# US 8,784,393 B2 · Dressing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,393 B2 - Document ID: US8784393B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/375,191 - Filed: 2007-07-25 - Published: 2010-04-29 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-07-26 - Assignees: BlueSky Medical Group Incorporated; Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Applicants: Richard Scott Weston; Tianning Xu; Farhad Bybordi; Edward Yerbury Hartwell; Derek Nicolini; Kristian David Hall; Paul DeMuro - Inventors: Richard Scott Weston; Tim DeMuro; Tianning Xu; Farhad Bybordi; Edward Yerbury Hartwell; Derek Nicolini; Kristian David Hall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784393B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/02: Holding devices, e.g. on the body - A61M 1/915: {Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold} - A61M 1/918: {for multiple suction locations} - A61M 2025/0273: {having slits to place the pad around a catheter puncturing site} - 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)} ## Abstract A dressing (30), a grommet (10) and a combination thereof are described for making a dressing for use in locating and retaining conduits and/or tubes used in therapy of a wound is described, the dressing (30) comprising a backing layer (32) having an adhesive coating (34) thereon for adhering the dressing (30) to a patient; the backing layer (32) having a cut-out (48) therein for receiving a grommet member (10); said grommet member (10) having at least one aperture (14) therethrough for receiving a conduit; and, said grommet member (10) further comprising a flange portion (16) in some embodiments for attaching the grommet member (10) to said adhesive coated backing layer (32). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dressing apparatus comprising: a grommet member for locating and sealably receiving at least one conduit at or near a wound site, the wound site surrounded by healthy skin defining a first plane, the grommet member comprising a body portion comprising: a lower face for contacting the healthy skin adjacent the wound site; a partially domed upper face for attaching the grommet member to a dressing member; front and rear faces connecting the lower face with the upper face; at least one aperture extending through the front and rear faces along a longitudinal axis in a direction generally parallel with the first plane, the at least one aperture configured to receive the at least one conduit such that the at least one conduit is slidable through the aperture, wherein the at least one aperture defines an enclosed cross-section along a length of the at least one aperture; and a seal around a periphery of the at least one aperture configured to seal against an outer surface of the at least one conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower face is substantially flat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises one of a lip seal and an “O” ring seal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal has a length along the length of the at least one aperture that is less than the length of the at least one aperture through the body portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal has an inner diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the at least one aperture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grommet member further comprises a flange portion surrounding the body portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dressing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the body portion and the flange portion are integrally formed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a direction of the at least one conduit received by the grommet member is substantially parallel to the first plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper face is curved. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower face is provided with an adhesive thereon, the adhesive configured to adhere the lower face to the healthy skin of the patient. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dressing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lower face is provided with a release paper layer configured to protect the adhesive prior to use. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The dressing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the adhesive comprises a folded strip having an adhesive coated face. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower face is substantially planar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture has a tapered lead-in to facilitate sliding of the at least one conduit through the aperture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower face comprises a plurality of ventilation holes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front and rear faces each comprise a recessed portion where the at least one aperture extends through the front and rear faces. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is configured to receive the at least one conduit such that a portion of the at least one conduit extends beyond the grommet member having an end positioned within the wound site. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The dressing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one conduit movably engages the at least one aperture such that an extent or position of the portion of the at least one conduit positioned within the wound site is adjustable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front and rear faces have a generally elliptical shape when viewed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The dressing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the upper face and the lower face of the body portion of the grommet member meet each other at a tapered edge. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grommet member comprises a plurality of apertures therethrough. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The dressing apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least two of the apertures are of different sizes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conduit advanceable through the at least one aperture. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible drape configured to cover the wound site and at least a portion of the grommet member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wound packing material configured to be positioned between a wound and a wound cover. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The dressing apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a collection reservoir configured to collect exudate from a wound through the at least one conduit. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The dressing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source of negative pressure in communication with at least one of a collection canister and a conduit advanceable through the at least one aperture. ### Claim 28 (depends on 6) The dressing apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a dressing member, wherein the dressing member is configured to be positioned over the wound site, the dressing member comprising a backing layer having adhesive on at least a first surface thereof. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The dressing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the upper face of the grommet member is configured to be sealably secured to the adhesive first surface of the backing layer. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The dressing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the backing layer further comprises one or more extension tabs. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The dressing apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a first protector layer releasably secured to the first surface of the backing layer. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The dressing apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a second protector layer releasably secured to the first surface of the backing layer. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The dressing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the dressing apparatus is configured so that the dressing member extends beyond an outer edge of the grommet member on three sides of the grommet member. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The dressing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the dressing member comprises a cutout in the backing layer, wherein the grommet member is positioned relative to the dressing member so that the body portion of the grommet member is positioned in the cutout. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The dressing apparatus of claim 34, wherein the cutout is positioned along a peripheral edge of the backing layer. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The dressing apparatus of claim 35, wherein the adhesive is configured to adhere to the flange portion so as to secure the grommet member to the backing layer; the adhesive is also configured to adhere to the healthy skin adjacent to the wound site so as to secure the dressing to the healthy skin; and a protector layer is removably secured to at least a portion of the first adhesive surface of the backing layer, the protector layer being configured to be removed from the dressing member before the dressing member is secured to the healthy skin adjacent to the wound. ### Claim 37 (depends on 15) The dressing apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a flexible drape film; a first backing layer portion configured to be positioned between the grommet member and a patient's skin, the first backing layer comprising an adhesive coated folded strip of material, a lower protector layer and an upper protector layer; and a second backing layer portion configured to be positioned between the grommet member and the flexible drape film, the second backing layer comprising an adhesive coated folded strip of material, a lower protector layer and an upper protector layer.