WOUND DRESSINGS FOR VACUUM THERAPY
A wound dressing for vacuum therapy comprising: a cover configured for placement over the wound to maintain a reduced pressure over the wound and adapted for communication with a source of vacuum, and a screen structure for placement between the cover and the wound, wherein the screen structure is adapted to remove or inactivate undesirable components from the wound environment and/or to concentrate desirable components present in the wound environment. Also provided are kits for the assembly of such wound dressings, and systems comprising the wound dressings in combination with a source of vacuum.
1 . A wound dressing for vacuum therapy comprising: a cover configured for placement over the wound to maintain a reduced pressure over the wound and adapted for communication with a source of vacuum, and a screen structure comprising oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) for placement between the cover and the wound, wherein the screen structure is adapted to remove or inactivate undesirable components from the wound environment and/or to concentrate desirable components present in the wound environment.
2 . A wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is semi-rigid.
3 . A wound dressing according to claim 1 , further comprising tubing for connecting the cover to the vacuum source.
4 . A wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the screen structure comprises at least one active layer comprising ORC and at least one support body for said active layer.
5 . A wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the screen structure comprises a plurality of relatively movable solid particles optionally enclosed by a structure of sheet material.
6 . A wound dressing according to claim 4 , wherein the screen structure comprises a hydrogel layer having fluid flow passages extending therethrough.
7 . A wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein said screens structure comprises a complex of ORC with collagen or chitosan.
8 . A wound dressing according to claim 4 , wherein the screen structure comprises a silver-impregnated charcoal cloth
9 . A wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the screen structure comprises more than one layer of material selected from: active polymer layers, hydrogel layers, antimicrobial layers, and support layers.
10 . A wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the screen structure comprises a material that selectively remove components from wound fluid by ion exchange, affinity binding, or size exclusion.
11 . A wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the screen structure comprises a molecularly imprinted polymer.