DRESSINGS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A TISSUE SITE

• US 20110224631A1
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Simmons, Tyler, Sammons, Alexander G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,721,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00995 for mechanical treatments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01021 characterised by the structure of the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01029 made of multiple layers
• 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 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00327 to create projections or depressions in surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00412 for use with needles, tubes or catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0054 for deep wounds
• 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 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1021 Abdominal cavity

Abstract

Dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed for treating tissue with reduced pressure. A dressing for distributing reduced pressure to a tissue site includes a plurality of liquid-impermeable layers that are stacked and a plurality of spacers disposed at least partially between adjacent liquid-impermeable layers. The plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are fenestrated at least in part. The plurality of spacers and plurality of liquid-impermeable layers form a plurality of flow paths for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure. Adjacent layers of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are stacked without foam between at least a majority of coextensive surfaces. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A dressing for distributing reduced pressure to a tissue site, the dressing comprising:

a plurality of liquid-impermeable layers that are stacked;

wherein the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are fenestrated;

a plurality of spacers disposed at least partially between adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to provide displacement of at least a portion of adjacent liquid-impermeable layers;

a plurality of flow pathways formed by the plurality of spacers and plurality of liquid-impermeable layers for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure; and

wherein adjacent layers of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are stacked without foam between a majority of the surface area of at least a majority of coextensive surfaces.

2. The dressing of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers comprise a plurality of bonds, each bond coupling at least two of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers at a bond site.

3. The dressing of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers comprises an enlarged portion of at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.

4. The dressing of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.

10. The dressing of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers comprise a plurality of bonds, each bond coupling at least two of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers at a bond site of a plurality of bond sites and wherein the plurality of bonds comprises bonds having an aspect ratio greater than 6.

11. The dressing of claim 1, further comprising a first longitudinal bond and a second longitudinal bond spaced from the first longitudinal bond to form a flow channel.

12. The dressing of claim 1, further comprising a liquid-delivery channel, wherein the liquid-delivery channel comprises:

a first portion of one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers having no fenestrations;

a second portion of another of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers having no fenestrations;

a channel-forming bond coupling the first portion and the second portion except at a peripheral edge to define a liquid-delivery flow path; and

a liquid aperture formed on the first portion of the liquid-impermeable layer for receiving a liquid.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

13. A system for distributing reduced pressure to a tissue site, the system comprising:

a reduced-pressure source;

a reduced-pressure delivery conduit;

a reduced-pressure dressing;

wherein the reduced-pressure delivery conduit fluidly couples the reduced-pressure source and the reduced-pressure dressing; and

wherein the reduced-pressure dressing comprises;

a plurality of liquid-impermeable layers that are stacked;

wherein the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are fenestrated,

a plurality of spacers disposed at least partially between adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to provide displacement of at least a portion of adjacent liquid-impermeable layers,

a plurality of flow pathways formed by the plurality of spacers and plurality of liquid-impermeable layers for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure, and

wherein adjacent layers of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are stacked without foam between a majority of the surface area of at least a majority of coextensive surfaces.

14. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacers comprise a plurality of bonds at a plurality of bond sites, each bond coupling at least two of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers at a bond site of the plurality of bond sites.

15. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacers comprises an enlarged portion of at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.

16. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.

17. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers, and wherein the plurality of folds are formed by bonding a least a portion of the liquid-impermeable layers and folding the dressing to form micro-channels.

18. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers, and wherein the plurality of folds are formed by disposing the dressing on a curved surface that creates at least some of the plurality of folds.

19. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacers comprise a plurality of bonds at a plurality of bond sites, each bond coupling at least two of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers at a bond site of the plurality of bond sites and wherein the plurality of bond sites form a spaced pattern of bond sites.

20. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed by folding the dressing on itself to create at least one curved portion having a radius of and wherein the curved portion forms a micro-channel.

21. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacers comprise a plurality of bonds at a plurality of bond sites, each bond coupling at least two of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers at a bond site of the plurality of bond sites and wherein the plurality of bonds comprises bonds having an aspect ratio greater than 3.

23. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, further comprising a first longitudinal bond and a second longitudinal bond spaced from the first longitudinal bond to form a flow channel.

24. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 13, further comprising a liquid-delivery channel, wherein the liquid-delivery channel comprises:

a first portion of one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers having no fenestrations;

a second portion of another of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers having no fenestrations;

a channel-forming bond coupling the first portion and the second portion except at a peripheral edge to define a liquid-delivery flow path; and

a liquid aperture formed on the first portion of the liquid-impermeable layer for receiving a liquid.

22. (canceled)

25. A method of manufacturing a dressing for distributing reduced pressure to a tissue site, the method comprising steps of:

providing a plurality of liquid-impermeable layers, wherein the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are fenestrated;

stacking the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers;

forming a plurality of spacers disposed at least partially between adjacent liquid-impermeable layers;

wherein the plurality of spacers and plurality of liquid-impermeable layers form a plurality of flow paths for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure; and

wherein adjacent layers of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are stacked without foam between at least a majority of coextensive surfaces.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spacers comprises forming a plurality of bonds at a plurality of bond sites, each bond coupling at least two of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers at a bond site of the plurality of bond sites.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spacers comprises providing the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers with at least one enlarged portion.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spacers comprises forming a plurality of folds in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. A method for delivering reduced pressure to a tissue site, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a reduced-pressure dressing, the reduced-pressure dressing comprising;

a plurality of liquid-impermeable layers that are stacked,

wherein the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are fenestrated,

a plurality of spacers disposed at least partially between adjacent liquid-impermeable layers,

a plurality of flow pathways formed by the plurality of spacers and plurality of liquid-impermeable layers for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure, and

wherein adjacent layers of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are stacked with out foam between at least a majority of coextensive surfaces;

deploying the reduced-pressure dressing adjacent to the tissue site;

fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure dressing; and

activating the reduced-pressure source.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the tissue site is within an abdominal cavity, wherein the step of deploying the reduced-pressure dressing adjacent to the tissue site comprises deploying the reduced-pressure dressing through an open abdomen, and further comprising the step of removing the reduced-pressure dressing through a surgical incision less than 6 centimeters in length.