# US 9,750,641 B2 · Reduced-pressure dressing assemblies for use in applying a closing force

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- Number: US 9,750,641 B2
- Document ID: US9750641B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/751,438
- Filed: 2015-06-26
- Published: 2015-10-15
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2008-05-30
- Assignees: KCI Licensing, Inc.
- Applicants: KCI Licensing, Inc.
- Inventors: Richard Marvin Kazala, Jr.; Justin Alexander Long; Kenneth Mitchel Knowles; Eric Woodson Barta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750641B2

## CPC

- A61F 13/022: {having more than one layer with different fluid retention characteristics}
- A61F 13/00059: {provided with visual effects, e.g. printed or colored}
- A61F 13/01017: {synthetic, e.g. polymer based}
- A61F 13/01029: {made of multiple layers}
- A61F 13/01034: {characterised by a property}
- A61F 13/01038: {Flexibility, stretchability or elasticity}
- A61F 13/0209: {comprising superabsorbent material}
- A61F 13/0223: {characterized by parametric properties of the fluid retention layer, e.g. absorbency, wicking capacity, liquid distribution}
- A61F 13/0243: {characterised by the properties of the skin contacting layer, e.g. air-vapor permeability}
- A61F 13/0289: {manufacturing of adhesive dressings}
- 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]
- A61F 15/008: {Appliances for wound protecting, e.g. avoiding contact between wound and bandage (corn plasters A61F13/063)}
- A61H 1/008: {Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation}
- A61L 15/60: Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
- A61M 1/71: {Suction drainage systems (containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90)}
- A61M 1/915: {Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold}
- A61M 1/917: {specially adapted for covering whole body parts}
- A61F 13/00: Bandages or dressings (radioactive dressings {A61N5/1029}); Absorbent pads
- A61F 2013/00131: {elasticity distribution}
- A61F 2013/00136: {anisotropy}
- A61F 2013/00174: {possibility of applying pressure}
- A61F 2013/00182: {with transparent part}
- A61F 2013/00246: {in a special way pervious to air or vapours}
- A61F 2013/0028: {applying of mechanical pressure; passive massage}
- A61F 2013/00536: {for draining or irrigating wounds}
- A61F 2013/0054: {for deep wounds}
- A61F 2013/00748: {with hydrocolloids or superabsorbers}
- A61M 1/916: {specially adapted for deep wounds}
- A61M 2205/70: with testing or calibration facilities
- A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
- A61M 2210/1007: Breast; mammary
- A61M 2210/1021: Abdominal cavity
- Y10T 29/49: Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- 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)
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- 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)
- 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)}
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A closing dressing bolster and assembly for use with a system for treating a linear wound on a patient includes a bolster body formed from a flexible closing bolster material having closing members that are operable to develop an inward closing force when the closing dressing bolster is placed under reduced pressure. In one aspect, when the closing dressing bolster is under reduced pressure, the system, dressing, or assembly develops an inward force realized at the linear wound and a compression force. A wicking-material holder and wicking material may be used as well. The member components may all be see-through to allow visual inspection of the wound without requiring removal of the dressing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A closing dressing bolster for treating a linear wound, comprising:
a bolster body formed from a flexible closing bolster material; the bolster body comprising:
a first closing member formed on a lower surface of the bolster body and having a first oblique wall,
a second closing member formed on the lower surface of the bolster body and having a second oblique wall,
a wicking-material holder formed by a gap between the first closing member and second closing member, and
a wicking material associated with the wicking-material holder, the wicking material having a fluid flow pathway for removing fluids.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 1, wherein the first closing member and second closing member are operable, when the closing dressing bolster is under reduced pressure, to develop a compression force.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 1, wherein the bolster body is formed from a see-through material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 1, wherein the bolster body is formed from silicone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 1, wherein the first closing member and second closing member are operable, when the closing dressing bolster is under reduced pressure, to move towards one another to develop an inward force.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 1, wherein the first closing member is formed on a first lateral side of a center portion of the bolster body and the second closing member is forming on a second lateral side of the center portion, and wherein the bolster body is operable to develop a bending moment about the center portion when the closing dressing bolster is placed under reduced pressure.

### Claim 7

A closing dressing bolster for treating a linear wound, comprising;
a bolster body including a hollow region formed from a flexible closing bolster material;
a first closing member formed on a tissue-facing surface of the bolster body, the first closing member formed on a first lateral side of a center area;
a second closing member formed on the tissue-facing surface of the bolster body, the second closing member formed on a second lateral side of the center area; and
a wicking-material holder formed by a gap between the first closing member and the second closing member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 7, wherein the bolster body is formed from silicone.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 7, further comprising a wicking material associated with the wicking-material holder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 7, wherein the bolster body is operable to develop a bending moment about the center area when the closing dressing bolster is placed under reduced pressure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 7, wherein the first closing member and the second closing member are operable to move toward each other when placed under reduced pressure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The closing dressing bolster of claim 7, wherein the bolster body is operable to allow light to pass through sufficiently that color may be detected from a location external to the closing dressing bolster.

### Claim 13

A method of manufacturing a closing dressing bolster for treating a linear wound, comprising:
forming a bolster body from a flexible closing bolster material;
wherein forming the bolster body comprises forming the bolster body with a hollow region, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, and wherein the bolster body includes a central area, and wherein the first lateral side is on one side of the central area and the second lateral side is on another side of the central area; and
wherein forming the bolster body further comprises:
forming a first closing member on the bolster body on the first lateral side of the central area,
forming a second closing member on the bolster body on the second lateral side of the central area, and
forming a gap between the first closing member and the second closing member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein forming the bolster body further comprises forming the bolster body to develop a compressive force when placed under reduced pressure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first closing member and second closing member develop an inward closing force when the closing dressing bolster is placed under reduced pressure.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein forming the bolster body further comprises forming the bolster body from a see-through material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein forming the bolster body further comprises forming the bolster body from silicone.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein forming the gap provides a wicking-material holder, the method further comprising inserting a wicking material into the wicking-material holder.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the bolster body is operable to develop a bending moment about the central area when the closing dressing bolster is placed under reduced pressure.