DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING AND CLOSING WOUNDS WITH NEGATIVE PRESSURE

• US 20150150729A1
• Filed: 05/23/2013
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC), University Of Massachusetts
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC), University Of Massachusetts
• Inventors: Hicks, John Kenneth, Huddleston, Elizabeth Mary, Phillips, Marcus Damian, Saxby, Carl, Dunn, Raymond M., Dagger, Anthony C., Fry, Nicholas Charlton
• Granted Patent: US 10,117,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01021 characterised by the structure of the dressing
• 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 1/912 Connectors between dressing and drainage tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/916 specially adapted for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1021 Abdominal cavity

Abstract

The present invention relates to a negative pressure wound closure system and methods for using such a system. Preferred embodiments of the invention facilitate closure of the wound by preferentially contracting to provide for movement of the tissue.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A wound filler for use in treating a wound with negative pressure, comprising:

a porous wound filling material; and

a plurality of vertically extending members configured to extend vertically when the wound filler is positioned within a wound bed, the vertically extending members being made of a more rigid material than the porous wound filling material;

wherein the vertically extending members are dispersed throughout the wound filler and the porous wound filling material extends between the plurality of vertically extending members;

wherein the vertical extending members are elongate members configured to extend lengthwise across a wound bed and are aligned parallel to one another; and

wherein upon application of negative pressure to the wound filler, the wound filler is configured to contract horizontally with the vertically extending members reducing vertical movement of the wound filler.

15. The wound filler of claim 14, wherein the vertical extending members comprise one of struts, slabs, columns or tiles.

16. The wound filler of claim 14, wherein the porous wound filling material surrounds the plurality of vertically extending members.

17. The wound filler of claim 14, wherein the porous wound filling material comprises a plurality of slits or areas in which a denser or more rigid struts or slabs are inserted.

18. The wound filler of claim 14, wherein flexible material is positioned between the vertically extending members to allow compression of the vertically extending members towards each other in a horizontal plane when the wound filler is positioned within a wound bed and is placed under negative pressure.

19. The wound filler of claim 14, wherein the plurality of vertically extending members are adhered to the porous wound filling material.

20. The wound filler of claim 14, further comprising one or more draw strings or cords extending through the wound filler configured such that pulling of the draw strings will cause contracting of the wound filler in a horizontal plane.

21. The wound filler of claim 14, wherein the vertically extending members are spaced apart equally in the wound filler when the wound filler is positioned within a wound bed.

22. The wound filler of claims 14, wherein the vertically extending members are spaced apart unequally in the wound filler when the wound filler is positioned within a wound bed.

23. The wound filler of claim 14, wherein the vertically extending members and the wound filling material are portions of material that are substantially parallel to one another and alternatingly stacked adjacent to one another.

24. A negative pressure wound therapy system, comprising:

a wound filler of claim 14; and

a wound cover configured to be placed over the wound filler.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a connection for connecting the wound cover to a source of negative pressure.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising a negative pressure source configured to be connected to the wound cover to provide negative pressure to the wound filler when placed within the wound bed.

27. A method of treating a wound, comprising:

positioning the wound filler of claim 14 into a wound bed;

covering the wound filler with a wound cover; and

applying negative pressure to the wound cover, wherein the application of negative pressure causes the wound filler to contract horizontally with the vertically extending members reducing vertical movement of the wound filler.