Dressings and methods for treating a tissue site on a patient

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9492325-B2
Application number	US-201113702981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2011
Priority date	Apr 16, 2010
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

Dressings, systems, and methods for treating a tissue site on a patient involve allowing liquids from the tissue site or a priming fluid to evaporate and exit the dressing through a liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane. The dressing is able to process more liquids than would otherwise be possible without evaporation and potentially to create reduced pressure. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.

First claim

We claim:

1. A dressing for treating a tissue site, the dressing comprising:
a wound interface member configured to be positioned adjacent to the tissue site;
an absorbent layer comprising an absorbent material and an envelope at least partially encompassing the absorbent material, the absorbent layer configured to be positioned over the wound interface member;
a covering configured to be positioned over the absorbent layer to form a sealed space having the absorbent layer and the wound interface member therein;
a porous manifolding layer configured to be disposed over at least a portion of the covering; and
a forced-air device configured to move air across the porous manifolding layer.

2. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material comprises a plurality of layers.

3. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material comprises:
a first layer made from super absorbent fibers;
a second layer disposed adjacent to the first layer and configured to divert fluid; and
a third layer disposed adjacent to the second layer and configured to manifold fluid.

4. The dressing of claim 3 , wherein the second layer is formed of a liquid impermeable material and includes a plurality of apertures.

5. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the porous manifolding layer comprises a hydrophilic material.

6. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the forced-air device comprises a fan.

7. The dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a drape covering the porous manifolding layer, the drape having an aperture configured to permit fluid communication across the drape.

8. The dressing of claim 7 , wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of apertures, at least one of the apertures disposed adjacent to the forced-air device and the remaining apertures disposed about a periphery of the drape.

9. The dressing of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit electrically coupled to the forced-air device and configured to operate the forced-air device; and
one or more sensors positioned proximate to the porous manifolding layer and in communication with the control unit, the one or more sensors configured to monitor a moisture level of the manifolding layer.

10. The dressing of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to operate the forced-air device in response to the moisture level detected by the one or more sensors.

11. A system for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure, the dressing comprising:
a wound interface member configured to be positioned adjacent to the tissue site;
an absorbent layer configured to be positioned over the wound interface member;
a covering configured to be positioned over the absorbent layer to form a sealed space having the absorbent layer and the wound interface member therein;
a reduced-pressure interface configured to be fluidly coupled to the absorbent layer and having a portion extending through the covering;
a reduced-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure interface for supply reduced pressure to the sealed space;
a porous manifolding layer configured to be disposed over at least a portion of the covering; and
a forced-air device configured to move air across the porous manifolding layer.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the absorbent layer comprises:
an absorbent material; and
an envelope at least partially encompassing the absorbent material.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the absorbent material comprises:
a first layer made from super absorbent fibers;
a second layer disposed adjacent to the first layer and configured to divert fluid; and
a third layer disposed adjacent to the second layer and configured to manifold fluid.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second layer is formed of a liquid impermeable material and includes a plurality of apertures.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the forced-air device comprises a fan.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a drape covering the porous manifolding layer, the drape having an aperture configured to permit fluid communication across the drape.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of apertures, at least one of the apertures disposed adjacent to the forced-air device and the remaining apertures disposed about a periphery of the drape.

18. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a control unit electrically coupled to the forced-air device and configured to operate the forced-air device; and
one or more sensors positioned proximate to the porous manifolding layer and in communication with the control unit, the one or more sensors configured to monitor a moisture level of the manifolding layer.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the control unit is configured to operate the forced-air device in response to the moisture level detected by the one or more sensors.

20. A method for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure, the method comprising:
positioning a wound interface member adjacent to the tissue site;
positioning an absorbent layer over the wound interface member;
positioning a covering over the absorbent layer to form a sealed space having the absorbent layer and the wound interface member therein;
disposing a porous manifolding layer over at least a portion of the covering;
fluidly coupling a forced-air device to the porous manifolding layer; and
operating the forced-air device to move air across the porous manifolding member.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises positioning a drape over the porous manifolding layer, the drape having an aperture configured to permit fluid communication across the drape.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of apertures, and the method further comprises fluidly coupling the forced-air device adjacent to at least one of the apertures that is disposed proximate to a center of the drape and moving air through the remaining apertures disposed about a periphery of the drape.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises:
electrically coupling a control unit to the forced air device, the control unit configured to operate the forced air device; and
positioning one or more sensors proximate to the porous manifolding layer and in communication with the control unit, and monitoring a moisture level with the one or more sensors.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises operating the forced-air device with the control unit in response to the moisture level detected by the one or more sensors.

25. A dressing for treating a tissue site, the dressing comprising:
a wound interface member configured to be positioned adjacent to the tissue site;
an absorbent layer configured to be positioned over the wound interface member;
a covering configured to be positioned over the absorbent layer to form a sealed space having the absorbent layer and the wound interface member therein;
a porous manifolding layer disposed over at least a portion of the covering; and
a forced-air device configured to move air across the porous manifolding layer.

Assignees

• Locke Christopher Brian
• Robinson Timothy Mark
• Tout Aidan Marcus
• Kci Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Locke Christopher Brian
• Robinson Timothy Mark
• Tout Aidan Marcus

Classifications

• A61M1/985

  the dressing itself forming the collection container · CPC title

• A61M1/96

  Suction control thereof · CPC title

• A61M1/915

  Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold · CPC title

• A61F2013/0074

  containing foams · CPC title

• A61M1/0058

  Human Necessities · mapped topic