DRESSING
A dressing for the application of topical negative and/or positive pressure therapy to a wound is described together with a method for creating the dressing, the dressing comprising in use: an optional layer of a pressure resistant porous material adjacent a surface of a wound to be treated; a first layer of a flexible wound covering and sealing material on top of the optional pressure resistant porous material adapted, in use, to surround the wound and seal against sound tissue to form, in use, a first sealed cavity with the wound; a first conduit having a first end adapted to communicate with an interface between said optional layer of porous material and said first layer of flexible wound covering and sealing material and a second end adapted to communicate with vacuum means to establish a negative pressure, in use, between said first covering and sealing material layer and a wound surface; a resiliently compressible wound packing material on top of said first layer of covering and sealing material; a second conduit having a first end adjacent said resiliently compressible wound packing material and a second end adapted to communicate with positive or negative pressure generating means; and a second layer of flexible covering and sealing material over said resiliently compressible wound packing material to form, in use, a second sealed cavity above said first sealed cavity and said wound.
1 . A dressing for the application of topical negative and/or positive pressure therapy to a wound, the dressing comprising:
layer of a pressure resistant porous material adjacent a surface of a wound to be treated;
a first layer of a flexible wound covering and sealing material on top of the optional pressure resistant porous material adapted to surround the wound and seal against sound tissue to form, in use, a first sealed cavity with the wound;
a first conduit having a first end adapted to communicate with an interface between said optional layer of porous material and said first layer of flexible wound covering and sealing material and a second end adapted to communicate with vacuum means to establish a negative pressure between said first covering and sealing material layer and a wound surface;
a resiliency compressible wound packing material on top of said first layer of covering and sealing material;
a second conduit having a first end adjacent said resiliency compressible wound packing material and a second end adapted to communicate with positive or negative pressure generating means; and a second layer of flexible covering and sealing material over said resiliency compressible wound packing to form, in use, a second sealed cavity above said first sealed cavity and said wound.
2 . A dressing according to claim 1 wherein the resiliency compressible wound packing material is transparent.
3 . A dressing according to claim 1 wherein the resiliency compressible wound packing material is made from a polyurethane material.
4 . A dressing according to claim 1 wherein the first layer of flexible covering and sealing material is provided with a port member.
5 . A dressing according to claim 4 wherein the port member receives said first and second conduits.
6 . A dressing according to claim 5 wherein the first and second conduits are in the form of a single multi-lumen conduit.
7 . A dressing according to claim 4 wherein said port member directs fluid flow in said conduits with respect to said first sealed cavity and said second sealed cavity as appropriate.
8 . A dressing according to claim 4 wherein said port member is adapted to receive three lumens.
9 . A dressing according to claim 8 wherein a third lumen is adapted to be operably connected to transducer means to monitor pressure in said first sealed cavity.
10 . A dressing according to claim 4 wherein said port member is bonded to said first layer of flexible covering and sealing material.
11 . A dressing according to claim 4 wherein the port member maintains the first and second sealed cavities independent of each other with respect to pressure.
12 . A port member for a dressing, the port member comprising a body portion having flow passages adapted to cooperate with at least two lumens; a face portion adapted to be bonded to a flexible membrane material; and, the flow passages being directed on either side of said face portion.
13 . A port member according to claim 12 adapted to receive a conduit in the form of a single multi-lumen conduit.
14 . A port member according to claim 12 having at least one fluid flow passage configured to communicate with a region on a first side of said face portion.
15 . A port member according to claim 12 and having at least one fluid flow passage configured to communicate with a region on a second side of said face portion.
16 . A kit for the provision of a topical negative pressure therapy dressing for a wound, the kit comprising: pressure resistant porous material for placement, in use, adjacent a wound surface; flexible covering and sealing material adapted, in use, for adhering to sound skin; resiliently compressible porous wound packing material; a conduit comprising at least two lumens; and, a port member having at least two flow passages adapted to co-operate with said two lumens.
17 . A method of providing a dressing including a bag member on a wound on a mammal, the method comprising the steps of:
placing a layer of pressure resistant material which allows for transmission of fluid on a bed of the wound;
placing an end of a first conduit adjacent said optional pressure resistant material; adhering a first layer of a flexible, wound covering and sealing material over the aspirant conduit and pressure resistant material such that said first layer of flexible material is sealed to skin surrounding the wound and to said first conduit so as to form a first sealed cavity over said wound;
placing a resiliently compressible wound packing material in the wound cavity on top of said first sealing layer material; placing an end of a second conduit adjacent said wound packing material; and
adhering a second layer of a flexible, wound covering and sealing material over said wound packing material and an area surrounding said wound to seal thereagainst and to said second conduit so as to form a second sealed cavity over said wound.
18 . A method according to claim 17 wherein said first and second flexible, wound covering and sealing materials are semi-permeable materials.
19 . A method according to claim 17 wherein the first and second flexible, wound covering and sealing materials are coated with an adhesive.
20 . A method according to claim 17 wherein an optional layer of wound packing material is placed on top of the optional layer of pressure resistant wound contact material.
21 . A method according to claim 17 wherein the optional layer of pressure resistant material has a surface selected from the group consisting of porous, textured and channelled.
22 . A method according to claim 17 wherein the optional layer of pressure resistant material is bio-absorbable.
23 . A method according to claim 17 further including the step of applying a negative pressure to the first sealed cavity prior to creating the second sealed cavity.
24 . A method according to claim 17 further including the step of including one or more additional conduits in at least one of the first and second sealed cavities.
25 . A method according to claim 17 wherein the second sealed cavity is subjected to a pressure range from positive pressures to negative pressures.
26 . A method according to claim 17 wherein a fluid is used to apply pressure to said wound by inflating the second cavity.
27 . A method according to claim 26 wherein the fluid is temperature controlled.
28 . A method according to claim 25 wherein the applied pressure is pulsed.
29 . A method according to claim 17 wherein the resiliency compressible wound packing material is a foam created in-situ.