Reduced-pressure wound treatment systems and methods employing microstrain-inducing manifolds

1. A reduced-pressure system for treating a tissue site, the system comprising:

a manifold configured to distribute reduced pressure across the tissue site, the manifold comprising:

a plurality of nodes,

a plurality of columns, each column having a first end, a second end, and a node of the plurality of nodes coupled to the first end and another node of the plurality of nodes coupled to the second end, and

a plurality of shaped projections, at least one shaped projection of the plurality of shaped projections coupled to each respective node and comprising a contact point configured to create microstrain within the tissue site;

a drape configured to cover the manifold to form a fluid seal over the manifold and the tissue site; and

a reduced-pressure subsystem adapted to deliver a reduced pressure to the manifold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaped projections is a right circular cone.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaped projections has a first pitch and at least one other of the shaped projections has a second pitch and wherein the first pitch is greater than the second pitch.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the manifold is adapted to deform more in a first direction than in a second direction when subjected to the reduced pressure.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially coplanar.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the manifold is at least partially coated with a drug.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the manifold is at least partially coated with an antimicrobial material.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaped projections is formed from a bioabsorbable material.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the manifold is coated with a hydrophilic material.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaped projections has a first stiffness and at least one other of the shaped projections has a second stiffness and the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaped projections has a first height and at least one other of the shaped projections has a second height and the first height is greater than the second height.

12. A manifold for treating a tissue site, the manifold comprising:

a plurality of nodes;

a plurality of columns, each column having a first end, a second end, and a node of the plurality of nodes coupled to the first end and another node of the plurality of nodes coupled to the second end; and

a plurality of shaped projections, at least one shaped projection of the plurality of shaped projections coupled to each respective node and comprising a contact point configured to create microstrain within the tissue site.

13. The manifold of claim 12 , wherein each column has a length adapted to position adjacent nodes in a spaced relationship.

14. A manifold adapted to induce microstrain in a tissue site, the manifold comprising:

a first node;

a second node interconnected to the first node;

a first contact point coupled to the first node; and

a second contact point coupled to the second node;

a column having a first end coupled to the first node and a second end coupled to the second node to couple the first contact point and the second contact point in a spaced relationship to form a flow channel between the first node and the second node, and the first contact point and the second contact point configured to induce microstrain in the tissue site.

15. The manifold of claim 14 , wherein the first contact point is integrally formed with the first node.

16. The manifold of claim 14 , wherein the first contact point is formed by a projection extending from the first node.

17. The manifold of claim 14 , wherein the first contact point is formed by a tapered projection extending from the first node.

18. The manifold of claim 14 , further comprising a third contact point coupled to the first node.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein each shaped projection tapers to a point.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein each shaped projection is substantially the same size.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shaped projections further comprises:

a first group of shaped projections having a first size;

a second group of shaped projections having a second size; and

wherein the first size is larger than the second size.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein each node of the plurality of nodes includes a least one shaped projection from the first group and at least one shaped projection from the second group.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shaped projections comprises:

a first group of shaped projections having a first pitch;

a second group of shaped projections having a second pitch; and

wherein the second pitch is less than the first pitch.

24. The manifold of claim 12 , wherein each shaped projection tapers to a point.

25. The manifold of claim 12 , wherein each shaped projection is substantially the same size.

26. The manifold of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of shaped projections further comprises:

a first group of shaped projections having a first size;

a second group of shaped projections having a second size; and

wherein the first size is larger than the second size.

27. The manifold of claim 26 , wherein each node of the plurality of nodes includes a least one shaped projection from the first group and at least one shaped projection from the second group.

28. The manifold of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of shaped projections comprises:

a first group of shaped projections having a first pitch;

a second group of shaped projections having a second pitch; and

wherein the second pitch is less than the first pitch.

29. The manifold of claim 12 , wherein each shaped projection comprises a cone.