Wound dressing and method of treatment

• US 10,231,874 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• 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:
  US15/261,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20170065458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 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 method of treating a wound, the method comprising:

positioning a wound dressing over a wound, the wound dressing comprising;

a central region and a radially outer region around the central region, wherein the wound dressing comprises four rounded lobes extending from the central region of the dressing;

a wound contact layer;

an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, the absorbent layer positioned above the wound contact layer;

an obscuring element for at least partially obscuring a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use, the obscuring element positioned above the absorbent layer; and

a cover layer positioned above the obscuring element, wherein the obscuring element is positioned between the absorbent layer and the cover layer at the central region and configured such that a portion of the absorbent layer is viewable under the cover layer at the radially outer region;

sealing the wound dressing to skin around the wound; and

determining whether to change the wound dressing based at least partly on the wound dressing providing an indication of the spread of exudate from the wound into the portion of the absorbent layer at the radially outer region viewable under the wound cover.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element is a layer that covers the central region and has a smaller dimension than the absorbent layer at the radially outer region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the obscuring element is a layer that has windows at the radially outer region.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the wound dressing after an amount of exudate is visible under the cover layer at the radially outer region.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the spread of exudate; and

providing an electronic indicator representing the spread of the exudate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic indicator comprises red, amber, and green lights to indicate the spread of the exudate.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the obscuring element comprises the electronic indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a percentage of coverage of the portion of the absorbent layer with exudate at the radially outer region viewable under the cover layer; and

changing the wound dressing in response to determining that the percentage of coverage exceeds a threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the threshold is 50%.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a distance of the spread of exudate from an edge of the dressing; and

changing the wound dressing in response to determining that the distance exceeds a threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the distance is 5 mm.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the distance is 7 mm.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising centering the wound dressing over the wound.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the wound dressing has been in use for at least a maximum recommended duration; and

in response to determining that the wound dressing has been in use for the maximum recommended duration, changing the wound dressing.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the spread of exudate at predetermined intervals.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing is shaped to include sub-areas, wherein the wound dressing has rotational symmetry, and wherein the sub-areas define areas of the wound dressing that are formable in different directions with respect to each other.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing comprises five or more rounded lobes extending from the central region of the dressing.

18. A method of treating a wound, the method comprising:

positioning a wound dressing over a wound, the wound dressing comprising;

a central region and a radially outer region around the central region, wherein the wound dressing comprises four rounded lobes extending from the central region of the dressing;

a wound contact layer;

an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, the absorbent layer positioned above the wound contact layer; and

a cover layer positioned above the absorbent layer;

sealing the wound dressing to skin around the wound; and

absorbing wound exudate within the absorbent layer of the wound dressing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the wound dressing comprises a masking layer that at least partially obscures a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use, the masking layer positioned between the absorbent layer and the cover layer.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising changing the wound dressing after an amount of exudate is visible under the cover layer at the radially outer region.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the wound dressing comprises five or more rounded lobes extending from the central region of the dressing.