order to relieve wound pain over a longer period.

In US Patent No. 6,312, 713 is disclosed a thin-layered dressing for surface wounds which gradually releases drugs, such as analgesics. The drug is incorpo- rated in a hydrophilic polymeric matrix and may be used topically. The dressing is thin and does not comprise wound exudates handling means, and will thus only be suitable for dry wounds.

US Patent No. 5,792, 469 a in situ forming film dressing with therapeutic agents such as pain relieving agents. The film is sprayed onto the desired body part. The dressing is only suitable for dry wounds, as no wound exudates handling means are included.

In US Patent No. 6,048, 850 is disclosed a method of selectively inhibiting PGHS- 2 in a human host. The reference is silent with respect to local wound treatment.

US Patent No. 6,190, 689 discloses a trans-dermal device comprising a hot-melt adhesive with an incorporated substance. The use of pain relieving agents in the treatment of wounds is mentioned, but the reference is silent with respect to any details or examples to this subject.

In International Patent Application No. WO 00/07574 is disclosed medicinal prod- ucts with retarded pharmacological activity. The products are primarily intended for use in catheters, though use in wound care devices is mentioned.

Thus, there is still a need for a medical device addressing superior wound man- agement as well as local pain relief in terms of addition of analgesic compounds.

Such a wound care device is achieved by the present invention combining the beneficial effects of moist wound healing with the pharmacological effects of a pain relieving agent, that supply pain relief locally to a wound and nearby sur- roundings but not systemically i. e. in the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wound care device for treatment of pain in a wound comprising an active pain relieving composition.

The invention further relates to a method of treating pain at a wound site.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wound care device for local treatment of pain in a wound, said device comprising an active pain relieving composition, said

composition is an anti-inflammatory pain killing agent, wherein the amount of pain killing agent in the device is below the systemic or topical daily unit dose for sys- temic treatment using the agent.

In one embodiment of the invention the amount of pain killing agent is less than 75% of the systemic or topical daily unit dose for systemic treatment using the agent.

In another embodiment of the invention the amount of pain killing agent is less than 50% of the systemic or topical daily unit dose for systemic treatment using the agent.

Is may be preferred that the amount of pain killing agent is less than 25% of the systemic or topical daily unit dose for systemic treatment using the agent.

It is even more preferred that the amount of pain killing agent is less than 10% of the systemic or topical daily unit dose for systemic treatment using the agent.

In one embodiment of the invention the amount of pain killing agent is less than 5% of the systemic or topical daily unit dose for systemic treatment using the agent.

When addressing the systemic or topical daily unit dose for systemic treatment for a pain killing agent is meant the daily dose for achieving a systemic pain reliv- ing effect, i. e. achieving a desired plasma concentration.

In Table 1 is shown examples of systemic or topical daily unit doses of various pain killing agents. Examples are shown below in the range of normally recom- mended use for adults : TABLE 1 Drug Systemic daily unit dose Topical daily unit dose Naproxen 200-500 mg Not available Ketoprofen 100-300 mg 375 mg Piroxicam 10-20 mg 25 mg Ibuprofen 1200-2400 mg 500-800 mg Celecoxib 200-400 mg Not available Acetylsaliclylic acid 2-4 g Not available Indomethacin 150-200 mg Not available Acetaminophen 2-4 g Not available Diclofenac 150-200 mg Not available

The present invention discloses an approach for formulating a moist wound heal- ing device with improved pain relieving properties. The moist wound healing prin- ciples offers a passive pain relieving effect by keeping the wound moist. The ad- dition of an active pain relieving composition to the wound care device further im- proves the capability of the device of relieving wound pain especially the persis- tent pain or chronic pain between dressing changes.

The analgesics in the device of the invention may be released over time locally to the wound. Preferably, the release of the pain relieving composition is so low that no systemic effect is seen. Thus, the concentration of analgesics in the device of the invention may be so low that little or no effective systemic plasma concentra- tion can be found. This will reduce or even eliminate the possible systemic side effects of the analgesics, and at the same time provide the patient with maximum safety, as oral doses or topical doses on intact skin can be taken at the same time. Thus, the device renders it possible to ingest additional medication, if needed, orally or topically of the same type as in the wound care device, without the risk of overdosing. Furthermore, side effects are lowered and compliance will be better as well as the HQoL.

For different analgesics, the plasma concentration for systemic effect in the low- est range is reported to be as follows given as examples: Acetylsalicylic acid:

270 ug/ml ; Ketoprofen: 3 ug/ml ; Ibuprofen : 10 ug/ml ; Piroxicam: 1 ug/ml. Thus, a wound care device for treatment of pain in a wound releasing analgesics locally to a wound site may be designed in such a way that the plasma concentration is under the lowest range for systemic effect in the body.

This is also true for other anti-inflammatory pain reliving compositions being suit- able for incorporation into medical devices combining wound exudates handling means and local treatment of wound pain in open wounds.

It is widely held that anti-inflammatory pain killing agents, such as NSAIDS, are unsuitable for use in open wound settings. The compositions are primarily used for treatment of systemic diseases, not for local treatment. It is further believed that the compositions may cause local irritation, as well as it has been recom- mended to avoid use of such compositions in open wounds.

It has surprisingly been found that by incorporating an anti-inflammatory pain kill- ing agent in a wound care device, a local pain-relieving effect in an open wound is achieved. Local side effects have surprisingly not been seen as well as the plasma concentrations, if any, of the agent were below the concentrations for systemic effect.

The device according to the present invention is primarily intended for use as lo- cal pain relief. When a systemic effect of the pain-relieving agent is desired e. g. when providing pain relief against rheumatoid arthritis, muscle pain or head- aches, orally ingested analgesics may be preferred. The pain relieving composi- tion of the device of the invention may be applied to damaged skin locally and di- rectly onto an open wound without interfering with the wound healing.

Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes are key inflammatory mediators produced from arachidonic acid. Inhibition of the synthesis of these mediators is the target of the most highly prevalent class of anti-inflammatory drugs, the NSAIDs. Inflammatory mediators will stimulate pain nociceptors and as a result pain is produced.

Pain impulses in skin tissue arise from pain receptors in the skin and deeper structures. The intensity of the pain increases when the number of receptors acti- vated and the frequency of impulses increase. The perception of pain in e. g. pe- ripheral tissue such as the skin begins with stimulation of nerve fibres called no- ciceptors. In a process called transduction, a nociceptive stimulus makes no- ciceptor membranes permeable to sodium ions. In a second process known as transmission, the influx of sodium ions sends a signal to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. In a third process, modulation, systems that inhibit and facilitate pain act on the generated signals. Finally in the perception process a factor called plasticity, which is based in part on prior experienced pain, determines how in- tensely the pain is perceived. Pain is therefore also subjective. It has both a psy- chological and physiological component. Acute, and social, cultural and psycho- logical factors affect it. The feeling of pain is protective in situations where it alerts the body of actual or potential damage. Beyond these situations its function is less clear.

Inflammatory pain is believed to be important for the actually feeling of chronic or persistent wound pain. It is believed that tissue injury as e. g. seen in chronic wounds triggers the release of multiple inflammatory mediators that themselves, alter nociceptor function. The level of inflammation is therefore elevated and may be lowered by addition-of anti-inflammatory-drugs-locally to the wound that would lead to pain relief.

Preferably the pain relieving composition comprises an anti-inflammatory painkill- ing agent that blocks the production of inflammatory mediators produced from arachidonic acid.

NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) generally have analgesics and an- tipyretic properties along with their anti-inflammatory capabilities. Anti- inflammatory pain killing agents interact with enzyme targets such as cyclooxy- genase-inhibiting NSAIDs. The enzymes PGHS (prostaglandin H synthease), commonly know as COX (cyclooxygenase), is responsible for processing arachi- donic acid into inflammatory mediators. COX comes from two isoforms COX 1 and COX 2. COX 1 is produced in a more or less constant level at all times and is

involved in forming the prostaglandins that perform several important functions, including protection of the gastric mucosa and support of renal function. Conse- quently, inhibitors of COX 1 may interfere with the gastric mucosa and renal func- tion. COX 2, which is inducible, is expressed after tissue injury and promotes in- flammation. Thus, selective inhibition of COX-2, with sparing of COX 1 activity, should be expected to block inflammation without gastric and renal side effects upon oral administration. However, use of COX 1 locally in an open wound set- ting will not produce any systemic side effects. Classical NSAIDs acts on both COX 1 and COX 2 whereas newer drugs work selectively on COX 2.

Thus, in one embodiment of the invention the pain relieving composition may be capable of inhibiting mediators responsible for processing arachidonic acid into inflammatory mediators.

In preferred embodiment of the invention the pain relieving composition may be capable of inhibiting COX 1 and COX 2.

In one embodiment of the invention the pain relieving composition may be capa- ble of specifically inhibiting COX 2. The pain relieving composition may comprise one or more compounds chosen from the group of anti-inflammatory composi- tions such as Phenylpropionic-acids, Phenelacetic acids,; Indoleacetic acids, Pyr- roleacetic acids, N-Phenylacetic acids, Salicylates, Enolic acids, Phenols, Non- acids or Coxibs.

Examples of such compounds for the pain relieving composition may be: Propi- onic acid derivatives such as Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Fenoprofen, Flurbiprofen Dexibuprofen or Tiaprofenic acid, Acetic acid derivatives such as Di- clofenac, Alclofenac, Fenclofenac, Etodolac, Aceclofenac, Sulindac or Indo- methacin, Pyrroleacetic acids such as Ketorolac or Tolmetin, N-Phenylacetic ac- ids such as Mefenamic acid, Salicylates such as Acetyl salicylic acid (Aspirin), Salicylic acid or Diffunisal, Pyrazolon derivatives such as Phenylbutazone, Oxi- cam derivatives such as Piroxicam, Tenooxicam, Meloxicam or Lornoxicam, Eno- lic acid derivatives Aminopyrene or antipyrene, Phenols such as Acetaminophen

or Phenacetin, Non-acid derivatives Nabumeton, Coxib derivatives such as Cele- coxib or Rofecoxib.

Compounds inhibiting COX 2 specifically may be Coxib derivatives such as Cele- coxib or Rofecoxib.

In one embodiment of the invention the pain relieving composition is Ibuprofen.

In another embodiment of the invention the pain relieving composition is Ketopro- fen.

The pain relieving composition may be incorporated as particles, coated particles or diluted in constituent phases of the medical device or distributed in an aiding agent therein.

The particles may be mixed with one or more of the constituents of the wound care device, such as the particles may be incorporated into an adhesive, an ab- sorbent layer or they may be incorporated in a film.

The pain relieving composition may be dissolved or suspended in one or more of constituents of the wound care device or alternatively in one or more constituents acting as precursor material for the constituent.

In one embodiment of the invention the particles may be dissolved in an aiding vehicle in the form of a liquid or solid and may appear as a discrete phase in one or more of the components of the device, e. g. a water insoluble composition may be incorporated into an hydrophobic vehicle or vice versa.

The wound care device may further comprise a controlled release system.

The pain relieving effect of the device according to the invention is over time originated from release of the pain killing agent to the wound. When studying a dressing that has been applied over an open wound for a period, the pain killing agent diminish or disappear in the area directly over the wound due to a release

to the wound, while a negligible amount will be released in the area over the periulcer skin.

In one embodiment of the invention the release may be controlled as a function of the amount of a selected constituent of the wound exudate.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the selected constituent is liquid.

The pain relieving composition may be released to the wound by controlled re- lease locally in relation to the amount of wound exudate absorbed and retained in the medical device and further delayed by coating the pain relieving agent or in- corporating it into a vehicle.

In one embodiment of the invention the pain relieving component may be in the form of coated particles with controlled release properties. The coating may be any suitable coating known in the art of release systems providing the particles with the desired release properties. An example may be Ketoprofen particles coated with an Eudragit grade.

Preferably, the device of the invention is in the form of a wound dressing, or a part of a wound dressing.

The dressing may be in the form of a single unit or a layered product.

The device may comprise wound exudate absorbing means.

The dressing of the invention may comprise an absorbing constituent or element.

The pain relieving composition may be comprised in such absorbing constituent or element as wound exudate or other liquid will then more easily be brought into contact with the pain relieving composition.

An absorbing constituent or element may preferably be a separate element of an absorbing foam, a hydrogel, or paste, hydro-sheet or be in the form of hydrocol-

loids and/or an alginate in the form of a separate element or particulate and ho- mogeneously distributed in the dressing.

In one embodiment of the invention the absorbing element comprises foam, pref- erably polyurethane foam.

Such an absorbing element may in one embodiment constitute a dressing of the invention. In such case, the absorbing element may in itself show adhesive prop- erties or it may not show adhesive properties and it will then typically be secured to the desired site using conventional means such as a cover dressing.

The device of the invention may comprise an adhesive.

The device of the invention may comprise a skin-contacting surface comprising an area showing a skin friendly adhesive.

Such a dressing may suitably be a dressing comprising a substantially water- impervious layer or film and a skin-friendly adhesive in which an absorbing con- stituent or element is incorporated.

The skin-friendly adhesive may be any skin-friendiy adhesive known per se, e. g. an adhesive comprising hydrocolloids or other moisture absorbing constituents such as the adhesives disclosed in US patent No. 4,231, 369 and in US patent No. 4,367, 732 comprising hydrocolloids. A dressing comprising a separate ab- sorbing element may e. g. be of the type disclosed in US Patent No. 5,051, 259 or 5,714, 225.

A water impervious layer or film may be of any suitable material known per se for use in the preparation of wound dressings e. g. a foam, a non-woven layer or a polyurethane, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide film. A suitable material for use as a water impervious film is a polyurethane such as the low friction film ma- terial is disclosed in US patent No. 5,643, 187.

In another embodiment of the invention the device may be a wound cavity filler.

The cavity filler may e. g. be in the form of fibres, gel or hydrogel, foam or powder.

The device of the invention may further comprise one or more active ingredients besides the pain killing agent.

The wound care device according to the invention may comprise one or more ac- tive ingredients, e. g. a pharmaceutical medicament. Examples of such pharma- ceutical medicaments such as bacteriostatic or bactericidal compounds, e. g. io- dine, iodopovidone complexes, chloramine, chlorohexidine, silver salts such as sulphadiazine, silver nitrate, silver acetate, silver lactate, silver sulphate, silver sodium thiosulphate or silver chloride, zinc or salts thereof, metronidazol, sulpha drugs, and penicillin's, tissue-healing enhancing agents, e. g. RGD tripeptides and the like, proteins, amino acids such as taurine, vitamins such ascorbic acid, en- zymes for cleansing of wounds, e. g. pepsin, trypsin and the like, proteinase in- hibitors or metalloproteinase inhibitors such as Illostat or ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, cytotoxic agents and proliferation inhibitors for use in for exam- ple surgical insertion of the product in cancer tissue and/or other therapeutic agents which optionally may be used for topical application, emollients, retinoids or agents having a cooling effect which is also considered an aspect of the inven- tion.

The active ingredient may also comprise odour controlling or odour reducing ma- terial such as charcoal.

The invention further relates to a method of treating pain at a wound site compris- ing applying to the wound a wound care device comprising an active pain reliev- ing composition.

The pain relieving composition may preferably be an anti-inflammatory pain re- lieving composition, said composition is an anti-inflammatory pain killing agent, wherein the amount of pain killing agent in the device is below the daily unit dose for systemic treatment or daily unit dose for topical treatment using the agent.

When applying a wound care device according to the invention to a wound, the pain relieving composition will be released to the wound bed, and pain relief is achieved. Preferably the pain relieving composition will be released over a period of time, in order to provide a controlled or sustained release of the composition.

Thus, a prolonged wear time of the dressing is achieved, rendering it possible to avoid frequent dressing changes. Change of dressings is often associated with pain, hence a low frequency of dressing changes is desired.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of a foam dressing A polyurethane foam was prepared in the following way: 100 parts w/w Hypol2002 (Dow Chemical Company) were mixed with 1 part w/w Pluronic 62 (BASF), 100 parts w/w of water and an amount of the pain killing agent as speci- fied in the following examples. The materials were mixed together for approxi- mately 15 seconds. The liquid was poured into a mould and allowed to react for 10 minutes. The resulting foam sheet was dried in an oven at 70°C for 30 min- utes, and cut into 20 x 20 cm dressings with a thickness of 4,4 mm. The device may further be sterilized using gamma radiation.

EXAMPLE 2 Foam dressing containing Ibuprofen A foam dressing was prepared as described in Example 1 with 1 part w/w Ibupro- fen.

EXAMPLE 3 Foam dressing containing piroxicam A foam dressing was prepared as described in Example 1 with 0.04 part w/w pi- roxicam.

EXAMPLE 4 Foam dressing containing ketoprofen A foam dressing was prepared as described in Example 1 with 0.06 part w/w ke- toprofen.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of a hydrocolloid dressing A hydrocolloid adhesive was prepared from the following ingredients as de- scribed in US Pat. No. 4,231, 369: 25, 1% Kraton D 1107 (Shell Chemical Com- pany), 35, 1% Arkon P90 (Arakawa Chemical), 30% Carboxy methyl cellulose, 8,8% dioctyladipat, 1 % antioxidant (methylene-bis-4 methyl 6 t-butylphenol). The adhesive was coated in a layer of 1,1 mm on a polyurethane film, and the result- ing laminate was cut into dressings with a size of 20 x 20 cm. The dressings were preferably sterilized by gamma irradiation.

EXAMPLE 6 Hydrocolloid dressing containing Ibuprofen A hydrocolloid dressing was prepared as described in Example 5 containing 97.8 % w/w of the recipe and 2.2 % w/w Ibuprofen was added.

EXAMPLE 7 Hydrocolloid dressing containing Piroxicam A hydrocolloid dressing was prepared as described in Example 5 containing 99.96 % w/w of the recipe and 0.04 % w/w Piroxicam was added.

EXAMPLE 8 Hydrocolloid dressing containing Ketoprofen A hydrocolloid dressing was prepared as described in Example 5 containing 99.6 % w/w of the recipe and 0.4 w/w Ketoprofen was added.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of a hydrogel A water containing hydrogen comprising the following ingredients was prepared: 96% w/w water, 3.6% w/w Aquasorb, 0.4% w/w Calcium alginate. About 2/3 of the water was added to a mixer. Calcium alginate and the pain killing agent was mixed, and thereafter 1/4 of the Aquasorb was added first, followed by the rest of the Aquasorb. This mixture was slowly added to the water and mixed further.

When the phase was homogenous, the rest of the water was added slowly with continuous mixing for at least 20 minutes. The gel may be sterilized using an autoclave.

EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of a hydrogel containing Ketoprofen A hydrogel was prepared as described in Example 9 containing 99.9 % w/w of the recipe and 0.1 % w/w Ketoprofen.

EXAMPLE 11 Preparation of a hydrogel containing-lbuprofeh A hydrogel was prepared as described in Example 9 containing 98-99.5 % w/w of the recipe and 0.5-2. 0 % w/w Ibuprofen.

EXAMPLE 12 Preparation of a hydrogel containing Piroxicam A hydrogel was prepared as described in Example 9 containing 99.9 % w/w of the recipe and 0.1 % w/w Piroxicam.

EXAMPLE 13 Use of a dressing according to the present invention

A foam dressing as described in Example 1 and 2 was applied to patients with venous ulceration. The patients were treated for 10 days, with change of the dressing every second day. Very good local pain relief and a convincing reduc- tion of the pain intensity during wear time of the dressing were reported. No local side effects as well as systemic side effects were observed. Plasma concentra- tions were monitored closely. No levels for systemic effect was found in plasma.

Further it was shown that wound healing progressed according to expectations i. e. no delay in wound healing was observed. A very convincing improvement in HQoL was seen during the treatment time.