Devices and methods for treating and closing wounds with negative pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10117782-B2
Application number	US-201314403163-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2013
Priority date	May 24, 2012
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wound filler for use in treating a wound with negative pressure, comprising:
a porous wound filling material; and
a plurality of sheets or slabs configured to extend vertically and lengthwise across a wound bed when the wound filler is positioned within the wound bed, the plurality of sheets or slabs being made of a more rigid material than the porous wound filling material;
wherein the plurality of sheets or slabs are spaced apart and dispersed throughout the wound filler in a horizontal plane;
wherein the plurality of sheets or slabs are fully surrounded by the porous wound filling material in the horizontal plane and the porous wound filling material extends between the plurality of sheets or slabs;
wherein the sheets or slabs 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 sheets or slabs reducing vertical movement of the wound filler.

2. The wound filler of claim 1 , wherein the porous wound filling material surrounds the plurality of sheets or slabs.

3. The wound filler of claim 1 , wherein the porous wound filling material comprises a plurality of slits or areas in which the plurality of sheets or slabs are inserted.

4. The wound filler of claim 1 , wherein flexible material is positioned between the sheets or slabs to allow compression of the sheets or slabs towards each other in a horizontal plane when the wound filler is positioned within a wound bed and is placed under negative pressure.

5. The wound filler of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sheets or slabs are adhered to the porous wound filling material.

6. The wound filler of claim 1 , 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.

7. The wound filler of claim 1 , wherein the sheets or slabs are spaced apart equally in the wound filler when the wound filler is positioned within a wound bed.

8. The wound filler of claim 1 , wherein the sheets or slabs are spaced apart unequally in the wound filler when the wound filler is positioned within a wound bed.

9. The wound filler of claim 1 , wherein the sheets or slabs and the wound filling material are portions of material that are substantially parallel to one another and alternatingly stacked adjacent to one another.

10. A negative pressure wound therapy system, comprising:
the wound filler of claim 1 ; and
a wound cover configured to be placed over the wound filler.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a connection for connecting the wound cover to a source of negative pressure.

12. The system of claim 10 , 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.

13. A method of treating a wound, comprising:
positioning the wound filler of claim 1 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 sheets or slabs reducing vertical movement of the wound filler.

Assignees

• Smith & Nephew Inc
• Univ Massachusetts

Inventors

• Dagger Anthony C
• Fry Nicholas Charlton
• Hicks John Kenneth
• Huddleston Elizabeth Mary
• Phillips Marcus Damian
• Saxby Carl
• Dunn Raymond M

Classifications

• A61M2210/1021

  Abdominal cavity · CPC title

• A61M1/916

  specially adapted for deep wounds · CPC title

• A61M1/912

  Connectors between dressing and drainage tube · CPC title

• A61M1/915

  Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold · CPC title

• A61F13/00068

  Human Necessities · mapped topic