Reduced-pressure, wound-treatment dressings and systems
View Patent ↗A wound-closing dressing, which is suitable for use as part of a reduced-pressure, wound-treatment system, may include a sealing drape, one or more contracting elements, and a gripping member. The contracting element may be coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to contract when activated and to generate a closing force. A gripping member is coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis. Other dressings, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
1. A reduced-pressure, wound-treatment system for treating a wound on a patient, the system comprising:
a wound-closing dressing comprising:
a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface, a contracting element coupled to the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape,
a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element wherein the contracting element is adapted to be activated when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves, and
a gripping member coupled to the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape over the contracting element;
a manifold member for disposing between the fenestrated gripping member and the wound; and
a reduced-pressure subsystem in fluid communication with the manifold member and adapted to deliver a reduced pressure to the wound.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element is configured to move from an extended position to a contracted position, and wherein the contracting element is initially in the extended position.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element comprises a weave of contracting strips.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element is releasably coupled to a backing strip.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element comprises a plurality of contracting strips.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the dissolvable body comprises a plurality of dissolvable beads.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said contracting element comprises a plurality of legs positioned in star-shaped pattern about a central aperture.
9. A wound-closing dressing comprising:
a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface,
a contracting element coupled to the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape;
a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element wherein the contracting element is adapted to be activated when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves; and
a gripping member coupled to the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape over the contracting element.
10. The wound-closing dressing of claim 9 wherein said contracting element is in an extended position prior to activation.
11. The wound-closing dressing of claim 9 wherein said contracting element comprises a weave of contracting strips.
12. The wound-closing dressing of claim 9 wherein said contracting element is releasably coupled to a backing strip.
13. The wound-closing dressing of claim 9 wherein said contracting element comprises a plurality of contracting strips.
14. The wound-closing dressing of claim 9 wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive.
15. The wound-closing dressing of claim 9 wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive and wherein said adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
16. The wound-closing dressing of claim 9 wherein the dissolvable body comprises a plurality of dissolvable beads.