# US 11,433,175 B2 · Foam structure wound inserts for directional granulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,433,175 B2 - Document ID: US11433175B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/669,672 - Filed: 2019-10-31 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-02 - Assignees: KCI Licensing, Inc. - Applicants: KCI Licensing, Inc. - Inventors: Benjamin Stokes; Timothy Mark Robinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433175B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/90: {Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing} - A61F 13/01017: {synthetic, e.g. polymer based} - A61F 13/05: specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT] - A61L 15/425: {Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges} - B29C 44/5636: {with the addition of heat} - A61F 2013/00174: {possibility of applying pressure} - A61F 2013/00536: {for draining or irrigating wounds} - A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A wound treatment system comprises a wound-treatment apparatus and a wound dressing coupled to the apparatus. The wound dressing includes a foam structure wound insert having pores with a greater cross-sectional area when viewed from a first direction and a smaller cross-sectional area when viewed from an orthogonal direction. Methods for making such wound inserts may include compressing foam structure material having pores with a substantially uniform cross-sectional area. Methods for treating a wound using a wound insert. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for treating a wound, the system comprising: a vacuum source; a single-layer foam structure configured to be fluidly coupled to the vacuum source, the foam structure comprising: a first surface having a first plurality of pores with a first average cross-sectional area; and a second surface having a second plurality of pores with a second average cross-sectional area, wherein the first average cross-sectional area is perpendicular to the second average cross-sectional area; and a drape configured to cover the foam structure and the wound; wherein the first plurality of pores is configured to allow greater airflow than the second plurality of pores if negative pressure from the vacuum source is applied to the foam structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the reduction of airflow through the second plurality of pores is configured to inhibit granulation of the wound adjacent to the second surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second average cross-sectional area is less than the first average cross-sectional area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first average cross-sectional area comprises a diameter no less than 2 millimeters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second average cross-sectional area has a minor axis less than or equal to about 0.5 millimeters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising indicia positioned on the second surface configured to indicate the correct orientation of the foam structure within the wound. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first surface is configured to be proximate to a bottom surface of the wound and the second surface is configured to be proximate to a side surface of the wound. ### Claim 8 A wound insert for use with a wound dressing, the wound insert comprising: a single-layer foam structure having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is configured to be proximate to a bottom surface of a wound and the second surface is configured to be proximate to a side surface of the wound; and a plurality of pores through the foam structure interconnected to form flow channels through which fluids may be distributed to the wound; wherein the plurality of pores are configured to permit a greater airflow through the first surface than through the second surface if negative pressure from a vacuum source is applied to the foam structure, wherein the reduction of airflow through the second surface is configured to inhibit granulation of the wound adjacent to the second surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wound insert of claim 8, wherein the second surface is substantially perpendicular to the first surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The wound insert of claim 8, further comprising indicia positioned on the second surface configured to indicate the correct orientation of the foam structure within the wound. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The wound insert of claim 8, wherein the wound insert is substantially rectangular in shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The wound insert of claim 8, wherein the first surface is a granulating surface.