Medical term:
alginate
alginate
[al´jĭ-nāt]a salt of alginic acid, a colloidal substance from brown seaweed; used, in the form of calcium, sodium, or ammonium alginate, for dental impression materials.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
al·gi·nate
(al'ji-nāt),An irreversible hydrocolloid consisting of salts of alginic acid, a colloidal acid polysaccharide obtained from seaweed and composed of mannuronic acid residues; used in dental impression materials.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
alginate
A gelatinous polysaccharide extract from brown algae and salt of alginic acid, which is a linear polymer of mannuronic and glucuronic acids, found in the cell walls of algae. It is widely used in processed foods and in medicinal, industrial and household products, including swabs, filters and fire retardants.Source
Laminaria spp and Macrocystis pyrifera; a chemically different version of algin is produced by the bacterium Azobacter vinelandii.
Dentistry
Alginate can be formulated with gypsum into a plaster like compound to take impressions for crown and bridgework.
Surgery
Alginates are used as foam, clotting agents and gauze in absorbable surgical dressings and packing.
Wound care
Alginate dressings are derived from seaweed made of soft non-woven fibres, and are available as pads, ropes or ribbons. Alginate dressings are extremely lightweight, absorb many times their own weight, form a gel-like covering over the wound, and maintain a moist environment. They are best used for wounds with significant exudate.
Pros
Especially useful for packing exudative wounds; do not physically inhibit wound contraction as does gauze; highly absorbent.
Cons
Requires a secondary dressing; too drying if wound has little exudate.
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
al·gi·nate
(al'ji-nāt)An irreversible hydrocolloid consisting of salts of alginic acid, a colloidal acid polysaccharide obtained from seaweed and composed of mannuronic acid residues; used in dental impression materials.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
al·gi·nate
(al'ji-nāt)Elastic dental impression material composed of potassium alginate from kelp, calcium sulfate, and other ingredients; usually a powder to mix with water. Setting reaction cross-links alginic acid to form a semisolid.
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012
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