Wound dressing of continuous fibers

• US 8,777,911 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Heagle, David G., Corley, Kevin, Watson, Kristin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): SASS, SARA A
• Application Number:
  US13/569,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 604/317
• US Class Current: 604/317
• 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 13/00995 for mechanical treatments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01042 Absorbency
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/02 Adhesive bandages or 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 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00238 characterised by way of knitting or weaving
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00348 lint-free, i.e. non-linting or frying A61F2013/00242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00357 implanted wound fillings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00412 for use with needles, tubes or catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00519 for treating burn
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0054 for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00557 detachable absorbent pad
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00565 with hook and loop-type fastener connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0057 with openable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00842 for tearing off dressing of desired size
• 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 1/98 Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 : with means for detecting level of collected exudate

Abstract

A method for treating a wound that includes incorporating a wound dressing comprising a plurality of fibers, each fiber having a length of at least two (2) inches, into a wound to cause the walls of the wound to remain apart and allow the wound to heal from the inside to the outside, and removing the wound exudate.

Claims

1. A negative wound pressure therapy apparatus, comprising:

a wound dressing for defining a reservoir over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vacuum source suitable for providing an appropriate negative pressure to the reservoir to help stimulate healing of the wound; and

a filler disposed within the wound dressing, the filler defining a length along a longitudinal axis and comprising at least one continuous fiber configured in a plurality of loop segments traversing the longitudinal axis and extending along the longitudinal axis, the wound filler including a connecting segment extending along the longitudinal axis for substantially the same length as the plurality of loop segments, the connecting segment directly physically connected to at least some of the loop segments.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting segment is connected to each loop segment.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting segment is adapted to be severed to provide a segment of the filler.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting segment is dimensioned to define a handle segment extending longitudinally beyond the at least one continuous fiber.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting segment and the at least one continuous fiber comprise different material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one continuous fiber comprises multifilaments.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one continuous fiber of the filler is non-absorbent.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one continuous fiber includes an additive.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wound contact layer.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a cover layer.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the wound contact layer comprises a perforated film.

12. A negative wound pressure therapy apparatus, comprising:

a wound contact layer configured to be placed in contact with a wound;

a cover layer;

a wound dressing between the wound contact layer and the cover layer configured to receive and retain wound exudate, wherein the wound dressing comprises a matrix defining a length along a longitudinal axis and comprising at least one continuous fiber configured in a plurality of loop segments traversing the longitudinal axis and extending along the longitudinal axis, the matrix including a connecting segment extending along the longitudinal axis for substantially the same length as the plurality of loop segments, the connecting segment directly physically connected to at least some of the loop segments; and

a vacuum port pre-affixed to the cover layer.