Reduced-pressure, wound-treatment dressings and systems
AssigneeKCI Licensing, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wound-closing dressing, which is suitable for use as part of a reduced-pressure, wound-treatment system, may include a sealing drape, one or more contracting elements, and a gripping member. The contracting element may be coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to contract when activated and to generate a closing force. A gripping member is coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis. Other dressings, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
Claims24
A wound-closing dressing comprising:
- a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface, the sealing drape for placing over a wound;
- a dissolvable body coupled to the sealing drape;
- an elastic member coupled to the dissolvable body in a stretched position, wherein the elastic member is contract configured to a free position when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves, thereby generating a closing force;
- and
- a gripping member coupled to at least one of the sealing drape and elastic member, the gripping member configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis.
A method for treating a wound comprising the steps of:
- securing a contracting element to a patient's epidermis such that the contracting element spans at least a portion of the patient's wound, wherein the contracting element is configured to contract from an extended position to a contracted position;
- and
- activating the contracting element such that the contracting element generates a closing force.
A method of manufacturing a wound closing dressing comprising the steps of:
- forming a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface;
- coupling a contracting element to the sealing drape, wherein the contracting element is configured to contract from an extended position to a contracted position and thereby generate a closing force when activated;
- and
- coupling a gripping member to the sealing drape such that the gripping member is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.