Wound contact device

A therapeutic device for facilitating the healing of a wound in a mammal by encouraging cellular activity at the wound, the device being arranged to be brought into intimate engagement with tissue of the mammal at the wound and to be held in place at least partially by suction, the device comprising a cover and a dressing, the dressing comprising a permeable structure comprising a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of interstices located between the first surface and the second surface, the first surface comprising a plurality of discrete voids, each of the plurality of discrete voids being in communication with at least some of the interstices, the first surface being arranged to be disposed in contact with the wound, the cover being disposed over the second surface to establish a confined space to which suction may be applied to produce a compressive force, the voids being resistant to collapse in a force range from 0.1 to 5.0 psi to maintain at least some empty space in them when the dressing is under the compressive force of the suction, whereupon a mechanical force is applied on the tissue at the voids, wherein the mechanical force results in the tissue at the voids having a catenary shape and encourages cellular activity, thereby facilitating wound healing.