Limited-access, reduced-pressure systems and methods
A reduced-pressure treatment system for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site at a limited-access location on a patient includes a reduced-pressure source, a treatment manifold for placing proximate the tissue site and operable to distribute reduced pressure to the tissue site, and a sealing member for placing over the tissue site and operable to form a pneumatic seal over the tissue site. The reduced-pressure treatment system also includes a reduced-pressure bridge and a moisture-removing device on at least portion of the reduced-pressure bridge. The reduced-pressure bridge includes a delivery manifold operable to transfer the reduced pressure to the treatment manifold, an encapsulating envelope at least partially enclosing the delivery manifold and having a patient-facing side, and a reduced-pressure-interface site formed proximate one end of the reduced-pressure bridge.
1. A system for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site at limited-access location on a patient, the system comprising:
a reduced-pressure source operable to supply reduced pressure;
a treatment manifold for placing proximate the tissue site and operable to distribute reduced pressure to the tissue site;
a sealing member for placing over the tissue site and operable to form a pneumatic seal over the tissue site, the sealing member having a first aperture; and
a reduced-pressure bridge having a first end and a second end, the reduced-pressure bridge comprising:
a first encapsulating envelope formed by a first encapsulating member and a second encapsulating member, wherein the first encapsulating envelope at least partially encloses a first manifold,
a second encapsulating envelope formed by the second encapsulating member and a third encapsulating member, wherein the second encapsulating envelope at least partially encloses a second manifold,
a first aperture formed proximate the first end of the reduced-pressure bridge,
a second aperture formed proximate the second end of the reduced-pressure bridge, and
a fenestration formed along the reduced-pressure bridge between the first end and the second end.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first encapsulating member has a first perimeter portion, wherein the second encapsulating member has a second perimeter portion, and wherein the first perimeter portion is coupled to the second perimeter portion.
3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a reduced-pressure interface coupled to the second aperture, and wherein the reduced-pressure source is fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure interface.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second manifold comprises a wicking material on the second encapsulating envelope, the wicking material adapted to contact a remote tissue portion and to absorb liquid from the remote tissue portion.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a moisture removing layer that extends along a length of the reduced-pressure bridge.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first encapsulating envelope comprises a polyurethane material.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first adhesive on a patient-facing side of the sealing member; and
a second adhesive disposed between the sealing member and the reduced-pressure bridge,
wherein the first adhesive is operable to couple the sealing member to the patient,
wherein the second adhesive is operable to couple the sealing member to the reduced-pressure bridge.
8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a releasable backing that covers the first adhesive, the releasable backing being removable to expose the first adhesive.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first adhesive and the second adhesive comprise an acrylic adhesive material.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced-pressure bridge has a length (L) that extends from the tissue site to a remote location, and wherein L>120 mm.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced-pressure bridge has a length (L) that extends from the tissue site to a remote location, and wherein L>200 mm.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced-pressure bridge has a length (L) and a width (W), and wherein L>( 4 *W).
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first manifold is a foam material.
14. A reduced-pressure bridge for delivering reduced pressure to a tissue site from a remote site, the reduced-pressure bridge comprising:
a first encapsulating envelope formed by a first encapsulating member and a second encapsulating member, wherein the first encapsulating envelope at least partially encloses a first manifold;
a second encapsulating envelope formed by the second encapsulating member and a third encapsulating member, wherein the second encapsulating envelope at least partially encloses a second manifold;
a first aperture formed proximate a first end of the reduced-pressure bridge and configured to be directly coupled to a sealing member disposed over the tissue site, the first aperture configured to be in fluid communication with the tissue site through the sealing member;
a second aperture formed proximate a second end of the reduced-pressure bridge and configured to be coupled to a reduced-pressure interface positioned at the remote site; and
a fenestration formed along the reduced-pressure bridge between the first end and the second end.
15. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 14 , further comprising a wicking material on the reduced-pressure bridge, the wicking material adapted to contact a remote tissue portion and to absorb liquid from the remote tissue portion.
16. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 15 , wherein the wicking material comprises a cloth-material drape.
17. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 15 , wherein the wicking material comprises a non-woven fabric.
18. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 15 , wherein the wicking material covers at least 50 percent of a side of the reduced-pressure bridge.
19. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 15 , wherein the wicking material covers at least 70 percent of a side of the reduced-pressure bridge.
20. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 15 , wherein the wicking material covers at least 80 percent of a side of the reduced-pressure bridge.
21. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 15 , wherein the wicking material extends along a length of the reduced-pressure bridge.
22. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 14 , wherein the first encapsulating member has a first perimeter portion, wherein the second encapsulating member has a second perimeter portion, and wherein the first perimeter portion is coupled to the second perimeter portion.
23. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 22 , wherein the first encapsulating member and second encapsulating member comprise a polyurethane material.
24. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 14 , wherein the reduced-pressure bridge has a length (L), and wherein L>120 mm.
25. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 14 , wherein the reduced-pressure bridge has a length (L), and wherein L>200 mm.
26. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 14 , wherein the reduced-pressure bridge has a length (L) and a width (W), and wherein L>( 4 *W).
27. The reduced-pressure bridge of claim 14 , wherein the first manifold is a foam material.
28. A method for delivering reduced pressure to a tissue site, the method comprising:
disposing a treatment manifold proximate the tissue site;
disposing a sealing member over the treatment manifold;
providing a reduced-pressure bridge having a first end and a second end, the reduced-pressure bridge comprising:
a first encapsulating envelope formed by a first encapsulating member and a second encapsulating member, wherein the first encapsulating envelope at least partially encloses a first manifold,
a second encapsulating envelope formed by the second encapsulating member and a third encapsulating member, wherein the second encapsulating envelope at least partially encloses a second manifold,
a first aperture formed at the first end,
a second aperture formed at the second end, and
a fenestration formed along a length of the reduced-pressure bridge between the first end and the second end;
coupling a reduced-pressure interface to the second aperture;
disposing the first end of the reduced-pressure bridge over at least of portion of the sealing member; and
fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the reduced-pressure bridge further comprises a wicking layer.
30. A reduced-pressure treatment kit, the reduced-pressure treatment kit comprising:
a reduced-pressure interface;
a reduced-pressure delivery conduit;
a manifold unit, the manifold unit have a plurality of preformed treatment manifolds;
a perforated sealing sheet, the perforated sealing sheet operable to be torn into a plurality of securing strips and a sealing member; and
a reduced-pressure bridge, the reduced-pressure bridge comprising:
a first encapsulating envelope formed by a first encapsulating member and a second encapsulating member, wherein the first encapsulating envelope at least partially encloses a first manifold,
a second encapsulating envelope formed by the second encapsulating member and a third encapsulating member, wherein the second encapsulating envelope at least partially encloses a second manifold,
a first aperture formed proximate a first end of the reduced-pressure bridge,
a second aperture formed proximate a second end of the reduced-pressure bridge, and
a fenestration formed along a length of the reduced-pressure bridge between the first end and the second end.
31. The reduced-pressure treatment kit of claim 30 , further comprising a ruler.
32. The reduced-pressure treatment kit of claim 30 , further comprising a package, and wherein the package surrounds the reduced-pressure bridge, the reduced-pressure interface, the reduced-pressure conduit, the manifold unit, and the perforated sealing sheet.
33. The reduced-pressure treatment kit of claim 30 , wherein the reduced-pressure interface is coupled to the first aperture of the reduced-pressure bridge, and the reduced-pressure delivery conduit is coupled to the reduced-pressure interface.
34. The reduced-pressure treatment kit of claim 30 , wherein the encapsulating member has a first perimeter portion, wherein the second encapsulating member has a second perimeter portion, and wherein the first perimeter portion is coupled to the second perimeter portion.
35. The reduced-pressure treatment kit of claim 34 , wherein the reduced-pressure bridge further comprises a wicking material on a side of the reduced-pressure bridge, the wicking material adapted to contact a remote tissue portion and to absorb liquid from the remote tissue portion.