Dressings, systems, and methods for treating a tissue site
View Patent ↗Dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed for treating tissue with reduced pressure. A dressing for distributing reduced pressure to a tissue site includes a plurality of liquid-impermeable layers that are stacked and a plurality of spacers disposed at least partially between adjacent liquid-impermeable layers. The plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are fenestrated at least in part. The plurality of spacers and plurality of liquid-impermeable layers form a plurality of flow paths for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure. Adjacent layers of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers are stacked without foam between at least a majority of coextensive surfaces. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.
1. A dressing for distributing reduced pressure to a tissue site, the dressing comprising:
at least two liquid-impermeable layers forming opposing sides of the dressing, each liquid-impermeable layer positioned in a stacked relationship adjacent at least one other liquid-impermeable layer, and each liquid-impermeable layer having a plurality of contact sites each proximate a contact site of an adjacent liquid-impermeable layer and a surface area between the contact sites coextensive with the surface area of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layer, wherein fenestrations are formed in the surface area of each liquid-impermeable layer;
a plurality of spacers, each spacer at least partially formed at a contact site between the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to provide displacement between the surface areas of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers, wherein the plurality of spacers include a plurality of bonds forming a spaced pattern, each individual bond having an aspect ratio greater than three, a circular shape and coupling at least two of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers at the contact site; and
a plurality of flow paths formed by the plurality of spacers, the flow paths extending from a first side of the dressing formed by a first layer through the fenestrations to a second side of the dressing formed by a second layer of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure through the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to the tissue site.
2. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spacers comprises an enlarged portion of at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.
3. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.
4. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein each bond has an aspect ratio greater than 6.
5. The dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a first longitudinal bond and a second longitudinal bond spaced from the first longitudinal bond to form a flow channel.
6. The dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid-delivery channel, wherein the liquid-delivery channel comprises:
a first portion of one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers having no fenestrations;
a second portion of another of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers having no fenestrations;
a channel-forming bond coupling the first portion and the second portion except at a peripheral edge to define a liquid-delivery flow path; and
a liquid aperture formed on the first portion of the liquid-impermeable layer for receiving a liquid.
7. A system for distributing reduced pressure to a tissue site, the system comprising:
a reduced-pressure source;
a reduced-pressure delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source;
a reduced-pressure dressing fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit; and
wherein the reduced-pressure dressing comprises:
at least two liquid-impermeable layers forming opposing sides of the dressing, each liquid-impermeable layer positioned in a stacked relationship adjacent at least one other liquid-impermeable layer, and each liquid-impermeable layer having a plurality of contact sites each proximate a contact site of an adjacent liquid-impermeable layer and a surface area between the contact sites coextensive with the surface area of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layer, wherein fenestrations are formed in the surface area of each liquid-impermeable layer;
a plurality of spacers, each spacer at least partially formed at a contact site between the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to provide displacement between the surface areas of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers, wherein the plurality of spacers comprise a plurality of bonds forming a spaced pattern, each individual bond having an aspect ratio greater than three, a circular shape and coupling at least two of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers at the contact site; and
a plurality of flow paths formed by the plurality of spacers, the flow paths extending from a first side of the dressing formed by a first layer through the fenestrations to a second side of the dressing formed by a second layer of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure through the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to the tissue site.
8. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of spacers comprises an enlarged portion of at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.
9. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.
10. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers, and wherein the plurality of folds are formed by bonding a least a portion of the liquid-impermeable layers and folding the dressing to form micro-channels.
11. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers, and wherein the plurality of folds are formed by disposing the dressing on a curved surface that creates at least some of the plurality of folds.
12. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of spacers comprises a plurality of folds formed by folding the dressing on itself to create at least one curved portion having a radius of and wherein the curved portion forms a micro-channel.
13. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 7 , further comprising a first longitudinal bond and a second longitudinal bond spaced from the first longitudinal bond to form a flow channel.
14. The system for distributing reduced pressure of claim 7 , further comprising a liquid-delivery channel, wherein the liquid-delivery channel comprises:
a first portion of one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers having no fenestrations;
a second portion of another of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers having no fenestrations;
a channel-forming bond coupling the first portion and the second portion except at a peripheral edge to define a liquid-delivery flow path; and
a liquid aperture formed on the first portion of the liquid-impermeable layer for receiving a liquid.
15. A method of manufacturing a dressing for distributing reduced pressure to a tissue site, the method comprising steps of:
providing at least two liquid-impermeable layers;
positioning each liquid-impermeable layer adjacent to another liquid-impermeable layer in a stacked relationship so that each liquid-impermeable layer has a plurality of contact sites and a surface area between the contact sites coextensive with the surface area of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layer, the two liquid-impermeable layers forming opposing sides of the dressing; and
forming fenestrations in the surface area of each liquid-impermeable layer;
forming a plurality of spacers, each spacer at least partially formed between the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to provide displacement between the surface areas of the adjacent liquid permeable layers, wherein the step of forming a plurality of spacers comprises forming a plurality of bonds in a spaced pattern, each individual bond having an aspect ratio greater than three, a circular shape and coupling at least two of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers at the contact site;
forming a plurality of flow paths with the plurality of spacers, the flow paths extending from a first side of the dressing formed by a first layer through the fenestrations to a second side of the dressing formed by the second layer of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure through the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to the tissue site.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of spacers comprises providing the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers with at least one enlarged portion.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of spacers comprises forming a plurality of folds in at least one of the plurality of liquid-impermeable layers.
18. A method for delivering reduced pressure to a tissue site, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a reduced-pressure dressing, the reduced-pressure dressing comprising:
at least two liquid-impermeable layers forming opposing sides of the dressing, each liquid-impermeable layer positioned in a stacked relationship adjacent at least one other liquid-impermeable layer, and each liquid-impermeable layer having a plurality of contact sites each proximate a contact site of an adjacent liquid-impermeable layer and a surface area between the contact sites coextensive with the surface area of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layer, wherein fenestrations are formed in the surface area of each liquid-impermeable layer;
a plurality of spacers, each spacer at least partially formed at a contact site between the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to provide displacement between the surface areas of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers, wherein the plurality of spacers include a plurality of bonds forming a spaced pattern, each individual bond having an aspect ratio greater than three, a circular shape and coupling at least two of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers at the contact site; and
a plurality of flow paths formed by the plurality of spacers, the flow paths extending from a first side of the dressing formed by a first layer through the fenestrations to a second side of the dressing formed by a second layer of the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers for allowing fluid flow under reduced pressure through the adjacent liquid-impermeable layers to the tissue site;
deploying the reduced-pressure dressing adjacent to the tissue site;
fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure dressing; and
activating the reduced-pressure source.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tissue site is within an abdominal cavity, wherein the step of deploying the reduced-pressure dressing adjacent to the tissue site comprises deploying the reduced-pressure dressing through an open abdomen, and further comprising the step of removing the reduced-pressure dressing through a surgical incision less than 6 centimeters in length.