Collapsible dressing for negative pressure wound treatment
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsEdward Yerbury Hartwell, Varuni Rachindra Brownhill, John Gowans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to negative pressure treatment systems and wound dressing systems, apparatuses, and methods that may be used for the treatment of wounds. In particular, some embodiments are directed to improved wound dressings comprising an obscuring layer that may hide fluid contained therein and a stabilizing structure that may aid in wound closure.
Claims16
A negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, comprising:
- a wound dressing comprising a backing layer and a stabilizing structure positioned below the backing layer, wherein the backing layer and the stabilizing structure are configured as a single unit for placement simultaneously over a wound, and wherein the stabilizing structure is configured for placement over skin surrounding the wound;
- a port for communicating negative pressure to the wound dressing;
- and
- wherein the stabilizing structure is configured to collapse significantly more within a horizontal plane than within a vertical plane to apply a horizontal force to the skin surrounding the wound when the wound dressing is placed under negative pressure.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wound dressing further comprises an acquisition distribution layer between the stabilizing structure and the backing layer.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wound dressing further comprises an absorbent layer between the stabilizing structure and the backing layer.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an adhesive configured to attach the wound dressing to the skin surrounding the wound.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wound dressing is configured to relieve stress applied to sutures applied to the wound.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backing layer is transparent or translucent.
The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the stabilizing structure is less than 20% as thick as it is wide or long.
A method of treating a wound with the apparatus of any one of the preceding claims comprising:
- placing the wound dressing over the wound with the stabilizing structure positioned over the skin surrounding the wound;
- applying negative pressure to the wound through the port;
- and
- wherein the stabilizing structure applies a horizontal force to the skin surrounding the wound when placed under negative pressure.
A negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, comprising:
- a wound dressing comprising a backing layer, an absorbent layer, and a stabilizing structure positioned below the absorbent layer, wherein the backing layer, absorbent layer, and the stabilizing structure are configured as a single unit for placement simultaneously over a wound, and wherein the stabilizing structure is configured for placement over skin surrounding the wound;
- wherein the absorbent layer comprises a plurality of through holes;
- wherein the stabilizing structure is configured to collapse significantly more within a horizontal plane than within a vertical plane to apply a horizontal force to the skin surrounding the wound when the wound dressing is placed under negative pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.