Wound dressing

• US 10,555,839 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2017
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Hartwell, Edward Yerbury
• Primary Examiner(s): Mensh, Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US15/850,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20180133065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 604319
• 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 13/0206 with absorbent fibrous layers, e.g. woven or non-woven absorbent pads or island dressings
• 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 13/0226 characterised by the support layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/025 having a special distribution arrangement of the adhesive
• 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 2013/00246 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: 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 1/912 Connectors between dressing and drainage tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for dressing a wound. The apparatus comprises an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, a liquid impermeable, gas permeable filter layer over the absorbent layer, a cover layer comprising at least one orifice and a first liquid and gas permeable transmission layer underlying the absorbent layer. The transmission layer is in fluid communication with the filter layer.

Claims

1. A wound treatment apparatus, comprising:

a dressing comprising;

a cover layer, the cover layer comprising at least one opening;

a wound contact layer;

a first layer disposed in a space between the cover layer and the wound contact layer, wherein the first layer comprises a foam material;

an absorbent layer positioned in fluid communication between the first layer and the wound contact layer, wherein the absorbent layer is below the first layer, wherein the absorbent layer comprises a lower surface configured to be facing a wound site when the dressing is applied over the wound site and an opposite upper surface and a plurality of through holes extending from the lower surface to the upper surface of the absorbent layer, wherein the absorbent layer is configured to distribute fluid throughout the absorbent layer via a wicking action so that fluid is drawn from the wound site and stored throughout the absorbent layer;

a connector in fluid communication with the space for connecting the space to a source of negative pressure; and

a hydrophilic member in fluid communication with the absorbent layer that permits moisture vapor and gas through, the hydrophilic member positioned in fluid communication between the first layer and the connector, wherein the hydrophilic member covers the at least one opening in the cover layer; and

a second layer disposed in the space, wherein the second layer is below the absorbent layer and above the wound contact layer, the first layer and the second layer have a larger perimeter than the absorbent layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through holes in the absorbent layer are configured to provide fluid transmission paths through the absorbent layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through holes in the absorbent layer are vertically extending through holes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second layer is made of a different material than the first layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a porous, non-woven layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a foam transmission layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the source of negative pressure configured to apply negative pressure to the dressing through the connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover layer is secured to the wound contact layer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises a moisture vapor permeable material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer comprises a superabsorber material that is adapted to absorb fluid.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic member is above the cover layer.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic member is below the cover layer.

13. A wound treatment apparatus, comprising:

a wound dressing comprising;

an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate;

wherein the absorbent layer comprises a lower surface configured to be facing a wound site when the wound dressing is applied over the wound site and an opposite upper surface and through holes formed therein, wherein the through holes extend from the lower surface to the upper surface of the absorbent layer and wherein the lower surface of the absorbent layer comprises a superabsorbent material and forms a wound contact layer;

a filter layer in fluid communication with the absorbent layer;

a transmission layer in fluid communication with the absorbent layer and the filter layer;

a cover layer comprising at least one orifice; and

a lower pressure sensitive adhesive provided on an underside surface of the wound dressing to adhere the wound dressing to skin around the wound site; and

a remote pump configured to be connected to the wound dressing;

wherein the apparatus is configured to apply negative pressure at the wound site such that, in use, gas is exhausted through the at least one orifice in the cover layer and the filter layer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmission layer is located above the absorbent layer and comprises a porous material to distribute pressure generated by the pump.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmission layer comprises foam.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cover layer comprises a material having a high moisture vapour permeability.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cover layer is over the filter layer or the filter layer is over the cover layer.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the absorbent layer is a layer of superabsorbent material.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the absorbent layer is formed in a substantially rectangular block.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a releasable protective layer on the lower surface of the wound contact layer.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the filter layer is configured to prevent pathogens from the wound site from leaving the wound dressing via the filter layer.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the filter layer is configured to permit moisture vapour and gas but no liquid through.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, in use, the apparatus is configured to absorb exudate in the absorbent layer under a negative pressure of between 0-200 mmHg.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wound dressing is a one use item which can be disposed of subsequent to use.

25. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the through holes of the absorbent layer are arranged in a grid array.