REDUCED-PRESSURE, WOUND-TREATMENT DRESSINGS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20100121286A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
• Inventors: Robinson, Timothy Mark, Locke, Christopher Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,460,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/085 with adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/086 having flexible threads, filaments, laces or wires, e.g. parallel threads, extending laterally from a strip, e.g. for tying to opposing threads extending from a similar strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/345 for introduction into a natural body opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00987 Apparatus or processes for manufacturing non-adhesive dressings or bandages
• 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: 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 1/92 with liquid supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A wound-closing dressing, which is suitable for use as part of a reduced-pressure, wound-treatment system, may include a sealing drape, one or more contracting elements, and a gripping member. The contracting element may be coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to contract when activated and to generate a closing force. A gripping member is coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient'"'"'s epidermis. Other dressings, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A reduced-pressure, wound-treatment system for treating a wound on a patient, the system comprising:

a wound-closing dressing comprising;

a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface, the sealing drape for placing over a wound,

a contracting element coupled to the sealing drape, the contracting element configured to contract when activated and to thereby generate a closing force,

a gripping member coupled to the sealing drape, the gripping member configured to transmit the closing force to a patient'"'"'s epidermis, wherein the sealing drape and gripping member are configured to form a fluid seal over the wound;

a manifold member for disposing between the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape and the wound; and

a reduced-pressure subsystem for delivering a reduced pressure to the wound-closing dressing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element is configured to move from an extended position to a contracted position, and wherein the contracting element is initially in the extended position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element is activated by heat.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element is activated by moisture.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element is activated by electromagnetic induction.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element comprises a plurality of contracting strips.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element wherein the contracting element is activated when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element wherein the contracting element is activated when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves, and wherein the dissolvable body comprises a plurality of dissolvable beads.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element is coupled to the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the contracting element comprises a material stretched from a free length to a stretched length and dried and wherein the contracting element is activated by moisture.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the contracting element comprises a memory metal stretched to a stretched position and wherein the contracting element is activated by heat from the patient.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the contracting element comprises a material that is stretched from a free length to a stretched length and dried;

wherein the contracting element is activated by moisture; and

wherein the gripping member comprises an adhesive layer.

14. A wound-closing dressing comprising:

a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface, the sealing drape for placing over a wound;

a contracting element coupled to the sealing drape, the contracting element configured to contract when activated and thereby generate a closing force; and

a gripping member coupled to the sealing drape, the gripping member configured to transmit the closing force to a patient'"'"'s epidermis.

15. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein said contracting element is in an extended position prior to activation.

16. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein said contracting element is activated by heat.

17. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein said contracting element is activated by moisture.

18. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein said contracting element is activated by electromagnetic induction.

19. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein said contracting element comprises a plurality of contracting strips.

20. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive.

21. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive and wherein said adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

22. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 further comprising a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element wherein the contracting element is activated when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves.

23. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 further comprising a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element wherein the contracting element is activated when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves and wherein the dissolvable body comprises a plurality of dissolvable beads.

24. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein the contracting element comprises a material stretched from a free length to a stretched length and dried and wherein the contracting element is activated by moisture.

25. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein the contracting element comprises a memory metal stretched to a stretched position and wherein the contracting element is activated by heat from the patient.

26. The wound-closing dressing of claim 14 wherein the contracting element comprises a material that is stretched from a free length to a stretched length and dried;

wherein the contracting element is activated by moisture; and

wherein the gripping member comprises an adhesive layer.

27. A wound-closing dressing comprising:

a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface, the sealing drape for placing over a wound;

a dissolvable body coupled to the sealing drape;

an elastic member coupled to the dissolvable body in a stretched position, wherein the elastic member contracts to a free position when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves thereby generating a closing force; and

a gripping member coupled to at least one of the sealing drape and elastic member, the gripping member configured to transmit the closing force to a patient'"'"'s epidermis.

28. The wound-closing dressing of claim 27 wherein said dissolvable body includes oxygenated particles for reducing infection.

29. The wound-closing dressing of claim 27 wherein said dissolvable body includes anti-microbial particles for reducing infection.

30. The wound-closing dressing of claim 27 wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive.

31. The wound-closing dressing of claim 27 wherein said dissolvable body comprises a plurality of dissolvable beads.

32. A method for treating a wound comprising the steps of:

securing a contracting element to a patient'"'"'s epidermis such that the contracting element spans at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s wound, wherein the contracting element is configured to contract from an extended position to a contracted position and thereby generates a closing force when activated; and

activating the contracting element such that the contracting element generates a closing force.

33. The method according to claim 32 wherein said contracting element is in an expanded position prior to activation.

34. The method according to claim 32 wherein said contracting element is activated by heat.

35. The method according to claim 32 wherein said contracting element is activated by moisture.

36. The method according to claim 32 wherein said contracting element is activated by electromagnetic induction.

37. The method according to claim 32 wherein said contracting element comprises a plurality of contracting strips.

38. The method according to claim 32 wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive.

39. The method according to claim 32 further comprising a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element wherein the contracting element is activated when at least a portion of the body dissolves.

40. The method according to claim 32 further comprising a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element wherein the contracting element is activated when at least a portion of the body dissolves;

and wherein the dissolvable body comprises a plurality of dissolvable beads.

41. The method according to claim 32 wherein said contracting element is coupled to the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape.

42. The method according to claim 32 wherein the contracting element comprises a material stretched from a free length to a stretched length and dried and wherein the contracting element is activated by moisture.

43. The method according to claim 32 wherein the contracting element comprises a memory metal stretched to an extended position and wherein the contracting element is activated by heat from the patient.

44. The method according to claim 32 further comprising applying a reduced pressure to the patient'"'"'s wound.

45. A method of manufacturing a wound closing dressing comprising the steps of:

forming a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface;

coupling a contracting element to the sealing drape, wherein the contracting element is configured to contract from an extended position to a contracted position and thereby generate a closing force when activated; and

coupling a gripping member to the sealing drape such that the gripping member is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient'"'"'s epidermis.

46. The method according to claim 45 further comprising coupling a manifold member to the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape.

47. The method according to claim 45 further comprising coupling a dissolvable body to the contracting element such that the contracting element is activated when at least a portion of the body dissolves.

48. The method according to claim 45 further comprising coupling a plurality of contracting elements to the sealing drape.

49. The method according to claim 45 further comprising fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure subsystem to the sealing drape.

50. The method according to claim 45 wherein the step of coupling a contracting element to the sealing drape comprises coupling a contracting elements having a plurality of dissolvable beads.