Wound dressing and method of treatment

• US 10,130,519 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Mumby, Ella Lynn, Lecomte, Helene Anne
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens, Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US15/219,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20160331594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 604319, 604543, 604304, 604313
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00055 Saturation indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00059 provided with visual effects, e.g. printed or colored
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00063 comprising medicaments or additives, e.g. odor control, PH control, debriding, antimicrobic drug delivery dressings A61K9/70; chemical aspect of the additives A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00987 Apparatus or processes for manufacturing non-adhesive dressings or bandages
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01029 made of multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0203 with fluid retention members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0206 with absorbent fibrous layers, e.g. woven or non-woven absorbent pads or island dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/022 having more than one layer with different fluid retention characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0223 characterized by parametric properties of the fluid retention layer, e.g. absorbency, wicking capacity, liquid distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0226 characterised by the support layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0253 characterized by the adhesive material
• CPC Class Codes: 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]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0028 applying of mechanical pressure; passive massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00846 with transparent or translucent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00876 vapour permeability >500 g/mg/24h
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/90 Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/918 for multiple suction locations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/962 having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/985 the dressing itself forming the collection container

Abstract

A wound dressing, a method of manufacturing a wound dressing, and a method of treating a patient are disclosed. The wound dressing may include an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate; and an obscuring element for at least partially obscuring a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use.

Claims

1. A wound dressing for providing protection at a wound site, comprising:

a wound contact layer;

an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, the absorbent layer positioned above the wound contact layer and comprising a border region extending around its radially outer perimeter and a central region within the border region;

a cover layer positioned above the absorbent layer; and

an obscuring element positioned between the absorbent layer and the cover layer for at least partially obscuring a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use, the obscuring element comprising a layer for at least partial masking of wound exudate,

wherein the obscuring element layer is provided over the central region of the absorbent layer and not over the border region of the absorbent layer, and wherein the border region of the absorbent layer is directly adjacent to the cover layer such that wound exudate reaching the border region is visible through the cover layer.

2. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element is translucent.

3. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element is a masking layer.

4. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer comprises a plurality of non-woven randomly oriented fibers, and wherein the plurality of non-woven randomly oriented fibers spread wound exudate absorbed in a central region of the absorbent layer outward to the border region of the absorbent layer.

5. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element comprises an indicator for indicating the need to change the dressing.

6. The wound dressing of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of openings in the obscuring element for allowing fluid to move therethrough.

7. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element comprises, or is coated with, a material having size-exclusion properties for selectively permitting or preventing passage of molecules of a predetermined size or weight, the molecules comprising proteins.

8. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element comprises, or is coated with, a hydrophilic material.

9. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element comprises a three-dimensional knitted spacer fabric.

10. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the cover layer is a translucent film having a moisture vapour permeability of 500 g/m²/24 hours or more.

11. The wound dressing of claim 10, wherein the translucent film is a bacterial barrier.

12. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the wound contact layer carries an adhesive portion on a lower surface thereof, the adhesive portion for forming a substantially fluid tight seal over the wound site.

13. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element is configured to at least partially mask light radiation having wavelength of 600 nm and less.

14. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element is configured to reduce light absorption by 50% or more.

15. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element is configured to yield a CIE L* value of 50 or more, and optionally 70 or more.

16. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element and the absorbent layer are provided as a single layer.

17. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the dressing is shaped to include a number of lobes.

18. The wound dressing of claim 17, wherein the absorbent layer comprises a first shape including the number of lobes, wherein the border region extends around radially outer edges of the lobes of the absorbent layer, wherein the obscuring element comprises a second shape including the number of lobes.

19. The wound dressing of claim 18, wherein the second shape is smaller than the first shape such that the obscuring element is not provided over the radially outer edges of the lobes of the absorbent layer.

20. The wound dressing of claim 19, wherein the positioning of the obscuring element enables visibility of wound exudate reaching the radially outer edges of the lobes of the absorbent layer.

21. The wound dressing of claim 1, further comprising a porous layer positioned between the wound contact layer and the absorbent layer, the porous layer configured to draw exudate away from the wound site.

22. The wound dressing of claim 1, further comprising an odour control element dispersed within or adjacent the absorbent layer.

23. The wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the dressing further comprises an odour control element and a foam layer, wherein the odour control element is provided as a layer sandwiched between the foam layer and the absorbent layer.