Delivery-and-fluid-storage bridges for use with reduced-pressure systems

A delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge for use with a reduced-pressure treatment system, the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge comprising:

• a plurality of delivery manifolds extending along a length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge for delivering reduced pressure to a tissue site;
• an absorbent layer adapted to receive and absorb fluids, wherein the absorbent layer has an outer surface and an interior portion;
• wherein the absorbent layer is disposed between at least two delivery manifolds of the plurality of delivery manifolds;
• an encapsulating pouch encapsulating the plurality of delivery manifolds and the absorbent layer, the encapsulating pouch comprising:
• a first encapsulating layer and a second encapsulating layer having an inner surface at least partially enclosing the plurality of delivery manifolds and the absorbent layer, the second encapsulating layer comprising a patient-facing side of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge,
• a first aperture formed on the first encapsulating layer proximate a first longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge for fluidly communicating reduced pressure to the delivery manifolds from a reduced-pressure source, and
• a second aperture formed on the patient-facing side of the second encapsulating layer for transmitting reduced pressure to the tissue site and
• a conduit disposed within the encapsulating pouch and extending substantially along the length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge.

A method for treating a tissue site, the method comprising:

• providing a delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, comprising:
• a delivery manifold extending along a length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the delivery manifold comprising a first material,
• an absorbent layer proximate the delivery manifold adapted to receive and store fluids, the absorbent layer comprising a second material,
• wherein the absorbent layer has an outer surface and an interior portion, the delivery manifold has an outer surface and an interior portion, and the outer surface of the delivery manifold is configured to be adjacent to the outer surface of the absorbent layer, and
• an encapsulating pouch having an inner surface encapsulating the delivery manifold and the absorbent layer;
• placing a second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge at the tissue site;
• applying a reduced pressure to a first longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• communicating the reduced pressure through the delivery manifold to the tissue site through the second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• monitoring pressure proximate the tissue site through a conduit having an end positioned at the second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the conduit disposed within the encapsulating pouch and being substantially isolated from fluid communication with the delivery manifold and the absorbent layer along the length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• and
• wicking liquids extracted from the tissue site through the second longitudinal end into the absorbent layer.

A method of manufacturing a delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, comprising:

• providing a delivery manifold;
• placing an absorbent layer proximate the delivery manifold, wherein the absorbent layer has an outer surface and an interior portion, the delivery manifold has an outer surface and an interior portion, and the outer surface of the delivery manifold is configured to be adjacent to the outer surface of the absorbent layer;
• encapsulating the delivery manifold and the absorbent layer in an encapsulating pouch, the encapsulating pouch comprising a first encapsulating layer and a second encapsulating layer having an inner surface at least partially enclosing the delivery manifold and the absorbent layer, the second encapsulating layer comprising a second, patient-facing side of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• forming a first aperture proximate a first longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge for fluidly communicating reduced pressure to the delivery manifold from a reduced-pressure source;
• forming a second aperture on the second, patient-facing side of the second encapsulating layer for transmitting reduced pressure to a tissue site;
• and
• disposing a conduit within the encapsulating pouch, wherein the conduit extends along a length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge.

A delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, comprising:

• a delivery manifold extending along a length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• an encapsulating pouch having an inner surface enclosing the delivery manifold;
• a first aperture proximate a first longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• a second aperture proximate a second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• and
• a conduit at the second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, the conduit being substantially isolated from fluid communication with the delivery manifold along the length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, wherein the conduit is configured to be disposed at or near a tissue site at the second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge.

A delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge, comprising:

• a first manifold having an outer surface an interior portion extending along a length of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• a second manifold having an outer surface and interior portion;
• an encapsulating pouch having an inner surface enclosing the first manifold and the second manifold;
• a first aperture proximate a first longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• a second aperture proximate a second longitudinal end of the delivery-and-fluid-storage bridge;
• and
• a longitudinal sheet disposed within the encapsulating pouch between the first manifold and the second manifold.