Systems and methods for using negative pressure wound therapy to manage open abdominal wounds

A porous pad for the treatment of wounds using negative pressure, wherein the porous pad comprises:

• a porous material configured to channel wound exudate from a wound site and negative pressure to the wound site;
• a generally planar shape with a thickness less than a width and a length, wherein the length is greater than the width and the generally planar shape has a major axis extending along the length and a minor axis extending along the width, the major and minor axes both bisecting the porous pad;
• a first plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the porous pad, the first plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations comprising a first arcuate cut or perforation arranged in series with a second arcuate cut or perforation, a first bridge portion disposed on the minor axis and between the first arcuate cut or perforation and the second arcuate cut or perforation, the first arcuate cut or perforation, the first bridge portion, and the second arcuate cut or perforation defining a first continuous arcuate shape;
• a second plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the porous pad, the second plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations disposed between the first continuous arcuate shape and the major axis, the second plurality of arcuate cuts or perforations comprising a third arcuate cut or perforation arranged in series with a fourth arcuate cut or perforation, a second bridge portion disposed on the minor axis and between the third arcuate cut or perforation and the fourth arcuate cut or perforation, the third arcuate cut or perforation, the second bridge portion, and the fourth arcuate cut or perforation defining a second continuous arcuate shape, wherein the third arcuate cut or perforation extends continuously from the second bridge portion to a third bridge portion disposed on the major axis, and the fourth arcuate cut or perforation extends continuously from the second bridge portion to a fourth bridge portion disposed on the major axis;
• and
• a corresponding third arcuate cut or perforation disposed symmetrically across the major axis of the porous pad from the third arcuate cut or perforation, a corresponding fourth arcuate cut or perforation disposed symmetrically across the major axis of the porous pad from the fourth arcuate cut or perforation, and a fifth bridge portion disposed on the minor axis and between the corresponding third arcuate cut or perforation and the corresponding fourth arcuate cut or perforation, wherein the corresponding third arcuate cut or perforation extends continuously from the fifth bridge portion disposed on the minor axis to the third bridge portion disposed on the major axis, and the corresponding fourth arcuate cut or perforation extends continuously from the fifth bridge portion disposed on the minor axis to the fourth bridge portion disposed on the major axis.