SUPER-ABSORBENT, REDUCED-PRESSURE WOUND DRESSINGS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20090312728A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Long, Justin Alexander, Randolph, Larry Tab
• Granted Patent: US 8,241,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00 Bandages or dressings radioactive dressings A61N5/1029; Absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00059 provided with visual effects, e.g. printed or colored
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01017 synthetic, e.g. polymer based
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01029 made of multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01034 characterised by a property
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01038 Flexibility, stretchability or elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0209 comprising superabsorbent material
• 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 13/0243 characterised by the properties of the skin contacting layer, e.g. air-vapor permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0289 manufacturing of adhesive dressings
• 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 15/008 Appliances for wound protecting, e.g. avoiding contact between wound and bandage corn plasters A61F13/063
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00131 elasticity distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00136 anisotropy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00182 with transparent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00246 in a special way pervious to air or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0028 applying of mechanical pressure; passive massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0054 : for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00748 : with hydrocolloids or superabsorbers wound bandages with alginate A61F2013/00229; plasters with cyano-acrylic adhesive A61F2013/00459; plasters for treating burn with hydrogel A61F2013/00523; adhesive for plasters, with hydrogel A61F2013/00676; water-based A61F2013/00689; for use on mucosae A61F2013/00714; for use on wounds A61F2013/00719; with absorbent adhesives A61F2013/00757; with fumed silica A61F2013/00787; with viscoelastic oil-elastomer gel A61F2013/00893
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 : Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/71 : Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 : Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/916 : specially adapted for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/917 : specially adapted for covering whole body parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 : with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 : Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1007 : Breast; mammary
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1021 : Abdominal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A super-absorbent dressing assembly for use with a reduced-pressure wound treatment system includes a breathable, fluid restricted dry layer for placement against a wound, a super-absorbent layer, and a non-breathable layer, and a drape extending over the non-breathable layer. A reduced-pressure interface is available to fluidly couple the super-absorbent layer to a reduced-pressure subsystem. The super-absorbent dressing assembly preferably supplies a compressive force when placed under reduced pressure. A reduced-pressure treatment system uses a super-absorbent bolster to treat wounds, e.g., linear wounds.

Claims

1. A dressing assembly for use with a reduced-pressure treatment system, the dressing assembly comprising:

a breathable, fluid restricted dry layer for placement against a wound on a patient and having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface;

a super-absorbent layer having a first surface and second, inward-facing surface, the second, inward-facing surface of the super-absorbent layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the breathable dry layer; and

a non-breathable layer having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface, the second, inward-facing surface of the non-breathable layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the super-absorbent layer.

2. The dressing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a drape extending over the first surface of the non-breathable layer and a reduced-pressure interface fluidly coupled to the super-absorbent layer and operable with the sealing subsystem to receive reduced pressure.

3. The dressing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a drape extension formed by a portion of the drape extending beyond a peripheral edge of the breathable, fluid restricted dry layer, super-absorbent layer, and non-breathable layer.

4. The dressing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a drape extension formed by a portion of the drape extending beyond a peripheral edge of the breathable, fluid restricted dry layer, super-absorbent layer, and non-breathable layer;

and further comprising a sealing apparatus for sealing the drape extension to a patient'"'"'s epidermis.

5. The dressing assembly of claim 1 wherein the super-absorbent layer is operable to hold at least 300 milliliters of fluid.

6. A reduced-pressure treatment system for treating a wound, the system comprising:

a super-absorbent bolster for placing on the patient'"'"'s epidermis and substantially sized to overlay the wound, the super-absorbent bolster operable to manifold reduced pressure;

a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal between the super-absorbent dressing bolster and the patient;

a reduced-pressure subsystem for delivering reduced pressure to the sealing subsystem;

wherein the sealing subsystem and reduced-pressure subsystem are operable to deliver reduced pressure to the wound; and

wherein the super-absorbent dressing bolster, sealing subsystem, and reduced-pressure subsystem are operable to develop a compressive force.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the super-absorbent dressing bolster comprises:

a breathable, fluid-restricted dry layer having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface;

a super-absorbent layer having a first surface and second surface, the second, inward-facing surface of the super-absorbent layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the breathable dry layer; and

a non-breathable layer having a first surface and a second surface, the second, inward-facing surface of the non-breathable layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the super-absorbent layer.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the super-absorbent dressing bolster comprises:

super-absorbent material operable, under reduce pressure, to develop a compressive force that is greater with the addition of fluid to the super-absorbent material.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the super-absorbent dressing bolster comprises:

super-absorbent material having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface;

a breathable dry layer having a first surface and a second surface; and

wherein the second surface of the super-absorbent material is coupled, at least in part, to the first surface of the breathable dry layer.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the super-absorbent dressing bolster comprises:

super-absorbent material having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface and operable to increase in rigidity with the addition of a fluid;

a breathable dry layer having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface;

a non-breathable layer having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface; and

wherein the second, inward-facing surface of the super-absorbent material is coupled, at least in part, to the first surface of the breathable dry layer and the second, inward-facing surface on the non-breathable layer and the first surface of the super-absorbent material are at least in part coupled.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the sealing subsystem comprises:

a drape that extends over the super-absorbent bolster.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the sealing subsystem comprises:

a drape that extends over the super-absorbent bolster; and

a sealing apparatus for providing a fluid seal between a patient'"'"'s epidermis and the drape.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein the reduced-pressure subsystem comprises:

a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure;

a reduced-pressure interface coupled to the sealing subsystem; and

a reduced-pressure delivery conduit for providing reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein the reduced-pressure subsystem comprises:

a reduced-pressure source operable to provide a variable pressure below ambient pressure;

a reduced-pressure interface coupled to the sealing subsystem;

a reduced-pressure delivery conduit for providing reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface.

15. The system of claim 6 wherein the reduced-pressure subsystem comprises:

a portable reduced-pressure source;

a reduced-pressure interface coupled to the sealing subsystem;

a reduced-pressure delivery conduit for providing reduced pressure from the pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface; and

wherein the reduced-pressure interface transmits reduced pressure to the sealing subsystem.

16. A system for assisting the healing of a wound on a patient, the system comprising:

a super-absorbent bolster assembly for placing on the wound of the patient;

a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal over the super-absorbent bolster assembly and the patient;

a reduced-pressure subsystem for delivering a reduced pressure to the sealing subsystem; and

wherein the super-absorbent bolster, sealing subsystem, and reduce-pressure subsystem are operable to deliver reduced pressure to the wound and remove exudate from the wound;

wherein the super-absorbent bolster is operable to hold more than 250 milliliters of fluid while presenting a dry, inward-facing surface; and

wherein the absorbent bolster assembly comprises;

a breathable, fluid restricted dry layer having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface; and

a super-absorbent layer having a first surface and second, inward-facing surface, the second, inward-facing surface of the super-absorbent layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the breathable dry layer.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a reduced-pressure interface coupled on the first surface of the non-breathable layer and operable with the sealing subsystem to receive reduced pressure.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the super-absorbent bolster further comprises a non-breathable layer having a first surface and a second, inward-facing surface, the second, inward-facing surface of the non-breathable layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the super-absorbent layer.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising a fluid delivery interface for delivering a fluid to the super-absorbent layer, the fluid delivery interface coupled to the first surface of the non-breathable layer and fluidly coupled to the super-absorbent layer.