Wound dressing and method of use

1. A wound treatment apparatus comprising:

a wound dressing comprising:

a gas impermeable cover layer comprising an orifice;

an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, wherein the absorbent layer comprises superabsorbent material;

a transmission layer;

a lower pressure sensitive adhesive layer to adhere the wound dressing to skin around the wound site; and

a suction port sealed to the top of the cover layer over the orifice and configured to communicate negative pressure through the orifice;

wherein the suction port is manufactured from a transparent material and wherein the wound dressing and the suction port are configured such that wound exudate collected by the wound dressing and located below the suction port is visible from above the suction port; and

wherein the wound dressing includes at least one element configured to reduce the rate at which wound exudate moves toward the orifice, the at least one element configured to increase the amount of exudate absorbed into the absorbent layer before reaching the orifice and/or the at least one element configured to force the wound exudate to follow a longer path through the wound dressing.

2. The wound treatment of claim 1 , wherein the suction port is situated closer to one end of the dressing, contrasted with a central position of the dressing.

3. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer element positioned over the gas impermeable cover layer configured to support the suction port out of direct contact with the absorbent layer and/or the transmission layer.

4. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a filter element attached to the suction port over the orifice of the cover layer.

5. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the filter element is adhered to both the top of the cover layer and to the bottom of the suction port using an adhesive.

6. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the filter element forms part of a bacterial barrier over the wound site.

7. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the cover layer extends outwardly away from a center of the dressing into a border region surrounding a central raised region overlying the transmission layer and the absorbent layer.

8. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suction port comprises a sealing surface that provides a substantially flat area configured to be sealed to the cover layer.

9. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover layer is configured to protect the wound from external bacterial contamination and allow liquid from wound exudate to be transferred through the layer and evaporated from an outer surface of the cover layer.

10. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover layer is moisture vapor permeable.

11. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises a wound contact layer.

12. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the wound contact layer is configured to hold the wound dressing together and act as a carrier for the lower pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

13. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent layer comprises one or more through holes to provide a fluid flow pathway.

14. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent material comprises a gel-forming material.

15. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suction port is generally aligned with a mid-longitudinal axis of the wound dressing when viewed from above.

16. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission layer comprises an open celled foam.

17. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be fluidly connected with the suction port.

18. A wound treatment apparatus comprising:

a wound dressing comprising:

a gas impermeable cover layer comprising an orifice;

an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, wherein the absorbent layer comprises superabsorbent material;

a lower pressure sensitive adhesive layer to adhere the wound dressing to skin around the wound site; and

a suction port sealed to the top of the cover layer over the orifice and configured to communicate negative pressure through the orifice;

wherein the suction port is manufactured from a transparent material and wherein the wound dressing and the suction port are configured such that wound exudate collected by the wound dressing and located below the suction port is visible from above the suction port;

wherein the suction port is situated closer to one end of the dressing, contrasted with a central position of the dressing; and

wherein the wound dressing includes at least one element configured to reduce the rate at which wound exudate moves toward the orifice, the at least one element configured to increase the amount of exudate absorbed into the absorbent layer before reaching the orifice and/or the at least one element configured to force the wound exudate to follow a longer path through the wound dressing.

19. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a spacer element positioned over the gas impermeable cover layer configured to support the suction port out of direct contact with the absorbent layer.

20. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a filter element attached to the suction port over the orifice of the cover layer.

21. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the filter element is adhered to both the top of the cover layer and to the bottom of the suction port using an adhesive.

22. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the suction port comprises a sealing surface that provides a substantially flat area configured to be sealed to the cover layer.

23. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the superabsorbent material comprises a gel-forming material.

24. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be fluidly connected with the suction port.

25. A wound treatment apparatus comprising:

a wound dressing comprising:

a gas impermeable cover layer comprising an orifice;

an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, wherein the absorbent layer comprises superabsorbent material;

a transmission layer;

a lower pressure sensitive adhesive layer to adhere the wound dressing to skin around the wound site; and

a suction port sealed to the top of the cover layer over the orifice and configured to communicate negative pressure through the orifice; and

wherein the wound dressing includes at least one element configured to reduce the rate at which wound exudate moves toward the orifice, the at least one element configured to increase the amount of exudate absorbed into the absorbent layer before reaching the orifice.

26. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising a filter element attached to the suction port over the orifice of the cover layer.